From the Ashes.

[Soapy]

Lost to the eventual champs, ain't that bad of a look

fuck that, need to win the chip

[Captain Canada]

That's one hell of a graduating/declaring class to leave you. Going to be interesting how you reload for next season

[Soapy]

That's one hell of a graduating/declaring class to leave you. Going to be interesting how you reload for next season

funny you mention that...

[Soapy]

Projecting potential areas of improvement for the Miami Hurricanes via the transfer portal
Eddie Fernandez -- 247 Sports Miami Insider

Good news: three points separate the Miami Hurricanes from the eventual national champions. Bad news: those three points exist.

While a lot of attention will be made to the quarterback position and a likely off-season battle between Keke Hagg and Bernie Flowers, and with good reason, the Hurricanes have plenty of work to do just to get back to be within three points of beating the national champions.

Miami is losing thirteen starter level players to graduation and the draft, including three of their top receivers in Jeremiah Smith, Eric Incoom and Joshisa Trader in addition to three starters along the offensive line and many key defensive players in Armondo Blount, Cam Pruitt, James Fernandez and Robert Stafford.

The Hurricanes have done really well on the high school recruiting front but in modern college football, the transfer portal is the most ready made way to patch up a championship level roster. Here's a look at some positions that the Hurricanes need some help at and what the transfer portal market is looking like:

Running back
Current players: Isaac Brown (redshirt senior), Maurice Rugamba (senior), Deron Tryon (junior), Quincy Dukes (sophomore), Kaseem Dalton (true freshman)
Departures: Chris Johnson Jr. (297 snaps, 54 car, 270 yds, 3 TD, 24 rec, 207 yds, TD)
Potential transfer portal targets: Andre Devine (Jax State), Micah Kaapana (Michigan)

We had those same discussions last year when the Hurricanes were pondering if they should bring in Isaac Brown or let their current guys -- Johnson, Rugamba, Tryon -- battle it out to replace Mark Fletcher.

Miami went all-in on Brown and it paid off with him leading the team in all rushing categories. They face a similar but slightly different dilemma this time around as they have their feature back in Brown but could look to get some more juice behind him. Rugamba is mostly a short yardage back while Tryon averaged just 3.6 yards per carry and was most effective as a pass catcher with 24 receptions, second most on the team among the running backs.

There might not be an all-world talent in the portal but guys like Micah Kaapana and Andre Devine do offer a skillset that the Hurricanes could use in terms of replacing Chris Johnson's big play potential that he brought, even if it never fully actualized in Chris Weinke's offense like it did in Shannon Dawson's.

Wide receiver
Current players: Davon Momah (junior), Miguel Escobar (redshirt junior), Troy McMahan (redshirt sophomore), David Tompkins (sophomore), Max North (true freshman), WR Tim Rattay (true freshman), Etinosa Ha (true freshman)
Departures: Jeremiah Smith (846 snaps, 53 rec, 853 yds, 7 TD), Eric Incoom (630 snaps, 49 rec, 737 yds, 13 TD), Joshisa Trader (488 snaps, 38 rec, 471 yds, 9 TD), William Fowles (101 snaps, 4 rec, 29 yds, TD)
Potential transfer portal targets: Nick Hurley (George State), Marquez Waiters (Minnesota)

It's not a great year to be looking for a receiver and Miami certainly needs help at the position after losing three of their best guys to the draft, including their top slot guys and their best receiver in Smith.

Outside of Momah, Miami just doesn't have any proven talent on the roster and just numbers wise, they're a bit light at the position with just four returning players. Escobar showed flashed last season, as did McMahan, but nothing to make you feel good about them being your top guys next year in a passing game that was hot and cold even with the explosive firepower of Smith, Momah, Trader and Incoom.

Center
Current players: Nico Francavilla (redshirt senior), Taylor Warmack (redshirt sophomore)
Departures: Will Larkins (1068 snaps, 57.8 PFF grade)
Potential transfer portal targets: Waltclaire Flynn (UCF), Amare Grayson (Jax State)

How confident are the Hurricanes, and specifically head coach Mario Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal, on their development? If they feel good internally, Nico Francavilla should be ready after five years of seasoning and sitting behind other guys to take the reign or perhaps Warmack, the highly touted recruit that played some last year at guard.

