Portal shopping list

Portal shopping list

DMoney
DMoney
- Backup QB. This is the trickiest one on the list, because who wants to be a backup? But Jacurri would love a redshirt and he could use one as well. A kid from FCS could make sense.

- Starting-caliber running back. Don Chaney has made plays all spring but cannot be relied upon for obvious reasons. TreVonte Citizen is probably out until mid-season due to a setback in his recovery, and you don't want to rush him. Last year, we looked fairly deep and still had to rely on a UAB kid off the street. They want to add someone who is a legitimate player and not just a body.

- Speedy flanker/Z. The WRs are in better shape than I expected. Colbie Young and Xavier Restrepo look like good starters, and Jacolby George, Isaiah Horton and Breshard Smith have all flashed at various times. You also have explosive freshmen in Ray Ray Joseph and Robby Washington. The missing piece is a true deep threat with speed who scares defenses. The guys we have are more run-and-catch types.

- Backup interior OL. I've been talking about this on the podcast for a while. They want to add a backup center. Watch Luis Cristobal in the Portal as a guy who has started games. They are otherwise good with the Top 8 of Rivers, Cohen, Lee, Cooper ,Mauigoia, Nelson, McCoy and Okunlola.

- Big DT. This isn't just a plugger- they want someone with size, athleticism and, preferably, eligibility. Ahmad Moten's emergence has helped this group, but you still need another guy.

- LB. Put this one as a maybe. They'd take the right guy.

- Safety/nickel. I believe they are looking for a guy who is a big nickel- someone who lines up in the slot with coverage ability but has more physicality than a Te'Cory Couch. If we get that type of guy, you may see someone like Jaden Harris fortifying the safety position. He fits better there- faster than quick with good tacking ability.

- Cornerback. In terms of priority, this may be #1. We need one or two starting caliber guys. The tricky thing is that these guys are hard to find. Hopefully, we get lucky with some Portal entries.
 

Comments (133)

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So...every room needs a portal player or two? Lol

Things going well in Coral Gables, it seems.
I was thinking the same thing, no way we are getting all those guys to fill all those holes and we need some players step up and develop in the fall from within.
 
We need some portal players and good health throughout the season, thrown in a little luck too, for a solid 8 to 9 win season. That's the best we can realistically hope for.

We need that to solidify the recruiting effort to show the program is headed in the right direction. If everything comes together right this program could really take flight in 2024.
 
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So many holes left to fill and you aren’t going to get proven difference makers in the portal this time around. If there are any they won’t be choosing Miami over a NC contender.

We’ll get guys who most likely haven’t played and don’t have a lot of tape. evals have to be bang on and so far with portal guys we have struggled to identify ACC level talent even when they have game film.

Improved coaching should help us get to 8 wins but the talent makes that a best case scenario
 
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Any word on Cam’Ron Johnson?

“The 6-foot-4, 305-pound lineman moved into the starting left guard job for the Cougars last season and earned first-team All-AAC honors after starting all 13 games. Johnson quickly picked up seven Power 5 offers upon entering the portal and can play two more seasons at his next school.” - The Athletic
 
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Gotta think there's a sense of urgency in approaching this round of portalers. Believe it or not, the starting lineup, by-and-large, looks good. Filling a couple holes and a few rotational pieces could be a BIG help. Hope the check book's out.

*saw Citizen on field last night - looked like knee was immobilized in brace. Tough to see a return in '23 (imo).
 
When every position could use a portal player, don’t expect much in the Fall.
The portal is good but kids continue to develop between now & fall camp…just like Young for example look much better since the end of the season.
 
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