Miami Hurricanes Transfer Portal round-up

To the chagrin of many of you, I made the editorial decision to focus on the Miami Hurricanes’ push for a National Championship in the College Football Playoffs, and left the transfer portal movement for later. That journey ended with a loss in the National Championship Game on Monday, so with the season fully completed, it’s not time to discuss the portal movement in and out for the Miami Hurricanes as we build the roster for another title run in 2026.

Portal Departures

There were always departures and attrition from the roster after every season, but in this current version of College Football, there are more departures from every team, with players moving for a variety of reasons. From playing time to coaches leaving to seeking more money, players have tons of reasons to leave a place. Miami is no exception to having seen attrition and departures from the roster. Here are the players who have declared their intentions to leave:

• QB Emory Williams — a longtime backup, Williams was a program player, who was never going to start at Miami. He has signed with East Carolina.
• RB Girard Pringle Jr.* — a talented true freshman, Pringle worked his way from scout team to starter with Mark Fletcher Jr. injured in the latter part of the year. However, Fletcher came back in the CFP and was the central focus of the offense, and Pringle had 4 carries total in the playoffs, and none in the semifinals or championship game. Frustrated with the lack of playing time, Pringle Jr. entered the portal…for about a day. Miami did what they had to do immediately to get him to return to the roster and he’s staying in Coral Gables.
• WR Chance Robinson — a former blue chip recruit who was recruited over and battled injuries in his time at Miami, Robinson is transferring to North Carolina State for a fresh start.
• WR Ny Carr — a former blue chip recruit who was recruited over and never really showed the talent he had in high school at this level, Carr is transferring to Wake Forest for a fresh start.
• WR Ray Ray Joseph — once thought to be the next game-breaking slot receiver and punt returner, Joseph never challenged Xavier Restrepo for those reps in previous years, then was recruited over and watched Malachi Toney set records at the positions he plays. Joseph is transferring to East Carolina, where he will team with Emory Williams in looking for a fresh start, and the chance to find the playing time he never could at Miami.
• WR Jojo Trader — a top HS talent, Trader never really got things going in his time at Miami. He was unable to unseat older players in 2024, and did little with his playing opportunities in 2025. He’s leaving Miami looking for a fresh start and the chance to have an impact elsewhere.
• TE Brock Schott — An uber talented player, Schott redshirted as a freshman in 2025. Though the path to major playing time at Miami was wide open for him, Schott elected to return home, transferring to Indiana just after the end of the regular season.
• OL Nino Francavilla — developmental prospect who didn’t really develop and was recruited over.
• OT Deryc Plazz — blue chip tackle prospect who was recruited over. He’s signed with Auburn.
• OT Tommy Kinsler IV — talented and massive (6’6” 340lb) lineman who was recruited over, but could have challenged for playing time next year. Current predictions are that he’ll join Plazz at Auburn, but Ole Miss is making a strong push here as well.
• DT Donta Simpson — true freshman who played more than 100 snaps this season, he was on the path to major playing time in 2026. One of the most baffling departures in my opinion. He’s signed with Missouri.
• DT Artavius Jones — Blue chip tackle who struggled to unlock his potential. He’s leaving for a fresh start elsewhere.
• DT Daylen Russell — depth player who was recruited over. Russell has signed with Louisville.
• EDGE/LB Malik Bryant — blue chip recruit who bounced between edge and linebacker. Mainly played on special teams here but has talent. Bryant has signed with Missouri, where he’ll join Donta Simpson.
• LB Bobby Washington Jr. — Miami legacy with some talent, but struggled to work his way into a role other than special teams. He looks for a fresh start elsewhere (as did his twin brother WR Robby after last season).
• CB Charles Brantley — A transfer portal addition that didn’t work out. Brantley was supposed to start at slot corner, but Miami added Keionte Scott and he was an All-American level player there instead. Brantley is going back where he started, and has signed with Michigan State.
• DB Jadais Richard — A talented transfer from Vanderbilt, Richard suffered an ACL tear late in the 2024 season, and only played a handful of snaps in 2025. He’s transferring elsewhere in search of a fresh start and more playing time.
• S Amari Wallace — A blue chip recruit, Wallace played a handful of snaps after recovering from a gruesome leg injury that cost him his senior season in HS in 2024. He’s departing in search of playing time elsewhere.
• S Markeith Williams — obligatory addition here, Williams was kicked off the team in September. He’s in search of a fresh start to continue his career.

