Not all situations are the same when it comes to Class of 2022 college football players searching for a fifth-year of eligibility. Case in point is former Miami Hurricanes tight end Alex Bauman.
In a move that might seem a little late by any measurable, Bauman has filed for a TRO that would allow him to enter the transfer portal and play another season of college football. Baumann had 18 catches for 166 yards and a touchdown in his only season with the Hurricanes after transferring from Tulane. Bauman's blocking was a big asset in Miami's offense, especially in pass protection.
However, Bauman's biggest moment with the Hurricanes was one he'd like to forget. The tight end whiffed on a blocking assignment in the second half of last year's CFP Championship game, allowing Indiana's Mikail Kamara to block a punt that the Hoosiers recovered in the end zone. It was the pivotal play in Miami's 27-21 loss.
Mikail Kamara and Isaiah Jones combined for a blocked punt/TD to give Indiana a 17-7 lead in the 3rd Q. Kamara worked around the wall of mules to block the kick, Jones picked the ball up in the EZ to re-establish a 10-point lead.#Indiana #miami #CFBPlayoff #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/iTJJkYZX8J
— All 22 Films (@All_22_NFL_Cuts) January 20, 2026
Miami could use TE Alex Bauman, but likely won't have the chance
Bauman's situation is much different than many of the other Class of 2022 players searching for legal loopholes to play a fifth year of college football. Unlike former Hurricanes linebacker Wesley Bissainthe or half of the LSU roster, Bauman was not in an NFL camp, did not play in NFL preseason games and, by all accounts, wasn't even in a rookie minicamp. Bauman has been looking to go pro in something else other than sports and that makes his quest to play another season more understandable.
Could Miami use Bauman? Absolutely. There's only one tight end on the roster with any experience, Elija Lofton, and sophomore Luka Gilbert is out for the season with an injury. Freshman Gavin Mueller, a former four-star recruit, will have to play and redshirt junior Owen Ruskavich will also have to level up from his special teams role. Adding Bauman to that group gives the Miami offense a reliable blocker and a solid pass-catching option in the red zone and in short yardage.
Classes at Miami began last Wednesday and today's date, September 2, is the deadline for drop/add, so unless Baumann decides to enroll for classes immediately, it's unlikely there is a path for him to return to the Hurricanes. Who knows why Bauman waited so long? Maybe he simply decided he missed it after a few months in the workforce and is willing to play for whomever can take him.
But he was a solid player for Miami last season and his entire career shouldn't be judged on one mistake. Football is a team game and there were many things Miami could've done better on that Monday night in mid-January. Bauman is one player that should benefit from a legal challenge to play because if this 5-for-5 rule was in effect, he would still be playing college football.
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