If there’s a team that made the most of the transfer portal this offseason, it’s Miami. This wasn’t about plugging holes or scrambling for depth.
This was a calculated reload - and the Hurricanes didn’t just dip their toes in the portal waters. They dove in headfirst and came up with some serious firepower.
Let’s start at the top: Darian Mensah. The former Duke quarterback was one of the most coveted signal-callers available, ranked No. 6 in the portal, and Miami landed him.
That marks three straight years Mario Cristobal has pulled in a top-tier quarterback through the portal - a trend that’s starting to feel less like coincidence and more like strategy. Mensah brings experience, poise, and a strong arm to Coral Gables, and he’s not coming alone.
His top target at Duke, wide receiver Cooper Barkate, is making the move with him. That kind of built-in chemistry is a rare luxury in college football, especially when you’re trying to get a new offense up and running quickly. Add in Cam Vaughn from West Virginia and Dre Jacobs from South Carolina, and suddenly Miami’s receiver room looks deep, talented, and ready to stretch the field.
And it’s not just the skill positions. The Hurricanes went to work in the trenches, too.
Offensive tackle Jamal Meriweather, all 6-foot-7 of him, is coming in to help rework the offensive line. That’s a critical piece as Miami looks to protect Mensah and open lanes for a running back group that, notably, returns intact.
Continuity in the backfield combined with new talent under center and out wide? That’s a recipe for a high-powered offense.
But Cristobal didn’t stop there. On the defensive side, Miami made moves that should pay off right away.
Damon Wilson is the headliner. The former Missouri EDGE racked up nine sacks last season - good for third in the SEC - and led the Tigers in quarterback hurries.
With Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor off to the NFL, Wilson isn’t just a luxury; he’s a necessity. Expect him to be a key piece in Miami’s pass rush from Day 1.
Alongside him, Keona Davis and Jarquez Carter bring added depth and versatility to the defensive front.
In the secondary, Omar Thornton arrives from Boston College after an 82-tackle season. That kind of production doesn’t just walk through the door every day.
Thornton looks like a plug-and-play starter, giving the Hurricanes a steady presence on the back end. Safety Conrad Hussey also joins the mix, adding more competition and depth to a unit that’s quietly becoming one of the more intriguing position groups on the roster.
All told, six of Miami’s portal additions rank inside the Top 100 of the 247Sports transfer rankings. That’s not just winning the portal - that’s dominating it.
Cristobal and his staff didn’t just add bodies. They added experience, production, and playmakers at key positions. If the goal was to build a roster that can contend right now, Miami may have just put the rest of the ACC on notice.