Miami Hurricanes CB Daryl Porter, Jr.: “This is a big, big thing that’s about to happen this year”

Miami Hurricanes CB Daryl Porter, Jr. arrived as a West Virginia transfer last year with an eye on winning the starting job over DJ Ivey. That didn’t happen. So now it’s on to this season and the wide open corner competition that was fall camp. Porter fared well, but is perhaps on the outside looking in for that job.

Regardless, don’t be surprised if he’s got a role and is in games quite a bit.

Porter says in addition to playing corner he’s cross-training at nickel and is “just making sure I know what is going on not only at corner but every position on the field.”

“I’m just doing whatever is asked from nickel to corner, they have to move me around it doesn’t really matter where I play,” Porter said. “I just appreciate to be a part of this this season.”

Porter knows the Miami secondary can be a top one if it all comes together. And that’s with last year’s which didn’t fare particularly well statistically – the Canes ranked No. 101 out of 130 teams in team passing efficiency defense (142.52) and No. 79 in passing yards allowed (233.6 yards per game).

He sees the CB group holding its own as part of a much improved team.

“This is a big, big thing that’s about to happen this year,” Porter said.

Helping the depth and talent at CB are some key new arrivals – freshman Damari Brown could wind up as the starter opposite his brother, UCF transfer Davonte Brown. But also in the mix for a lot of reps/starts are transfers Ja’Dais Richard plus Jaden Davis (can play nickel) as well as returning starter Te’Cory Couch (mainly a nickel, could wind up starting or behind Davis).

“It’s been fun, competition is everywhere, we have a lot of new guys in the room now from Ja’Dais, the Brown brothers, I feel it’s all brought us to a new level,” Porter said. “We’re going to be ready next week to play.”

With coordinator Lance Guidry taking over and a defense that will have the corners going one-on-one with receivers down the field quite a bit, Porter, Jr. says “Everyone is coming along with the new defense – coach Guidry makes it easy to understand so we can play fast, do our job to the highest ability we can.”

As for Porter’s background? He showed in 2021 at West Virginia that he can be a capable playmaker. That year he had 46 tackles, an interception and five bass breakups. The rising fourth-year junior also played in six games off the bench there as a freshman in 2020. But last year was a disappointment after arriving at Miami – he had 11 tackles, two for losses, with a pass breakup as a backup.

Now he hopes to emerge and help this team.

A final thought?

“I like where I’m headed, (DB coach Jahmile) Addae is bringing the best out of me and my teammates,” Porter said.

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