Portal Additions

Now, we get to the fun part: the additions Miami has made in the portal. There are some big names to know already, and others Miami is still chasing.

• Missouri EDGE Damon Wilson II — the easy headliner of the additions, Wilson is a player I’ve wanted at Miami for years. A former 5-star recruit from Venice (FL), Wilson II chose Georgia out of HS, and transferred to Mizzou for this season. 23 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 9 sacks, 2 PBUs, 1 FR, and 1 Interception en route to 2nd team All-SEC honors in 2024. Adding Wilson, arguably the best edge rusher in the portal this cycle, ensures Miami’s DL will remain stocked with elite talent.
• Ohio State DT Jarquez Carter — a blue chip recruit in 2025, OSU beat Miami for Carter. Now, the tables are turned and the talented tackle is making his way to Coral Gables. Expect Carter to be in the rotation at DT next year, and starring up front in 2027 for the Hurricanes.
• Boston College S Omar Thornton — A talented and physical defender, Thornton returns home to South Florida to play for the Canes. The Plantation (FL) American Heritage alum posted 82 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 PBU, and 1 interception in an honorable mention All-ACC season in 2025.
• South Carolina WR Vandrevius Jacobs — another South Florida native, Jacobs is a big play receiver who will add a vertical element to Miami’s offense. Jacobs had 32 catches for 548 yards (17.1 yards per catch) and 4 touchdowns in 2025.
• West Virginia WR Cam Vaughn — another big play receiver, the 6’2” Vaughn has made stops at Jacksonville State (where he played with starting S Zechariah Poyser in 2024) and West Virginia prior to Miami. Vaughn had 35 catches for 541 yards (15.5 yards per catch) and 4 TDs for the Mountaineers in 2025.
• Georgia OT Jamal Meriweather —A 6’7” 305 Tackle, Meriweather adds size and strength to Miami’s OL. It remains to be seen if he’s able to challenge for playing time along Miami’s vaunted OL, but with 4 starters departing for the NFL draft, including both tackles, there’s nothing but opportunity for Meriweather to make his mark.
• Northwestern K Jack Olsen — Miami continues to play kicker roulette now that the Borregales kicking dynasty is over. Olsen is a talented kicker with an average leg. He went 19/21 on FGs last year, and 40/51 over 3 years for Northwestern. He’s also 69/70 on PATs in his career.
• Florida State K Jake Weinberg — Kicker roulette continues with a strong legged kicker joining the competition. Weinberg was perfect on PATs in his only year kicking at FSU, but 12/19 on FGs. Strong leg, but needs to improve accuracy. Same was said about Carter Davis ahead of 2025, for those who don’t remember.

Potential future additions

While Miami has added several players in the portal, the work of building the 2026 roster is not finished for the Hurricanes.

The biggest name to know here is Duke QB Darian Mensah. While many in the Miami program expect Mensah to be the quarterback in 2026, Duke is suing the star player to keep him in Durham. While Miami has options if Mensah’s transfer to Miami is blocked — namely redshirt freshman Luke Nickel and true freshman Dereon Coleman — getting Mensah is the best option and best player for Miami’s 2026 team and offense. Mensah was 2nd team all-ACC and had 3,973 yards passing on 67% completions with 34 TDs and 6 INTs in 2025.

Mensah’s legal team got the next hearing in this legal battle moved up from February 3rd do January 29th, so stay tuned.

Another player to know is Duke WR Cooper Barkate. Mensah’s leading receiver, Barkate joined his QB on 2nd team All-ACC posting 72 catches for 1,106 yards and 7 TDs. Barkate played his first 3 years at Harvard, compiling 113 catches for 1,742 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2 full seasons and a redshirt year.

With more than 4,000 players in the transfer portal, there are plenty of available options for Miami to add to the 2026 roster. We’ll discuss those names if and when necessary.

So there you have it. The long-awaited transfer portal rundown.

The offseason has begun. Let’s grind.

Go Canes