USC center Jason Zandamela could be a long-term starter for Miami after entering the transfer portal from USC on Tuesday. Miami center Zach Carpenter who transferred from Indiana in December has one season of eligibility remaining. Zandamela signed with USC in the 2024 class.
Zandamela was the 46th overall prospect, the top-ranked interior offensive lineman and the ninth player in Florida out of Clearwater Academy. Miami could bring in Zandamela to backup Carpenter in 2024 and potentially redshirt him. Zandamela would then compete to be the Miami starting center in 2025.
Zandamela played at Clearwater Academy with 2024 Miami safety signee Isaiah Thomas. Thomas was an early enrollee with Miami. After going through spring practice, Thomas will be able to tell Zandamela what to expect with Miami after spending nearly an entire semester in Coral Gables.
Zandamela who is originally from Mozambique reportedly wanted to return to Florida. Zandamela's family lives in Clearwater. The 247Sports transfer portal rankings have Zandamela as the second-best transfer and stated he headlined the opening day of the spring window with offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor.
Florida, FSU, Miami and Georgia initially become schools to keep an eye on for former On300 OL prospect Jason Zandamela. Tells me he wants to be closer to Clearwater and home. https://t.co/EZj345LA3x
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) April 16, 2024
"Transfer Profile: 4-Star | 97 Rating | No. 7 Overall | No. 1 IOLCarter Bahns, 247Sports
First-year college football players do not often enter the transfer portal before embarking on their freshman seasons, but USC four-star 2024 signee Jason Zandamela did just that in the middle of the Trojans' spring practice slate. Zandamela was the top-ranked interior offensive lineman in the most recent signing class...seeking a new school well in advance of his first college snap. The 6-foot-3, 306-pound lineman is still relatively new to football after spending much of his youth in his native Mozambique but could develop into a standout over the coming years."
During his recruiting process, Zandamela took an official visit to Miami on April 1, 2023. Oklahoma, USC and Florida State received official visits from Zandamela in June 2023. Zandamela committed to the Trojans on June 20, 2023, after he visited Oklahoma and USC and before he visited Tallahassee.
Miami will likely go all in on Zandamela. If Zandamela transfers somewhere else, expect Miami to wait to pursue a transfer in the 2025 class. Miami signed three-star Nino Francavilla in the 2024 class. If Miami signs Zandamela, Francavilla could potentially be developed as a guard.