According to 247 Sports, the Hurricanes have the 33rd ranked transfer portal class in America with ten additions so far. Miami has had to be selective due to limited roster spots and official visits available. If you combine Miami’s recruiting class with their portal class, they boast the sixth overall class in the country. Miami’s recruiting Class of 2024 ranks 4th.
The top members of Miami’s portal class could play season-changing roles. On my Locked On Canes podcast, I offered my top five power ranking of transfers who will have the biggest impact in 2024:
1- Quarterback Cam Ward. No surprise here. Miami managed to upgrade at the most important position on the field. The former Washington State transfer can make every throw and can extend plays with his athleticism. Adding him was a home run.
2- Safety Mishael Powell. Miami needed a veteran like this to solidify a young safety room. The Hurricanes lost their two top guys, Kam Kinchens and James Williams, to the NFL. Powell started every game in 2023 for the national runner-up Washington Huskies. He projects as a 2024 starter at Miami and can provide valuable mentorship for younger safeties like Kaleb Spencer, Markeith Williams, Zaquan Patterson and Jaden Harris.
3- Center Zach Carpenter. He will try to fill the very big shoes left behind by Matt Lee. The Indiana transfer was Miami’s best option in the Transfer Portal and they got him. Carpenter graded out well with the Hoosiers and has played a whopping 1,895 career snaps. He’s another probable opening-game starter for the Hurricanes.
4- Defensive tackle CJ Clark. Another graduate transfer. He featured as a regular starter for the NC State Wolfpack. I love the fact that Clark knows the ACC inside and out after four seasons in Raleigh. He can help stabilize Miami’s interior DL rotation while young stars like Justin Scott, Artavius Jones, and Armondo Blount gain experience. I expect Clark to be a starter in Miami.
5- Edge Elijah Alston. I’m not sure if the Marshall transfer will be a regular starter at Miami, but we can expect him to be an important rotational player at the very least. He collected 11.5 tackles for loss with the Thundering Herd last season. He already knows Lance Guidry’s system after having played for Miami’s defensive coordinator at Marshall.
There could be several gems among Miami’s other transfers. I am certainly not sleeping on safety Savion Riley, DT Marley Cook, and RB Rodney Hill as candidates to play important roles next year.
Quarterback transfer Reese Poffenbarger has a legit chance at winning the backup quarterback job and safety Isaiah Taylor has an opportunity to develop into a contributor, too.
Miami will have more opportunities to add transfers. They recently hosted Washington OL Nate Kalepo for a visit. He will decide between Miami and Ole Miss this week. The Hurricanes will have additional players to choose from when the transfer portal reopens on April 16th.
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