Tyler Van Dyke transferred, Kamren Kinchens turned pro, and UM landed a five-star recruit, according to the Eye on the U. SPORTS BY THE MIAMI HERALD
Miami football coach Mario Cristobal, along with Rutgers coach Greg Schiano and both schools’ athletic directors, spoke to the media on a Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl national Zoom conference Tuesday afternoon. Cristobal was asked if he expected more players to enter the NCAA transfer portal than the currently known players. He was also asked if there would be any new players in the NFL Draft, in addition to the ones already known — guard Javion Cohen, safety Kamren Kinchens, defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III, and, most recently, safety James Williams.
and whether they would play Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl on December 28. The newest player to enter the portal is sophomore tight end Jaleel Skinner, who announced on social media Tuesday that he is transferring after appearing in only two games and catching one pass for nine yards this season.
“I expect a handful of guys to go pro,” said Cristobal, whose upcoming class is ranked fifth in the country by 247Sports. “We must continue to supplement our roster and find ways to sign a certain number of members to the 2024 class — both through high school and through the portal.”
So, hopefully, we’ll reach that number and be able to make that room on our roster, as well as provide opportunities for guys on our roster to find a place that suits them, their future, and their plans. “It’s quite fluid. We have a solid plan in place. And happy for the guys who are coming in, and best wishes to the guys who are on their way to another opportunity.”
Hurricanes fans are also wondering if sophomore quarterback Jacurri Brown, who will start for the first time in 2023, will return in 2024 or enter the portal after the game. “What do you want to see from him in the bowl game?” asked the coach. ”
‘What do you want to see from him in the bowl game?’ asked the coach. “How difficult might it be for him when he hasn’t played all season and do you expect to see Jacurri Brown back next season?” “He’s played a lot of football during his high school career,” Cristobal said of Brown. “He’s been playing football since he was knee-high, so we expect him to give it his all.” That’s all there is to it; nothing more, nothing less. He’s excited about the opportunity, he’ll be well prepared, and his sole focus is on this football game and this team — nothing else matters. He has the trust of his teammates as well as the entire coaching staff.”
Cristobal declined to provide specifics on UM’s plans for the portal and quarterbacks. The Hurricanes have already lost veteran starter Tyler Van Dyke to the portal, which opened its 30-day window on Monday, and are evaluating the many quarterbacks who have already initiated the transfer process. In addition to committed prospect Judd Anderson of Warner Robins (Georgia) High, UM will almost certainly get a quarterback from the portal. Emory Williams, a true freshman quarterback, suffered a compound fracture of his left arm last month at Florida State, and Brown’s future plans have not been revealed.
“We don’t discuss personnel stuff openly with the media,” Cristobal said when asked if he hopes to add more than one quarterback from the portal and if he believes he is close to doing so. “We have a fantastic plan in place.” In a short period of time, we have certainly built the roster to the level of expectation, the caliber of what Miami football should look like. We will keep doing so, and we are confident that by the end of the recruiting cycle, we will be exactly where we need to be.” Cristobal discussed the difficulties of preparing for a bowl game while recruiting, scouring the transfer portal, and preparing for the Dec. 20-22 early signing period.
“I’m glad we’re here with Coach Schiano,” said Cristobal, who previously coached with Schiano at UM and under Schiano at Rutgers. “One of the lessons he taught me is that any time situations like this arise… If you look at it for what it truly is, every single one of these opportunities, whether it’s a defection, someone you asked to move on, or someone declaring for the draft, should all be viewed as an opportunity to upgrade.” That’s exactly what he taught me.
“What I thought was an ominous cloud when this portal first appeared is now an exciting time. You have 24 hours in a day to focus, and you use every one of them.
WILLIAM JAMES
Leading tackler James Williams confirmed what the Hurricanes’ coaching staff had suspected all along. Williams, a third-year junior, announced on Instagram on Tuesday that he will forego his senior year to enter the 2024 NFL Draft. Eric Dounn of LAA Sports & Entertainment, Williams’ marketing agent, stated last Tuesday on the social media platform X that Williams had not yet announced and was “weighing ALL options… Let’s wait to hear from him when he’s ready.”
Williams, who stands 6-5 and weighs 215 pounds, arrived at UM in 2021 as a five-star Plantation American Heritage High recruit and was rated the nation’s top safety.
He has 162 tackles, two tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 17 pass deflections, and four interceptions in 29 games started. Williams started all 12 games this season and led the team in tackles with 73. He also has a 44-yard interception return, a pass breakup, three quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Williams expressed gratitude to his teammates, family, coaches, and “finally,” the fans. “Thank you for sticking by me and my brothers through thick and thin,” Williams said on social media. “I hope you understand that I gave my all for this team and this city every day.”
In 2022, Williams had 58 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, six pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. Williams had 31 tackles, half a tackle for loss, four deflections, and two interceptions as a freshman in 2021.
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