If they're not, Flynn is one of the top guys in the portal, regardless of position, and would be an instant upgrade at the position, perhaps even over Will Larkins who struggled last year after having a very strong first year with the Hurricanes.

Inside Linebacker
Current players: Jacques Turk (senior), Alonzo DuBois (junior)
Departures: James Fernandez (329 snaps, 66 tkl, 20 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 INT, 3 PBU), Cam Pruitt (593 snaps, 69 tkl, 15 TFL, 2 sacks, INT, 7 PBU)
Potential transfer portal targets: Hugh Benson (Arkansas State), Payton Pierce (Ohio State), Seneca Moore (Liberty)

Another position that suffered heavy losses is the inside linebacker position with Fernandez and Pruitt heading to the draft. DuBois played some last year but the Hurricanes would probably prefer to pair Turk, who led the team in tackles, with a more proven player.

Options are plenty in the portal, led by Hugh Benson, the top ranked player in the portal. He's a dynamic, rangy, sideline to sideline player that fits perfectly with Turk to give the Hurricanes one of the more athletic linebacker combos in the country.

Notable Transfer Portal Players
#1 Hugh Benson [OLB #1]: Deerfield Beach, FL | Prev Team: Arkansas State
#2 Jeremy Payne [HB #1]: Missouri City, TX | Prev Team: North Texas
#3 Nick Herrera [DE #1]: Dallas, TX | Prev Team: Texas
#4 Carter Nelson [TE #1]: Papillion, NE | Prev Team: Nebraska
#5 WaltClaire Flynn [C #1]: Grayson, GA | Prev Team: UCF
#6 Payton Pierce [ILB #1]: Lucas, TX | Prev Team: Ohio State
#7 Jamaal Roy [CB #1]: Gowrie, IA | Prev Team: Iowa State
#8 Tayten Beyer [CB #2]: Corona, CA | Prev Team: San Diego State
#9 Poasa Utu [ILB #2]: Arlington, TX | Prev Team: Oklahoma State
#10 Micah Kaapana [HB #2]: Las Vegas, NV | Prev Team: Michigan
#11 Willie Goodacre [G #1]: Denton, TX | Prev Team: Syracuse
#12 E'Zaiah Shine [CB #2]: Daytona Beach, FL | Prev Team: Old Dominion
#13 Jon Sheets [DT #1]: Indianapolis, IN | Prev Team: Notre Dame
#14 Jo'Ziah Edmonds [CB #3]: Nappanee, IN | Prev Team: Michigan
#15 Andrew Sprague [T #1]: Kansas City, MO | Prev Team: Michigan
#16 Jamir Benjamin [CB #4]: West Bloomfield, MI | Prev Team: Michigan
#17 Samuel Crawford [T #2]: Oklahoma City, OK | Prev Team: Texas Tech
#18 Gabe Jewel [HB #3]: San Marcos, CA | Prev Team: North Carolina
#19 Andrew Dennis [G #2]: Mount Pleasant, MI | Prev Team: Tulsa
#20 Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman [CB #5]: Minneapolis, MN | Prev Team: Charlotte
#21 Dylan Sikorski [G #3]: Sumner, WA | Prev Team: Oregon State
#22 Anthony Westerman [DE #2]: Miami, FL | Prev Team: Indiana
#23 Seneca Moore [OLB #2]: Sumter, SC | Prev Team: Liberty
#24 Jaleel Freeman [OLB #3]: Shallotte, NC | Prev Team: Virginia Tech
#25 Frank Murphey [CB #6]: Miami, FL | Prev Team: UCF

