Miami is still seeking a quarterback via the Transfer Portal. Some of the suspected targets make little sense to me.
Mario Cristobal’s goal should be crystal obvious now that Jacurri Brown has decided to stay in Miami next season. The Hurricanes should prioritize graduate transfers over underclassmen.
They just have freshmen right now. Brown, a redshirt sophomore, Emory Williams, a true sophomore, and Judd Anderson, a true freshman, all have a lot of untapped potential. Shannon Dawson, the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, has a lot to work with in terms of development.
So I scratch my head when I see Miami linked to transfer quarterbacks like UNLV’s Jayden Maiava and USC’s Malachi Nelson. They each have four years and three years of eligibility remaining. Maiava has only started one season, and Nelson has only played five snaps at the collegiate level.
If Brown elected to leave through the portal, I could see Miami looking for a player with similar experience to replace him. However, because Brown want to stay in Miami to compete and improve, players like Maiava and Nelson should not be prioritized.
Instead, the Hurricanes should look for a graduate transfer with three or four seasons of starting experience to help elevate the quarterback room for a season until Brown or Williams are ready to take over.
Will Howard is allegedly leaning toward Ohio State, and Cam Ward is expected to enter the NFL Draft.
Jayden de Laura, an Arizona transfer, has piqued my interest. However, an off-field incident from his high school days may make him a contentious candidate.
Jordan McCloud, a transfer from James Madison, and Kaidon Salter, a transfer from Liberty, both stand out to me. Salter has two years of eligibility remaining, but he has much more starts than Miami’s current choices.
It’s also feasible that Miami will receive a transfer who hasn’t yet entered the portal. Although the deadline for freshmen was January 3rd at midnight, graduate transfers can access the site whenever they choose. There could be an experienced signal caller out there who has yet to enter the market.
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