The Miami Hurricanes need to reload at positions like QB, WR, OL, DL, LB and S in order to compete again for a spot in the ACC Championship.
The Miami Hurricanes don’t need to overload the roster with transfer portal players but they clearly need to replace this year’s exiting crop of players with some play now talent. Here are 10 players
We’re going to split the list between offensive and defensive players, but this list isn’t in a ranking order, I just ordered it by position.
The Offensive Players
The Miami Hurricanes have talent on offense but need to use the transfer portal to fill some stop gap holes in the lineup. Miami has to replace Cam Ward, Damien Martinez, Xavier Retrepo, Jacolby George, Elijah Arroyo, Jalen Rivers and Zach Carpenter.
Miami has pieces on campus but clearly they haven’t effectively acquired or developed a center, and the QB position can’t be left up to a trio of freshmen with little to no playing experience in college football.
QB Fernando Mendoza, California
I expect Fernando Mendoza to wind up in orange and green as the ‘Canes starting QB in 2025. Mendoza is a Columbus High School alumnus and Miami native. He put up a hell of a fight against Miami in the big game at Cal. In two seasons the 6-5, 225 pound QB has thrown 30 TD’s with 16 INT’s on 7.5 yards per attempt.
The good news is he’s improved from year one to year two. The bad news is Mendoza is hardly a Cam Ward in an offense that clearly needed one to get to 10 wins. Mendoza took 41 sacks this season and Miami will be replacing their left tackle and center.
I’m a much bigger fan of Tulane Green Wave QB Darian Mensah, but he’s a Duke Blue Devil.
RB Wayshawn Parker, Washington State
Wayshawn Parker comes from a high profile offense with Ben Arbuckle as his OC and John Mateer at quarterback. Parker, a 6-0 and 200 pound all purpose back, could be a nice mix with Mark Fletcher as more of a pass catcher.
Parker scored five times on 5.4 yards per carry a year ago. His biggest game in ‘24 was against Utah State, but he had nice game against Texas Tech.
Photo by Tyler Ingham/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
WR Eric Singleton Jr., Georgia Tech
I would throw a ton of eggs into the Eric Singleton Jr. basket. Singleton is a playmaker who can catch the ball, run it in space and return kickoffs; the latter of which Miami desperately needs in ‘25. Over two seasons in Atlanta Singleton has scored 10 touchdowns in a high school wing-t style offense.
Singleton is the type of player that could replace Xavier Restrepo in the Miami lineup, but the 5-11, 190 pound transfer will be sought after by drop-happy UGA which is closer to home. I also like Kevin Concepcion, the do-it-all slot receiver from NC State.
TE Max Klare, Purdue
Miami needs a tight end with Elijah Arroyo moving on to the NFL. Ryan Williams has been little used and Elija Lofton is more of a traditional fullback than a modern TE. Klare is a Jeff Brohm type of player so Miami will have to battle with Louisville for him.
He’s 6-4 and 240 pounds which is great for a flex TE. In 2024, Klare averaged 13+ yards per catch with four TD’s for the Boilermakers.
OL Hunter Zambrano, Illinois State
Hunter Zambrano played his high school ball in south Florida at University School in Ft. Lauderdale A left tackle at the FCS level, Zambrano is 6-5, 300 pounds and a sixth year senior. He’s seen as a pro prospect but will need to get reps at the P4 level before declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Miami could use an influx of OL talent even if he bumps inside to guard. There’s no reason to go into the ‘25 season with only Markel Bell and Samson Okunlola as potential LT’s.
C Braelin Moore, Virginia Tech
Miami desperately needs to develop a center, but I think they’ll hit the portal for the third season in a row. Moore is 6-3 and 303 pounds with center experience in the ACC. Cristobal and Mirabal have seen him in action and I think he’d be a great fit at the position. Cam Ward can help vet him through Kyron Drones.
Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
The Defensive Players
The offensive players in the transfer portal have a higher floor but the defensive players have a higher ceiling. Miami needs to replace Tyler Baron, Simeon Barrow, Kiko Mauigoa, and Mishael Powell. The ‘Canes have some talent already on the roster- the question is will that talent be developed?
DE Williams Nwaneri, Missouri
Williams Nwaneri is a high potential, low production transfer out of Missouri. He’s 6-7 and 255 pounds which makes him an intriguing prospect. Plus he would have his entire college career in front of him.
On the other side Miami has enough potential and needs production after Tyler Baron’s disappointing season and with players bouncing in and out of the portal.
Eric Canha-Imagn Images
DT Keeshawn Silver, Kentucky
Keeshawn Silver will be heading to his third university in five seasons. Silver is 6-4 and 334 pounds and you can’t teach size. Silver is from Rocky Mount, NC and could find his way back to the area either at App State, NCSU or even back to UNC.
At Kentucky under Stoops, Silver logged one sack, 26 stops and one TFL in his final year as a Wildcat and as a big fella that’s an okay stat line.
LB Josiah Trotter, WVU
Miami is in the market for an inside linebacker to replace Francisco Mauigoa and Trotter is a solid fit. He’s 6-2, 238 pounds and is the son of former NFL linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. In ‘24 Trotter logged 36 solo tackles with two PBU’s and only four TFL’s.
Trotter as a three-star out of high school and will be again in the transfer portal per 247 Sports. From the look of the image below he’d fit right in on Lance Guidry’s defense.
Ben Queen-Imagn Images
S Dillon Thieneman, Purdue
Dillon Thieneman is a 6-0, 207 pound safety who has two years of experience in the Big Ten. Thieneman has logged seven tackles for loss, six interceptions and nine PBU’s with two forced fumbles.
Barry Odom is heading to Purdue as their new head coach and Thieneman would have to hear him out before jumping ship. But the four-star portal player will have a ton of suitors who can guarantee a stronger defensive performance than Purdue or Miami. This is a plug-and-play starter for the Miami Hurricanes.
The Wrap
The Hurricanes aren’t in desperation mode, like say FSU, but they do need to fill some glaring spots in the depth chart. Cam Ward has left a massive hole at the QB position, as expected, and guys like Retrepo, Arroyo, Rivers, and Simeon Barrow are potential NFL draft picks this year.
Miami finished the season 10-2 which is okay, but not competing in the ACC Championship Game means the season was a failure even if not a total loss. Mario Cristobal has to keep building and moving onward even without Ward at QB.