Miami is currently focused on a College Football Playoff run, but the most important work for 2026 has already started with the single winter transfer portal window about to start up (Jan. 2-16).
A name that Miami fans should expect to hear is USF quarterback Byrum Brown. Brown intends to enter the transfer portal, and he is coming off his best season. He threw for 3,158 yards with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2025. He also added 1,008 rushing yards, becoming one of the few players to hit the 3,000/1,000 mark in the same season.
Byrum Brown is the choice over DJ Lagway for Miami
Miami fans will inevitably bring up Florida quarterback DJ Lagway now that he's also entering the transfer portal, but that's a recruitment Miami probably shouldn't chase. Sure, Lagway is a former five-star with big upside, but he comes with top-of-market cost and a lot more projection than production.
On3 lists his NIL valuation at about $2 million, and he threw for 2,264 yards with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 2025, with inconsistency that even led to a benching. From Miami's perspective, that's a huge swing when Brown is literally in the same state.
Thank you! 🤜🏽🫷🏽 pic.twitter.com/zyIZ7NzIbD
— Byrum Brown (@byrumbrown17) December 22, 2025
Byrum Brown and Miami just makes sense
The basic pitch for Miami is simple. This staff has already shown it will go get a proven portal quarterback if the roster needs it. Miami landed Cam Ward for the 2024 season, and followed that by adding former Georgia starter Carson Beck for 2025. Both players developed their games under OC Shannon Dawson, and Ward was even the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Brown fits the ready-made starter mold that Miami prefers, and he also adds a different wrinkle to his offensive game compared to Ward and Beck. In addition to 2025, he owns another 3,000-yard passing season in 2023 (3,292) while also leading the team in rushing that year (809 yards), and accounting for 37 total touchdowns.
The one downside is durability. Brown's 2024 season was derailed by a lower-leg injury suffered at Tulane, and he missed most of the year because of it. But, he responded with a big comeback season in 2025, so those concerns have been set aside for most people.
Byrum Brown would not be a lock for Miami
There are two obvious hurdles. The first is competition. Brown is ranked as one of the top QB's in the portal and plenty of teams will try to get him on their squad for 2026. Auburn has been widely mentioned as a school to watch, with former USF head coach Alex Golesh taking the HC job over there.
The second hurdle is cost. On3 lists Brown with an NIL valuation of $1.6 million, and multiple programs will be able to make strong offers. Miami has the money to match that, but it's more about whether they will choose to spend that much on Brown.
If Miami's evaluation of the QB room says it needs a veteran quarterback for 2026, Brown is exactly the kind of move that aligns with how the Canes have operated and found success in the past.