Brad Crawford of CBS Sports wrote, "Miami, LSU among 6 college football teams that upgraded the most with strong 2025 transfer portal hauls" posted on Friday morning. Miami signed the third-best 2025 transfer class per the 247Sports rankings.
Most of the focus on the Miami transfer additions has been quarterback Carson Beck and a rebuilt secondary. Cornerback Xavier Lucas had a controversial departure from Wisconsin that has seemed to die down some throughout the rest of the 2025 offseason.
Miami had a strong class in the winter transfer portal window and enhanced that in the spring. Mario Cristobal and his staff have repeatedly balanced bringing in freshmen and supplementing that with transfer portal additions. Center and QB have been the key positions Miami has added transfers in the last two classes.
Miami brings back a strong offensive line and running backs Mark Fletcher Jr. and Jordan Lyle. On defense, Rueben Bain leads what should be an elite defensive line. The secondary and wide receiver are the two units Miami rebuilt through the 2025 transfer portal.
"Arguably the biggest winner in the post-spring transfer window, the Hurricanes signed BYU playmaker Keelan Marion, took a flyer on talented Rutgers linebacker Mohamed Toure and added depth in the secondary with safety Jakobe Thomas (Tennessee) and cornerback Keionte Scott (Houston)...Beck nixed another year at Georgia for a better payday in Coral Gables and TCU's James Brockermeyer is a plug-and-play starter on the offensive line. A source close to the ACC program told CBS Sports this week Miami's offensive line is "the most complete" the team has had under Mario Cristobal."Brad Crawford. CBS
LSU transfer C.J. Daniels, Tony Johnson from Cincinnati and Marion project as the top four Miami WRs with sophomore Joshisa Trader. Miami lost their top six receivers after the 2025 season. With Beck new to Miami and tight end Elija Lofton moving into a bigger role, Miami has a completely rebuilt passing game in 2025.
Toure is a projected starter. Thomas should compete to be a starter in 2025 next to Jacksonville State transfer Zechariah Poyser at safety. Scott adds depth at CB. Miami also added transfer CBs Charles Brantley, Lucas and Ethan O'Connor to its 2025 roster.
Brockermeyer is the third consecutive starting center for Miami from the transfer portal. Matt Lee transferred from Central Florida to Miami in 2023 and Zach Carpenter from Indiana in 2024. Tackles Markel Bell and Francis Mauigoa and guards Anez Cooper and Matthew McCoy are the other projected starters on the Miami OL.
Miami has significantly upgraded its depth and potentially half of its starters could be incoming transfers. The Hurricanes should be more balanced in 2025. The inconsistency by Miami defensively in 2024 ultimately cost them a College Football Playoff berth. More balance in 2025 could set a foundation for a 2025 CFP run.