The Miami football program will likely be active in the transfer portal for a safety after several reports emerged on Monday that Savion Riley is departing the Hurricanes. Riley transferred to Miami from Vanderbilt during the window transfer portal window. Riley leaves Miami without ever playing a game for the Hurricanes.
Riley was the projected starting free safety for Miami. Redshirt sophomores Jaden Harris and Markeith Williams, redshirt junior Arizona transfer Isaiah Taylor and redshirt senior Washington transfer Mishael Powell and junior Brian Balom are the veteran safeties on the Miami roster.
Miami signed four safeties in the 2024 class. Four-star signee Zaquan Patterson is expected to compete for a starting safety position for Miami in 2024. The departure of Riley improves Patterson's chance of being a starter. Miami also signed safeties Dylan Day, Ryan Mack and Isaiah Thomas in the 2024 class.
Mack signed with Miami as a safety but is projected as a cornerback in college. Powell played safety at Washington but spent most of the spring playing slot CB for Miami. There is a lot of uncertainty for Miami at safety entering the remainder of the 2024 offseason. Finding an experienced safety is critical entering the 2024 season.
One peculiar thing you're seeing in college football is player transferring to school, then changing mind & transferring again before a regular season game. Now happening with Canes safety Savion Riley, per @GabyUrrutia247 ...happened previously here with Terry Roberts & J.…
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) April 29, 2024
Miami appeared set to replace starting safeties Kamren Kinchens and James Williams who left for the NFL following the 2023 season. Kinchens was drafted in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday by the Los Angeles Rams. Williams was a seventh-round pick on Saturday by the Tennessee Titans.
Powell and Riley were the projected replacements for Kinchens and Williams as transfers to Miami. Taylor was expected to add depth. Several other safeties entered the transfer portal on Monday. Four-star Texas A&M transfer safety Jacoby Matthews also remains in the portal. Miami will have options to replace Riley.