DE Tyler Baron would provide Miami football big upside, with baggage
Edge rusher Tyler Baron committed to Mississippi out of the transfer portal from Tennessee in December, flipped to Louisville in January and left the Cardinals on Wednesday. Baron will visit the Miami football program this weekend per Gaby Urrutia and Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.
Baron had 101 tackles, 27.0 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, three pass breakups, one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown and one fumble recovery in four seasons at Tennessee. The best season for Baron was in 2023 with 28 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 6.0 sacks, two passes defended and the one fumble recovery for a TD.
Baron was an important contributor during all four of his seasons with Tennessee. The 247Sports rankings have Baron as the third-best 2024 transfer edge rusher behind Nic Scourton who went from Purdue to Texas A&M and Princely Umanmielen who transferred from Florida to Mississippi.
Baron signed with Tennessee in the 2020 class as the 118th-best prospect, fourth strongside defensive end and fourth player in Tennessee out of Knoxville Catholic. Baron has one season of eligibility remaining with the extra year granted because of the 2020 COVID season.
Baron could join an elite Miami group of edge rushers that includes Marshall transfer Elijah Alston, 2023 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and freshman All-American Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor who was injured last season after starting most of 2023 and a deep group of freshmen.
Baron would project in the Miami rotation behind Bain and Mesidor and likely compete with Alston as the third-edge rusher. Bain and Mesidor can move inside on passing downs. That would provide Miami with four elite edge rushers. Michigan State defensive tackles Simeon Barrow and Derrick Harmon are also visiting Miami next week.
Miami has lost seven defensive linemen since the end of last season. The Hurricanes have added defensive tackles C.J. Clark from North Carolina State and Marley Cook from Middle Tennessee State with Alston to bring in experienced veterans to add depth. Expect Miami to try and add at least three more DL in the spring transfer portal.