ANALYSIS: Did Miami win the transfer portal war this year? Closer look at what was added … and lost

Putting aside the argument of whether or not it’s a good thing that Miami’s averaged more than 13 transfers in Mario Cristobal ‘s three portal cycles as head coach, the immediate focus for the 2024 team is what kind of talent was added … and if it was at the right positions.

So let’s take a closer look, position by position, to determine if Miami won the transfer portal war this year.

In the backdrop of it all is this fact: Of the 11 transfers taken for the 2022 season, four wound up starting multiple games and contributing in a significant way (DT Darrell Jackson, DL Akheem Mesidor, CB Daryl Porter and RB Henry Parrish). In 2023? While 16 transfers enrolled, two were short-lived (DB Terry Roberts and DT Jamil Burroughs). Of the remaining 14, seven started multiple games and were significant contributors (CB Jaden Davis, TE Cam McCormick, C Matt Lee, OG Javion Cohen, DT Branson Deen, LB Francisco Mauigoa, and we’ll also throw part-time LB starter KJ Cloyd in there).

So of the 25 roster spots taken by transfers the last two years (not including Roberts or Burroughs), there were 11 of those guys that really contributed at a starter level and had some kind of significant production. That’s below a 45 percent “hit” rate on portal guys taking up roster spots. Another argument can be if those guys played at a championship caliber level, but that’s a discussion for a different day.

Which brings us to this year. Perhaps this will be the season that Miami strikes gold in the portal to really complement what is already returning on the roster.

That’s the goal, right?

Your analysis (not including tight end since there were no portal additions this year, with the lone departure Jaleel Skinner):

QUARTERBACK

ADDITIONS: CAM WARD, REESE POFFENBARGER

DEPARTURES: TYLER VAN DYKE, JACURRI BROWN

ANALYSIS : Miami got its top choice in Washington State star Cam Ward, and while he was mulling his NFL decision the Canes also went out and grabbed plan B, Albany’s Reese Poffenbarger. So really it was a best-of-both-worlds scenario for Miami. Ward will come in as a one-year starter who should elevate this offense to heights perhaps not seen since the early 2000s, and then Poffenbarger is waiting in the wings as a backup and will compete with Emory Williams Et. al. next spring. NET RESULT: WON PORTAL WAR

RUNNING BACK

ADDITIONS: DAMIEN MARTINEZ

DEPARTURES: HENRY PARRISH, TREVONTE’ CITIZEN, DON CHANEY

ANALYSIS : Parrish was somewhat a surprise departure in the middle of the spring, but the reality was that while he was experienced and a solid back the writing was on the wall that Miami wanted better. And the Canes got that with the addition of Damien Martinez from Oregon State. The third-year back already starred there in both his seasons and is looking to elevate himself into the first round of the NFL Draft this year at Miami. The depth at the position isn’t great if Mark Fletcher remains out with a serious foot injury into the fall, but with Martinez leading the way you only need so much from guys like Ajay Allen, redshirt freshman Christopher Johnson and true freshmen Chris Wheatley-Humphrey and Jordan Lyle. Let’s also remember that Elijah Lofton is also capable of taking reps at running back. NET RESULT: WON PORTAL WAR

WIDE RECEIVER

via GIPHY

ADDITIONS: SAM BROWN

DEPARTURES: COLBIE YOUNG, BRASHARD SMITH, FRANK LADSON

ANALYSIS : Sam Brown comes in as Houston’s top receiver off a solid 815-yard season, and he will compete with Isaiah Horton and perhaps even JoJo Trader for the third starting job next to Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George. It’s a question of whether Brown will be a playmaker as the No. 3 WR option at this higher level of play after being the top option for the Cougars last year. Miami also chased Arizona State’s Eijhah Badger in the second portal window and Liberty’s CJ Daniels in the first window without success. Losing Young and Smith isn’t too big a deal when you consider the Canes also have some depth with guys like Trader, who looks ready to make plays in Year 1, as well as the explosive Ray Ray Joseph. NET RESULT: EVEN

