ANALYSIS: Breaking down Miami Hurricanes most impactful portal opponents on the 2023 schedule

The Miami Hurricanes have hit the transfer portal hard, adding double-digit players each of the last two years. Previously we broke down which of the newest additions to the Canes’ team might have the biggest impact in 2023.

Miami, of course, isn’t the only team that tried to fill roster holes through the portal.

Today we’re breaking down the top 10 opponent additions through the portal, based on the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.

Note that seven players on opponents Miami will face are listed in the nation’s top 40 transfers per On3, and five of those are on Florida State.

10. QB Brady Allen, Purdue to Louisville, ranked No. 84

Allen was a second portal window addition for the Cardinals, and he’s a former top 150 prospect who is familiar with new Louisville coach Jeff Brohm from his freshman season. With four years of eligibility left, Allen is more a future guy … with former Cal QB Jack Plummer having a leg up to replace Malik Cunningham (Plummer started every game in 2022 and threw for 3,095 yards with 21 TDs and nine INTs). Allen had just 11 reps last year, throwing three passes, but he was highly touted off a high school career that saw him throw 58 TDs with only six INTs his senior year.

9. CB Josh DeBerry, Boston College to Texas A&M, ranked No. 65

A graduate senior, DeBerry is a big addition for Texas A&M – he earned All-ACC second team honors in 2021 and was All-ACC honorable mention last season. He ended last year with 50 tackles and has four career interceptions. He also has 158 career tackles, including 53 two years ago (including a team-high eight TFL). The team hopes he and fellow transfer arrival Tony Grimes (from UNC, ranked No. 93 by On3) can help make up for significant CB losses for the team. Per Pro Football Focus, DeBerry graded out at 58.1 percent in coverage last year while playing 719 reps but was at a stellar 79.2 in 2021 (548 reps) and 78.4 in 2020 (606 reps). For his career, per PFF, he’s allowed opposing QBs to hit on 93 of 160 passes (58 percent) for 1,193 yards with six TDs and his four INTs.

8. WR Jamari Thrash, Georgia State to Louisville, ranked No. 56

Thrash was a big addition to a Cardinals offense that didn’t just lose QB Malik Cunningham but also its top two passing game targets Tyler Hudson (1,034 yards, 2 TDs) and TE Marshon Ford (434 yards, 3 TDs). Thrash led the Sun Belt Conference with 1,112 yards and seven TDs last season. Per PFF he graded out at a stellar 81.5 percent as a receiver in 874 reps in 2022. In his four years at Georgia State he totaled 1,752 yards and 12 TDs. Also of note: Former Miami recruiting target WR Kevin Coleman is also hoping to make a splash after transferring from Jackson State. He had 475 yards and 13 TDs last season and is ranked No. 97 on the On3 transfer list.

7. QB Brennan Armstrong, Virginia to NC State, ranked No. 39

Miami fans are well acquainted with Armstrong, who reunites with his former UVA coordinator Robert Anae at NC State. The last time the duo worked together Armstrong threw for 4,449 yards with 31 TDs and 10 INTs, adding 251 rush yards and nine more scores. But last season Armstrong really struggled in a stagnant Cavaliers offense, completing 54.7 percent of his throws for seven TDs with 12 INTs. In his last two meetings vs. the Canes, Armstrong threw for 268 yards and a TD with 19 rush yards (two years ago) and 208 yards with no TDs along with 67 rush yards (last year). Armstrong’s PFF grades show the clear difference in his play from last year to the prior seasons. In 2020 he graded out at an elite 90.3 percent in 569 reps, then in 2021 was at 91.8 percent in 823 reps. That fell all the way down to 58.3 percent this past season in 691 reps. If he rekindles that offensive magic with Anae, watch out.

6. DL Braden Fiske, Western Michigan to Florida State, ranked No. 33

Miami fans are of course well aware of DT Darrell Jackson, who played for the Canes last season before transferring to FSU. But Jackson didn’t crack the top 300 on the On3 portal rankings. A defensive tackle that did? Grad transfer Braden Fiske, who can also line up at end depending on the situation. A 6-5, 300-pounder, Miami also pursued Fiske out of the portal. Fiske was an All-MAC second-team pick in 2022, finishing with 58 tackles, 12 TFL and six sacks along with two tackles for loss. He also had eight TFL and four sacks in 2021 and 5.5 TFL with 2.5 sacks and a blocked field goal in six games in 2020. Fiske graded out at an elite 86.6 percent last year per PFF, which noted him with 35 QB hurries in his 392 pass rushes (he played 737 total reps). Fiske joins what is expected to be a solid FSU front line that includes Fabien Lovett (limited to 7 games last year, 1 sack), Jared Verse (17 TFL, 9 sacks), plus Jackson.

