Miami Hurricanes battling Ohio State for No. 1 linebacker in transfer portal

Pitt standout linebacker Rasheem Biles is set to visit Miami on Saturday, Jan. 3. The visit comes as the winter portal window officially opened Friday, and Miami is also preparing for a College Football Playoff semifinal matchup against Ole Miss on Jan. 8. 

On3's transfer profile lists Biles as the No. 1 linebacker in its Transfer Portal Rankings, with a 94.76 portal rating and a national transfer ranking of No. 16. 

Pitt standout linebacker Rasheem Biles

Biles is also scheduled to visit Ohio State on Monday, adding another major contender to the mix for a player with one season of eligibility remaining. Biles is an Ohio native who played high school football at Pickerington Central, which is part of why Ohio State is heavily tied to him. This makes the quarterfinal matchup between Miami and Ohio State feel even more consequential.

Biles arrived at Pitt in 2023 and made his first impact on special teams. He played nine games in 2023 and tied the program's season record with three blocked kicks.

He took a major step in 2024, becoming a true every-down linebacker and a weekly problem for offenses. Biles tallied 82 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, along with an interception returned for a touchdown and a team-high nine pass breakups.

His signature 2024 game came against Syracuse, when he earned ACC Linebacker of the Week after a 12-tackle performance that included a 15-yard sack and a 35-yard pick-six that opened the scoring. He was an All-ACC selection that season, including second-team honors from the Associated Press and third-team recognition via the conference voting panel.

Biles was a second-team All-ACC selection this season, and his playmaking showed up in multiple ways. In 2025, he logged 101 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, two interceptions and 4.5 sacks on a competitive Pitt team.