2028 Miami Hurricanes Recruiting Class
Max North [WR #2]: 6'6", 201lbs | West Palm Beach, FL | 5-star
Etinosa Ha [WR #3]: 6'3", 195lbs | Bradenton, FL [IMG] | 5-star
Kaseem Dalton [HB #3]: 5'10", 235lbs | Clairton, PA [IMG] | 5-star
Tyler Rattay [WR #7]: 6'2", 203lbs | Tampa, FL | 5-star
Nick Kahn [DE #5]: 6'3", 271lbs | Orlando, FL | 4-star
Baraka Tejada [RT #5]: 6'7", 311lbs | Lakeland, FL | 4-star
Nate Keke [RG #3]: 6'3", 309lbs | Delray Beach, FL | 4-star
Vai Ball [FS #8]: 5'11", 208lbs | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 4-star
Carl Godwin [FS #10]: 6'1", 196lbs | Miami, FL | 4-star
Max Massey [RG #5]: 6'2", 322lbs | Pensacola, FL | 4-star
Tobias Salaam [RG #15]: 6'2", 294lbs | Tampa, FL | 4-star
Jeff Beavers [QB #38]: 6'2", 216lbs | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 4-star

[six7]

replenished the wr room real quick...

hard to lose trader, incoom, and smith in the same year, but ooowweeee max north looks like a tud machine, and rattay and ha look like solid contributors as well.

i think given the surrounding talent coming in this year, jeff beavers might be the next great qb were talking about in 2-3 years...

[Captain Canada]

Going to be really leaning on youth in the receiver room it seems like

[Soapy]

replenished the wr room real quick...

hard to lose trader, incoom, and smith in the same year, but ooowweeee max north looks like a tud machine, and rattay and ha look like solid contributors as well.

i think given the surrounding talent coming in this year, jeff beavers might be the next great qb were talking about in 2-3 years...

Losing Incoom is TOUGH. didn't expect him to declare early. not sure who else is going to be that reliable target in the slot.

As far as Beavers, 88 speed, 94 throw power with magician, option king and off platform as abilities already. WE COOKING!

Going to be really leaning on youth in the receiver room it seems like

The transfer portal not hitting on anything, going to have to

[Soapy]

Miami offensive coordinator Chris Weinke throws water on anticipated quarterback battle
Manny Ledo -- The Miami Herald Sports Columnist

In his first media availability since the Miami Hurricanes loss to the Tennessee Volunteers in the CFP Semi Finals, Hurricanes offensive coordinator Chris Weinke took responsibility for the Hurricanes' offensive struggles against the Vols and asserted that quarterback Keke Hagg is the team's starter going forward.

"We just need to do a better job of putting our guys in situations to succeed," Weinke told the media, "[Hagg] has been with us for the past two springs, a couple of fall camps together so as a coaching staff and as a play caller, we're definitely finding that rhythm and knowing what works, what doesn't work and more importantly, how we adjust to the adjustments that defenses are throwing at us."

Weinke confirmed that he views Hagg as the team's starting quarterback, despite being benched against Tennessee.

"We needed a spark, that wasn't entirely or a reflection of [Hagg]," said Weinke, "There's definitely things for [Hagg] to improve on but I think the best case scenario for us an offense is to get those reps in, get him even more comfortable with the new group of receivers we're bringing in and get rolling instead of [splitting reps]."

The Hurricanes are currently slated to begin spring football in two months.

[Baze]

I saw that offensive line getting bodied over and over again. Need to whip them into shape #MAGA

[Soapy]

Hurricanes strike big in the transfer portal with big time veteran additions, finish with top five class
Eddie Fernandez -- 247 Sports Miami Insider

With their high school class locked up, the Miami Hurricanes were able to focus on the transfer portal and struck gold, signing six of the portal's top players, including the portal's top ranked player in Arkansas State linebacker Hugh Benson, a former walk-on for the Hurricanes. Miami also added two running backs in Micah Kaapana (Michigan) and Andre Devine (Jacksonville State), IOL Damian Carmona (Oregon State) and defensive ends Anthony Westerman (Indiana) and Kentrell Hicks (Liberty).

Devine is the son of former NFL player Noel Devine and projects to play a similar gadget role for the Hurricanes as his father did in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. During his final two seasons at Jacksonville State, Devine averaged over 45 yards per game and caught at least twenty receptions in each of the past two seasons, including last year where he played in only eight games due to injury. Devine is a similar talent to the departing Chris Johnson Jr. and should instantly become one of Miami's fastest players.