5. WR Keon Coleman, Michigan State to Florida State, ranked No. 26

A second portal window addition who has two years of eligibility remaining, Coleman adds another dangerous weapon – at 6-4 and 215 pounds – to what already is expected to be an explosive FSU offense behind QB Jordan Travis. In his time at Michigan State (22 games, 12 starts) he totaled 65 catches for 848 yards with eight TDs, and he was third-team All-Big Ten this past season after tallying 58 receptions for 798 yards and seven scores. The former 4-star prospect can stretch the field vertically and also be a big target on shorter routes. In 682 reps last year Coleman graded out at an excellent 76.1 percent, per PFF. He adds to a unit that returns WR Johnny Wilson (897 yards, 5 TDs) and also adds TE Jaheim Bell out of the portal via South Carolina – he’s a reliable pass catching option who is ranked No. 3 on this list.

4. WR Devontez Walker, Kent State to North Carolina, ranked No. 19

The 6-3 Walker brings elite speed to an offense that is led by Heisman hopeful QB Drake Maye. With UNC losing leading WRs Josh Downs (94 catches, 1,029 yards, 11 TDs) and Antione Green (434 catches, 798 yards, 7 TDs), the team added Nate McColllum (655 yards, 3 TDs) from Georgia Tech and Walker. Last season in his first time starting Walker starred with 921 yards (leading the MAC) and 11 TDs (a school record). He also showed out against No. 1 Georgia with seven catches, 106 yards and a TD. So this is a huge pickup for UNC’s offense. Per PFF Walker graded out at an excellent 77.0 percent as a receiver last year in 775 reps (he only played 86 reps in 2021). Walker initially signed with North Carolina Central in 2020 but didn’t play after the cancellation of the season.

3. TE Jaheim Bell, South Carolina to Florida State, ranked No. 17

Bell lined up all over the place at South Carolina, including as a running back. Last season he ended with 25 catches for 231 yards, 73 carries for 261 rushing yards and five TDs, and at 6-3 and 232 pounds he’s a versatile threat that FSU will no doubt look to get the ball to often. As a sophomore in 2021 he started five games and broke out as a second team All-SEC pick with 30 receptions for 497 yards and five TDs. Bell played 302 reps last year and graded out at 76.3 overall (76.5 receiving, 78.1 rushing). In 2021 he played 322 reps and graded out at an elite 85.6 overall (88.8 as a receiver, 72.4 percent with the ball in his hands as a rusher). He’s someone opponents – including Miami – need to account for wherever he lines up on the field.

2. OT Jeremiah Byers, UTEP to Florida State, ranked No. 12

Byers spent the spring as FSU’s first-team right tackle, and he’s expected to be one of the ACC’s better linemen after standing out at UTEP. At 6-4 and 331 pounds, he was an All-Conference USA pick last season as a redshirt sophomore (he was honorable mention in 2021), and he started 30 games in his four years there. Per PFF Byers graded out at an excellent 79.5 percent overall last year (82.6 percent pass blocking, 79.9 percent run blocking in 855 reps) and 72.7 percent in 2021 (69.3 pass blocking, 72.1 run blocking). Byers joins a line that also has back five players that have started games, so it’s a solid group up front for the Seminoles on offense.

1. CB Fentrell Cypress, Virginia to Florida State, ranked No. 3

Cypress started 15 games in his four years at Virginia, and it’ll help with opponent familiarity that he’s staying in the ACC. Last season in nine games (all starts) he totaled 39 tackles with an INT and 14 pass breakups (led nation with 1.6 pass breakups per game), and he was named a first-team All-ACC performer by Pro Football Focus and second-team all-conference selection by the Associated Press. Per PFF he only allowed 18 receptions all year (on 40 attempts), and his 87.6 percent coverage grade was 11th in the nation (he had an overall 87.8 grade. Cypress joins a solid FSU secondary led by safety Akeem Dent (53 tackles, 4 PBU) and CB Renardo Green (58 tackles, 3 TFL, 5 PBU). Cypress is ranked this highly for a reason – others that pursued him in the portal included Miami, Ohio State, LSU and UCLA. This was a major addition for the Seminoles’ defense.

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