Top available transfer DE Tyler Baron reportedly down to Miami football and Mississippi

Edge rusher Tyler Baron who transferred from Tennessee to Louisville in January after committing to Mississippi in December is back in the portal and will decide between Miami and the Rebels per a report from 247Sports via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Miami previously added Marshall edge rusher Elijah Alston for 2024.

Alston participated in spring practice with Louisville before entering the transfer portal last week. Baron visited Miami last weekend and will visit with Mississippi coaches in his home later this week. Baron played high school at Knoxville Catholic in the virtual shadow of Neyland Stadium.

There are no current projections about whether Miami or Mississippi has an edge to sign Baron. Per Jackson, Baron has an unspecified injury that is expected to keep him out for a few more weeks. Baron signed with Tennessee in the 2020 class as the 118th prospect, fourth strong-side defensive end and fourth recruit in Tennessee.

Baron has 101 tackles, 27.0 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, three pass breakups, a fumble recovery that was returned for a touchdown and a forced fumble during his collegiate career. The 2023 season was Baron's best with 28 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 6.0 sacks, two pass breakups and the fumble return for a TD.

Baron is the 28th-ranked transfer and fifth-best 2024 edge rusher in the portal by On3. Baron is the top edge rusher currently in the portal and the fourth-best available transfer overall in the On3 rankings. The Miami transfer portal class is 10th nationally in the 247Sports team rankings.

Baron was the sixth-best player in the winter transfer portal, per Pro Football Focus. Baron was fifth in the SEC among edge rushers in 2023 with 41 pressures and a pressure rate of 17 percent per PFF. Baron was fifth nationally with 12 tackles that resulted in a loss or for no gain.

Miami returns starting edge rushers Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor in 2024 and adds Marshall transfer Elijah Alston at the position. Adding Baron would allow Miami to move Bain and Mesidor inside and play Alston and Baron on the edge on passing downs to get the four best pass rushers on the field.

With Mesidor returning from a foot injury that ended his 2023 season after three games, Baron would provide Miami with more depth at the position. Miami is extremely young at edge rusher behind Alston, Bain and Mesidor. Adding Baron would give Miami one of the best groups of edge rushers nationally.