The Hurricanes doubled up at the position by bringing in Kaapana, who played at the same high school as Elija Lofton so the staff was familiar with him. As a junior, he rushed for 624 yards and three touchdowns for the Wolverines, catching 34 passes for 319 yards and two touchdowns out of the backfield. The Hurricanes instantly shored up their running back depth with these additions as well as applied some competitive pressure on returning starter Isaac Brown who struggled with fumbles at times last year.

The top ranked player in the portal, Benson is a Deerfield Beach native who is returning home after making his name with Arkansas State. Benson was a walk-on with Miami before transferring to Arkansas State where he earned a scholarship offer after his first season with the Red Wolves. Benson emerged as a top linebacker in the Sun Belt the past two seasons, recording nineteen tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks along with an interception over the course of two years. He projects to be Miami's starting MIKE linebacker next to Jacques Turk, replacing the rotation of Cam Pruitt and James Fernandez that are headed to the NFL.

Westerman had four sacks for the Hoosiers last year and figures to be a rotational player while Hicks and Carmona have two years of eligibility left and project to be depth pieces for a Miami team that has aspirations of playing sixteen games next year.

2028 Miami Transfer Portal Targets
Hugh Benson [OLB #1]: 6'4", 229lbs | Deerfield Beach, FL | Arkansas State | 4-star
Micah Kaapana [HB #1]: 5'11", 195lbs | Las Vegas, NV | Michigan | 4-star
Anthony Westerman [DE #3]: 6'2", 240lbs | Miami, FL | Indiana | 4-star
Andre Devine [HB #5]: 5'8", 160lbs | Nort Fort Myers, FL | Jacksonville State | 4-star
Damian Carmona [G #5]: 6'2", 288lbs | Shakopee, MN | Oregon State | 4-star
Kentrell Hicks [DE #7]: 6'4", 250lbs | Gray, GA | Liberty | 4-star

2028 Miami Hurricanes Recruiting Class
Max North [WR #2]: 6'6", 201lbs | West Palm Beach, FL | 5-star
Etinosa Ha [WR #3]: 6'3", 195lbs | Bradenton, FL [IMG] | 5-star
Kaseem Dalton [HB #3]: 5'10", 235lbs | Clairton, PA [IMG] | 5-star
Tyler Rattay [WR #7]: 6'2", 203lbs | Tampa, FL | 5-star
Nick Kahn [DE #5]: 6'3", 271lbs | Orlando, FL | 4-star
Baraka Tejada [RT #5]: 6'7", 311lbs | Lakeland, FL | 4-star
Nate Keke [RG #3]: 6'3", 309lbs | Delray Beach, FL | 4-star
Vai Ball [FS #8]: 5'11", 208lbs | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 4-star
Carl Godwin [FS #10]: 6'1", 196lbs | Miami, FL | 4-star
Max Massey [RG #5]: 6'2", 322lbs | Pensacola, FL | 4-star
Tobias Salaam [RG #15]: 6'2", 294lbs | Tampa, FL | 4-star
Jeff Beavers [QB #38]: 6'2", 216lbs | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 4-star

247Sports Top 25 Recruiting Class
1. Georgia
2. Oregon
3. Ohio State
4. Miami
5. LSU
6. Penn State
7. Clemson
8. Oklahoma
9. Texas
10. Alabama
11. TCU
12. Tennessee
13. Notre Dame
14. Nebraska
15. Florida State
16. NC State
17. Arkansas
18. Ole Miss
19. Stanford
20. Michigan
21. USC
22. Washington
23. Duke
24. South Carolina
25. Colorado
--------------
36. Virginia Tech
39. SMU
45. Boston College
46. Pittsburgh
51. Virginia
55. Louisville
70. North Carolina
82. Syracuse
86. Georgia Tech
104. Wake Forest
112. California

