The Miami Hurricanes have added some notable transfers to their team by way of the transfer portal. Perhaps the biggest “college free agent” this year was D’Eriq King. His decision to come to Miami helps improve the Hurricanes offense tremendously. The addition of Rhett Lashlee taking over and running a spread up-tempo offense also helps. Defensively the Hurricanes added one of the top players in the AAC in defensive end Quincy Roche, who transfers in from Temple. The graduate transfer received many accolades including American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Miami Hurricanes: Transfers Help in Key Positions
Looking at the landscape of football, it becomes difficult to win a game without good players in certain positions. Quarterback is obviously at the top of the list unless you’re an option team. That offensive scheme changes things slightly. The defensive line is another premium position where the talent level to compete for championships is usually high. Perhaps an underrated position which many seem to forget is the kicker. How many big games are lost due to having a below-average kicker?
The transfers that Manny Diaz added this offseason have been in all three of those areas. Adding a potential Heisman candidate in King instantly upgrades an offense. His experience in the spread offense scheme should also help the other players that are transitioning from a more pro-style offense. As a true dual-threat quarterback, his legs add another element that defenses have to defend. This benefits the running backs as well as the receivers, to allow fewer defenders focused on them.
Miami was all too familiar with losing close games last season and the kicker position was a factor why. Diaz and the rest of his staff will sleep better this year knowing that Jose Borregales will be taking over the kicking duties. Not only has he started for multiple seasons but the kicker was part of the FIU team that beat Miami last season.
Dominant Defensive Ends
The Hurricanes were already set to return Greg Rousseau, who led the ACC in sacks as well as being second in the nation. In addition, not only have the Hurricanes added Roche but Miami is also expected to have Jaelan Phillips. Phillips sat out last season after transferring from UCLA. He is a former five-star prospect and flashed as a freshman at UCLA but injuries slowed his progress.
In terms of talent at pass rusher, Miami has some of the best in the country. Roche and Rousseau are the only two defensive ends that return on the same team with ten or more sacks. Throw in the addition of Phillips, if healthy, and Miami has three defensive ends that can change the outcome of a game. What will be interesting is how Miami will try to get all three of the pass rushers on the field at the same time.
Final Word
The Hurricanes, at least on paper, have addressed some of the major issues that hindered them last season. Bringing a spread offense is something that probably should’ve happened earlier in Miami. But getting the right quarterback to run that offense will pay dividends as Diaz added one of the best. For the Hurricanes and Diaz, the addition of these transfers shows that Miami is all in on winning immediately. If the transfers can continue to produce as they’ve done in their previous schools, Miami should win the Coastal.
