3 Miami football transfers who have the Canes in prime position for a CFP run

Miami defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor, safety Jakobe Thomas and quarterback Carson Beck were named among "the top 25 transfers in the College Football Playoff" by Chris Hummer of CBS Sports on Friday.

3 Miami players included in top 25 CFP transfers list

Beck and Thomas transferred to Miami during the 2025 portal cycle. Mesidor is in his fourth season with Miami after spending two at West Virginia. Beck, Mesidor and Thomas are all impact players for Arizona this season. If defensive back Keionte Scott had not gotten injured, he would also likely have made the top 25 transfers.

Hummer called Mesidor a burly run defender that is perhaps the best edge setter in the playoff. Mesidor received a 90.7 run grade from Pro Football Focus per Hummer. Mesidor is fourth on Miami with 46 tackles, and leads the Hurricanes with 12.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks, while generatiing 44 quarterback pressures.

Thomas is second on Miami with 49 tackles, has 3.5 TFLs, three sacks, is the co-leader on the Hurricanes with four interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown and has four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries after transferring from Tennessee.

Beck was one of the most high-profile transfers in the 2025 portal, leading Georgia to 24 wins and three losses in two seasons as a starter. Beck is second nationally, completing 74.7 percent of his pass attempts for 3,072 yards, 25 TDs and 10 interceptions.

Scott was a Thorpe Award Semifinalist, which honors the best defensive back nationally, before he missed the final two Miami regular-season games with a foot injury. Scott has 44 tackles, is second on Miami with 10.0 TFLs, has one interception that he returned for a TD, five passes defended, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal mentioned Scott is progressing, but did not state if he would be ready to play in the CFP. Multiple reports originally stated that Scott was likely to miss the remainder of the season.

Honorable mention for top CFP transfers should also go to Miami wide receivers C.J. Daniels and Keelan Marion. Marion is second on Miami with 41 receptions for 557 yards and one TD. Daniels is third on the Hurricanes with 35 receptions and 391 yards and tied for the team lead with Malachi Toney with seven TDs.