If Miami is heading back to the transfer portal in search of its next starting quarterback, it might not need to look far. One of the most intriguing names available-Marcus Stokes-is practically in their backyard. And while DJ Lagway has been a hot topic in quarterback circles, Stokes brings a different kind of buzz, especially after a monster season at the Division II level.
Let’s talk about what’s making Stokes such an appealing option.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound redshirt sophomore out of West Florida just wrapped up a breakout campaign, throwing himself squarely into the national spotlight. Stokes totaled 3,664 yards of offense and accounted for 40 touchdowns this season, earning a finalist spot for the Harlon Hill Trophy-D2’s version of the Heisman. That’s not just production; that’s dominance.
His stat line tells the story: 223 completions on 368 attempts for 3,297 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Add in 367 rushing yards and another 10 scores on the ground, and you’ve got a dual-threat quarterback who’s doing it all. And he’s doing it with two years of eligibility remaining.
Naturally, schools are lining up. According to reports, Syracuse, Florida State, Iowa, and Northwestern have already reached out.
Programs like Old Dominion, UTEP, Buffalo, Liberty, and App State are also in the mix. Even Wisconsin and West Virginia have been linked to his recruitment.
That’s a wide range of interest-from Group of Five to Power Four-which tells you just how much Stokes’ stock has risen.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting from a Miami perspective.
There’s been no public indication that the Hurricanes have reached out to Stokes. But the fit?
It’s hard to ignore. With Carson Beck moving on after the 2025 season, Miami is likely in the market for a new QB1.
Yes, there’s internal optimism about backup Emory Williams, but if Mario Cristobal wants to explore a different route-one that doesn’t involve a high-stakes NIL arms race-Stokes could be a compelling choice.
He’s a Florida native, hailing from St. Augustine and playing his high school ball at Nease-the same program that produced Tim Tebow.
Coming out of high school, Stokes was a four-star recruit and ranked among the top 30 quarterbacks in the country. He originally committed to Penn State, then flipped to Florida.
That offer was later rescinded after a video surfaced of Stokes rapping along to a song containing a racial slur. Florida cut ties, and Stokes pivoted to West Florida, where he’s rebuilt his career and reputation.
Since then, he’s done exactly what you’d hope a young player would do: put his head down and ball out. He became the Argonauts’ starter in 2024 and took a massive leap in 2025, earning Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Super Region 2 Offensive Player of the Year honors, along with his Harlon Hill finalist nod.
But let’s not pretend there aren’t questions.
Jumping from Division II to a Power Four program-especially one with College Football Playoff aspirations-is a massive leap. The speed, the reads, the pressure-it’s all different. And any coaching staff, Miami included, would need to do their homework on both his off-field past and how his game translates to the next level.
Still, if Cristobal and his staff are looking for a high-upside, in-state quarterback who won’t require a bidding war, Marcus Stokes is a name worth circling. He’s not just a feel-good story-he’s a legitimate talent who’s proven he can lead an offense and make plays with both his arm and legs.
Whether Miami gets involved or not remains to be seen. But if they’re serious about finding their next quarterback through the portal, they might want to start by looking a little closer to home.