Miami football gets transfer portal high grade from national recruiting site

The Miami football program significantly improved its offense and added critical depth on defense during the spring transfer portal window. Jacey Zembal gave Miami an A- in the article "Grading how each ACC program did in the spring portal window." That was the highest grade Zembal handed out.

Running back Damien Martinez and wide receiver Sam Brown are projected starters for Miami who were added during the spring portal window. Defensive tackle Simeon Barrow is another projected starter. Linebacker Jaylin Alderman should compete for first-team snaps and cornerback Dyoni Hill adds depth.

Miami has 13 transfers total new to the roster entering the 2024 season. The majority will compete to be starters. Brown, Martinez and quarterback Cam Ward, who transferred to Miami in January are expected to provide the Hurricanes with more consistency and explosiveness offensively in 2024.

Zembel outlined the Miami spring incoming and outgoing transfers. Most of the Miami outgoing transfers were not expected to make an impact for Miami in 2024. The exception was defensive tackle Jared Harrison-Hunte who has been a multi-year starter and is not mentioned by Zembal.

"Miami (Fla.): A-

Key additions: Jaylin Alderman, LB (Louisville); Simeon Barrow Jr., DT (Michigan State); Samuel Brown, WR (Houston); Damien Martinez, RB (Oregon State); Dyoni Hill, CB (Marshall).

Key subtractions: Jayden Wayne, DE (Washington); Jacurri Brown, QB (UCF); Nyjalik Kelly, DE (UCF); Henry Parrish, RB (Ole Miss).

Outlook: Few teams in college football have been as active in the transfer portal as the Hurricanes, both in the winter and the spring. Sure, some nice potential players have departed, but they are far out-weighed by the newcomers.

Martinez is a major addition and has two years of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot, 232-pounder rushed 194 times for 1,185 yards and nine scores for Oregon State last year. He’ll combine with sophomore Mark Fletcher to form a potent 1-2 running punch.

Barrow had 36 tackles and 3.5 sacks, and brings another big body to the fold with winter transfer C.J. Clark of NC State.

Brown caught 62 passes for 815 yards and three touchdowns at Houston last fall. He played his first two years at West Virginia.

Hill is another value pickup, getting 55 tackles and an interception last year for the Thundering Herd."

- Jacey Zembal, Rivals

Brown and Martinez would not likely have transferred to Miami without Ward on the roster. Martinez is critical with Fletcher recovering from a Lisfranc foot injury late in the 2023 season. Brown gives Miami three 2023 800-yard receivers as projected starters. Barrow is a key big body in the middle of the Miami defensive line.

Alderman had a breakout season in 2023 with 62 tackles, 7.0 seven tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Miami LB coach Derek Nicholson recruited Alderman to Louisville. Hill will be the third CB in the Miami rotation behind returning starters Damari Brown and Darryl Porter Jr.

Miami might not be finished in the spring transfer portal window. The Hurricanes recently hosted edge rusher Tyler Baron who has not decided on his next destination yet. Baron previously played at Tennessee and spent this spring at Louisville.