OFFENSIVE LINE

ADDITIONS: ZACH CARPENTER

DEPARTURES: JON DENIS, LOGAN SAGAPOLU

ANALYSIS : Miami tried during both portal windows to land a difference-making guard to replace Javion Cohen after picking up a solid starting center in Indiana’s Zach Carpenter during the early period. In the second window UM chased USC’s Jason Zandamela and Texas A&M’s Bryce Foster but didn’t gain traction. The same was the case in the first window with Washington’s Nate Kalepo and UCF’s Jabari Brooks. Now, is that the end of the world? Not so much, with Samson Okunlola and Matthew McCoy unproven but capable. Still, it tells you something when coaches target a spot and don’t get a hit. NET RESULT: WON THE WAR AT CENTER, SWING AND A MISS AT GUARD

DEFENSIVE LINE

via GIPHY

ADDITIONS: SIMEON BARROW, ELIJAH ALSTON, CJ CLARK (highlight above), MARLEY COOK ; TBD TYLER BARON

DEPARTURES: THOMAS GORE, JAYDEN WAYNE, JARED HARRISON-HUNTE, NYJALIK KELLY, JAMIL BURROUGHS, COLLINS ACHEAMPONG, CYRUS MOSS. CHANTZ WILLIAMS, JAHFARI HARVEY

ANALYSIS : Miami lost a lot to the portal and also gained a lot personnel-wise. Barrow and Clark are likely to start on the interior, and while neither are world-beaters, both are solid. Alston can also be a nice complement as a rush end after showing he could really get after the QB at Marshall. Cook is a run-stopping interior depth piece. There were misses here, though, as the Canes shot for more. Michigan State DT Derrick Harmon canceled a planned visit in the second portal window, and in the first window South Carolina’s Xzavier Mcleod and Penn’s Joey Slackman were targets. Plus Louisville DE Tyler Baron remains in limbo as Miami really wants to add him as another piece to the line that would be a difference-maker. So a really questionable tackle situation (starters Leonard Taylor and Branson Deen are gone) was solidified to some extent, but at end there really wasn’t a major difference-maker landed yet.

Included in the portal losses here was Nyjalik Kelly, who started in Game 1 last year but then was shut down with injury, and Jared Harrison-Hunte, who started 22 games in his career but never had much production. NET RESULT: WON THE WAR AT DT, TBD AT DE WITH BARON MAKING IT A WIN

LINEBACKER

ADDITIONS: JAYLIN ALDERMAN

DEPARTURES: MARCELLIUS PULLIAM, COREY FLAGG

ANALYSIS : Miami didn’t have a huge need at linebacker with both starters returning and playing well (Francisco Mauigoa, Wesley Bissainthe). That alone makes it a hard sell for a transfer, right? Top transfers all want to come in and be a first-teamer, not told they can provide depth or compete to start. With that in mind it was fine that the Canes added experienced Louisville LB Jaylin Alderman. He can play all the positions and push Bissainthe for the starting job. His past playing time is especially valuable considering the only other linebackers on Miami’s roster have very limited reps. NET RESULT: NO MAJOR DIFFERENCE-MAKING ADDITION

SECONDARY

ADDITIONS: MISHAEL POWELL, D’YONI HILL, SAVION RILEY

DEPARTURES: SAVION RILEY, DEMETRIUS FREENEY, KALEB SPENCER, DAVONTE BROWN

ANALYSIS : Safety was a spot that really needed some “free agent” portal help with Kam Kinchens and James Williams gone. The team took two guys that played safety last year, but Vanderbilt’s Savion Riley left after competing in the spring and Washington’s Mishael Powell was used at nickel in spring ball (he played both nickel and safety with the Huskies). Given the safety issues we would not be surprised if Powell moves back to safety in the fall. Among the guys Miami chased at safety but didn’t gain traction with were Michigan State’s Jaden Mangham. At corner the team took D’yoni Hill from Marshall, and he will compete to start but may wind up a depth piece. Miami shot for other guys but didn’t get much going, including chasing Texas CB Terrance Brooks and Arkansas CB Snaxx Johnson. The Canes also pursued FSU nickel Greedy Vance – landing him would have made it easier to move Powell to safety. Overall Miami really needed some free agents here, and maybe Powell will be one but he struggled in coverage this spring. NET RESULT: LOST PORTAL WAR

With all the above in mind the games have yet to be played, of course. So this is a bit subjective. But based on what Miami targeted and got, there were some big wins on the offensive side … and not so much on the defensive side with perhaps defensive tackle an exception.

It will be interesting to see if a year from now if we are talking about closer to a 70 percent portal “hit” rate, or if it’s again down in the low 40s.

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