Notable Transfer Portal Players
#1 Hugh Benson [OLB #1]: Deerfield Beach, FL | Prev Team: Arkansas State | Miami
#2 Jeremy Payne [HB #1]: Missouri City, TX | Prev Team: North Texas | Texas
#3 Nick Herrera [DE #1]: Dallas, TX | Prev Team: Texas | LSU
#4 Carter Nelson [TE #1]: Papillion, NE | Prev Team: Nebraska | Colorado
#5 WaltClaire Flynn [C #1]: Grayson, GA | Prev Team: UCF | Florida State
#6 Payton Pierce [ILB #1]: Lucas, TX | Prev Team: Ohio State | Texas
#7 Jamaal Roy [CB #1]: Gowrie, IA | Prev Team: Iowa State | Nebraska
#8 Tayten Beyer [CB #2]: Corona, CA | Prev Team: San Diego State | Utah
#9 Poasa Utu [ILB #2]: Arlington, TX | Prev Team: Oklahoma State | Alabama
#10 Micah Kaapana [HB #2]: Las Vegas, NV | Prev Team: Michigan | Miami
#11 Willie Goodacre [G #1]: Denton, TX | Prev Team: Syracuse | Minnesota
#12 E'Zaiah Shine [CB #2]: Daytona Beach, FL | Prev Team: Old Dominion | Georgia
#13 Jon Sheets [DT #1]: Indianapolis, IN | Prev Team: Notre Dame | Georgia Tech
#14 Jo'Ziah Edmonds [CB #3]: Nappanee, IN | Prev Team: Michigan | Purdue
#15 Andrew Sprague [T #1]: Kansas City, MO | Prev Team: Michigan | Oklahoma
#16 Jamir Benjamin [CB #4]: West Bloomfield, MI | Prev Team: Michigan | Penn State
#17 Samuel Crawford [T #2]: Oklahoma City, OK | Prev Team: Texas Tech | Oklahoma
#18 Gabe Jewel [HB #3]: San Marcos, CA | Prev Team: North Carolina | Arizona
#19 Andrew Dennis [G #2]: Mount Pleasant, MI | Prev Team: Tulsa | Notre Dame
#20 Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman [CB #5]: Minneapolis, MN | Prev Team: Charlotte | Iowa
#21 Dylan Sikorski [G #3]: Sumner, WA | Prev Team: Oregon State | Oregon
#22 Anthony Westerman [DE #2]: Miami, FL | Prev Team: Indiana | Miami
#23 Seneca Moore [OLB #2]: Sumter, SC | Prev Team: Liberty | Kansas State
#24 Jaleel Freeman [OLB #3]: Shallotte, NC | Prev Team: Virginia Tech | NC State
#25 Frank Murphey [CB #6]: Miami, FL | Prev Team: UCF | Georgia

