Miami football big week of transfer visits

Ten days after the Transfer Portal opened on December 4, the Miami football team has started hosting potential new players. Quarterbacks Will Howard and Cam Ward, defensive lineman Marley Cook, center Zach Carpenter and safety Savion Riley already have or will visit Miami this week.
Washington State v Washington
Washington State v Washington / Steph Chambers/GettyImages
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After hosting quarterbacks Will Howard and Cameron Ward earlier this week, center Zach Carpenter, defensive lineman Marley Cook and safety Savion Riley are planning visits with the Hurricanes per Gaby Urrutia of Inside the U. Miami could have its first transfer addition by the end of the weekend.

Howard visited the Miami football program on Monday followed by Ward on Tuesday. Urrutia reported that Cook flipped his visit from Miami this weekend, Carpenter will visit on Friday per a Tweet from his Mom on X (Nee Twitter) and Riley is visiting on Thursday. Defensive tackle, QB and safety are the three biggest needs for Miami in the transfer portal.

Cook flipped a scheduled visit from Ohio State to Miami per a post from his agent Chris Wash on X. Per Urrutia, other programs who have contacted Cook other than Miami and Ohio State are Baylor, Louisville, Michigan State, Mississippi, Missouri, Pittsburgh TCU and Texas A&M. Cook flipped his visit after meeting with Jason Taylor on Wednesday.

Cook is the ninth-ranked 2024 transfer defensive lineman per the 247 Sports rankings. In the 2024 rankings, Cook is the highest-ranked Group of Five transfer. Ivy League defensive linemen Joey Slackman and Thor Griffith are ahead of Cook. Griffith has committed to Louisville and Slackman ruled out Miami.

Cook had 22 tackles, six tackles for loss, one interception, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and an interception for Middle Tennessee State in 2023. In five years at Middle Tennessee State, Cook had 61 tackles, 19 TFLs, 10.5 sacks, one interception, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one recovery.

After redshirting as a true freshman in 2022, Riley recorded 48 tackles in eight games with two starts in 2023. Six of the eight games were versus Power Five opponents. The best game for Riley was in a 38-14 loss at Florida with 12 tackles. At 6'2, 202 pounds, Riley would provide Miami with excellent length in the secondary.

Carrie Carpenter posted that Zach will decide where he will transfer to on Sunday. Miami could be getting close to a decision from Ward. The first transfer to the 2024 Miami football roster could occur soon. The transfers will add talent in addition to the sixth-ranked 2024 class less than a week before Early National Signing Day.