Miami's defensive front was scrambling for answers Thursday night, right in the middle of the biggest moment the program has had in more than two decades. So, it's hard not to look at recent-transfer Donta Simpson and think about what could have been.
The freshman defensive tackle, who grew up in the Hurricanes' backyard, is in the transfer portal and setting up visits around the country at the exact time Miami just punched its ticket to the national championship game. Miami beat Ole Miss 31-27 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal, and the Hurricanes will play for the title at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19.
Miami DL transfer Donta Simpson @YDonta to visit several schools this week.
— Marcus Benjamin (@BenjaminRivals) January 6, 2026
“I just want to give myself a fair chance to show what I can do.”
More from @Rivals herehttps://t.co/a7WlBRvCQa pic.twitter.com/8jPuZlI5uM
Donta Simpson could have played in the Fiesta Bowl
Simpson's decision might make sense for his career, but it still feels like he's walking away from something most players dream about.
Miami defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. went down with a leg injury on the Rebels' opening drive. Moten had already been listed as a question mark heading into the game, and him leaving almost immediately forced Miami to lean deeper into its rotation than it wanted.
Then in the fourth quarter, edge rusher Akheem Mesidor headed to the medical tent with an arm injury with 7:44 left. Mesidor later returned, but it was still another reminder of how fast one injury can turn a loaded defensive line into a thin one in a playoff game. And it's also a reminder that Simpson's opportunity may have been sooner than he expected (had he not transferred).
He wasn't a starter, but he was a body Miami trusted enough to use during the season. Simpson played in eight games, logged 105 defensive snaps, and finished with four tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in a rotational role. In a game where Miami lost Moten essentially right away and had Mesidor briefly sidelined late, that type of rotational tackle is exactly the kind of player who can suddenly find himself playing meaningful snaps.
On one hand, it's hard to blame any young player for wanting a clearer path to the field, especially in an era where roster movement is constant and the portal opens during the CFP. On the other, Miami is now one win away from a national title, and he could have been an even bigger part of the journey if he had stayed with the team.