Top 247 Five-Star Commitments
#1 Leo Traore [DT #1]: New Orleans, LA | 5-star | LSU
#2 George Dukes [FS #1]: Cordele, GA | 5-star | Georgia
#3 David Free [QB #1]: Melissa, TX | 5-star | Texas
#4 Donald Bridge [DT #2]: London, OH | 5-star | Penn State
#5 Bo Heitmann [ILB #1]: Parker, CO | 5-star | Nebraska
#6 Craig Addington [ATH #2]: Brownsville, TN | 5-star | Kentucky
#7 Tobias Gillikin [WR #1]: Arlington, TX | 5-star | SMU
#8 Mick Castonzo [HB #1]: Green Bay, WI | 5-star | Ohio State
#9 Max North [WR #2]: West Palm Beach, FL | 5-star | Miami
#10 Finau Westmoreland [CB #1]: Miami, FL | 5-star | Alabama
#11 Harvey Gardiner [DT #3]: Grovetown, GA | 5-star | Arizona
#12 Denzel Meekins [DT #4]: Missouri City, TX | 5-star | TCU
#13 Timmy Provo [DT #5]: Orlando, FL | 5-star | Georgia
#14 Grant Heath [QB #2]: Woods Cross, UT | 5-star | Oregon
#15 Jabari Yazzie [ATH #2]: Laurens, SC | 5-star | Tennessee
#16 Daniel Garcia [ATH #1]: Chandler, AZ | 5-star | Oregon
#17 Shane Minor [CB #2]: Washington, MD | 5-star | Marshall
#18 Ahmad Draft [RE #1]: Raleigh, NC | 5-star | Georgia
#19 Leon Kane [LT #1]: West Des Moines, IA | 5-star | Oklahoma
#20 Titus Michaud [CB #3]: Hogansville, GA | 5-star | Georgia
#21 Steve Claybrooks [ROLB #1]: Las Vegas, NV | 5-star | Oregon
#22 Etinosa Ha [WR #3]: Bradenton, FL [IMG] | 5-star | Miami
#23 Max Gainwell [RE #2]: Mount Pleasant, SC | 5-star | Virginia Tech
#24 Kaseem Dalton [HB #3]: Clairton, PA [IMG] | 5-star | Miami
#25 Shamir Oden [ROLB #2]: Long Beach, CA | 5-star | UCLA
#26 Caleb Scruggs [RE #3]: Washington, MO | 5-star | Ohio State
#27 Mailau Sweet [WR #4]: Demopolis, AL | 5-star | Clemson
#28 Ramon Beckford [WR #5]: Tucker, GA | 5-star | Ohio State
#29 Damien Crinton [RE #4]: Oakhurst, NJ | 5-star | Penn State
#30 Allen Addison ]WR #6]: Phoenix, AZ [IMG] | 5-star | Colorado
#31 Tyler Rattay [WR #7]: Tampa, FL | 5-star | Miami
32 Stephon Bynum [FS #2]: Weatherford, OK | 5-star | Tulsa

Notable Florida Recruiting Commitments
#9 Max North [WR #2]: West Palm Beach, FL | 5-star | Miami
#10 Finau Westmoreland [CB #1]: Miami, FL | 5-star | Alabama
#13 Timmy Provo [DT #5]: Orlando, FL | 5-star | Georgia
#22 Etinosa Ha [WR #3]: Bradenton, FL [IMG] | 5-star | Miami
#31 Tyler Rattay [WR #7]: Tampa, FL | 5-star | Miami
#33 Nick Kahn [RE #5]: Orlando, FL | 4-star | Miami
#36 Kevin Hurns [LE #1]: Tampa, FL | 4-star | Clemson
#62 Kristian Jordan [SS #1]: Jacksonville, FL | 4-star | Florida
#81 Devin Procter [WR #14]: Navarre, FL | 4-star | Florida State
#90 Khari Michaels [CB #10]: Pensacola, FL | 4-star | Florida
#91 Alex Samia [ATH #8]: Port Orange, FL | 4-star | Florida
#116 Jibreel Nealy [RE #14]: Port Saint Lucie, FL | 4-star | Florida State
#117 Miles Daniels [WR #20]: Fort Lauderdale, FL | 4-star | NC State
#120 Dorian Ingold [WR #21]: Hollywood, FL | 4-star | Alabama
#122 Barka Tejada [RT #5]: Lakeland, FL | 4-star | Miami
#138 Nate Keke [RG #3]: Delray Beach, FL | 4-star | Miami
#140 Vai Ball [FS #8]: Fort Lauderdale, FL | 4-star | Miami
#145 Carl Godwin [FS #10]: Miami, FL | 4-star | Miami
#150 Brian Randle [CB #14]: Fort Myers, FL [IMG] | 4-star | Clemson
#166 Max Massey [RG #5]: Pensacola, FL | 4-star | Miami
#173 Adrian Gomes [WR #27]: Miami, FL | 4-star | Georgia
#193 Sam Fineanganofo [DE #20]: Fort Lauderdale, FL | 4-star | Alabama
#203 Trumaine Rhodes [FS #19]: Bradenton, FL [IMG] | 4-star | Ohio State
#205 Brian Trapasso [WR #30]: Miami, FL | 4-star | Florida
#239 Asahiah Stark [CB #24]: Apopka, FL | 4-star | Iowa State