These 5 transfer portal additions will define Miami football season

Mario Cristobal has hit the transfer portal hard and heavy each year since he became Miami football coach in 2022. The Hurricanes have been in the top 10 of 247 Sports' portal rankings every year since 2023, coming in third before last year's incredible run through the College Football Playoff.

This year Miami comes in at No. 5 with 13 players coming in from other colleges. Seven of those were four-star recruits, none with a higher profile than quarterback Darian Mensah. The Canes' success in the portal has been most visible at QB, with Cam Ward coming from Washington State to finish fourth in the Heisman Trophy race in 2024 and Carson Beck nearly leading them to a sixth national championship after being part of two title teams at Georgia.

There are big holes to fill from that squad that fell to Indiana in the championship game. Four of the five starters on the offensive line graduated, and several crucial members of one of the most fearsome defenses in the nation will ply their wares in the NFL this season. Some Hurricanes will be stepping into starting roles this season, but for the others, Cristobal looked to the portal to sure up the roster.

Shop for Miami football tickets

Let's look over the five key portal additions who will define the Hurricanes' 2026 season, starting with the obvious:

Darian Mensah

• Position: Quarterback
• Year: Junior
• Previous schools: Duke (2025), Tulane (2024)

Miami made sure to get its man to replace Carson Beck at the head of its offense, previous NIL contracts be damned. A lot is riding on his ability to return the offense to where it was under Cam Ward, especially with the defense expected to take a step back after Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor and more now in the NFL. Mensah certainly has the potential: He finished second in the FBS in passing yards (3,973) and touchdowns (34) last season, and now he gets to throw to Malachi Toney and his favorite target at Duke last year …

Cooper Barkate

• Position: Wide receiver
• Year: Fifth
• Previous schools: Duke (2025), Harvard (2022-2024)

He was a second-team FCS All-American in 2024 before hauling in 1,106 yards at Duke, second in the ACC behind only Toney. He'll serve as Mensah's security blanket in intermediate routes alongside tight end Elija Lofton while Toney, Joshua Moore and fellow portal acquisition Vandrevius Jacobs stretch the field. For as good as CJ Daniels was opposite Toney last year and for as many yards Jacolby George, Isaiah Horton and company piled up in support of Xavier Restrepo in 2024, Barkate offers a level of weapon that the Hurricanes have not had since Mario Cristobal took over.

Damon Wilson II

• Position: Defensive end
• Year: Senior
• Previous schools: Missouri (2025), Georgia (2023-2024)

There's no replacing the level of destruction Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor wrought on opposing quarterbacks the past few seasons. But Wilson won't be much of a drop-off, with his nine sacks last season for Mizzou tying for third in the SEC. Marquise Lightfoot and Armondo Blount were true contributors on the pass rush last year with 2½ sacks apiece and a combined eight tackles for loss. If they can replicate anything close to the pressure that two first-round draft picks did last year, Miami will be on the fast lane back to another deep playoff run.

Omar Thornton

• Position: Nickelback
• Year: Junior
• Previous school: Boston College (2024-2025)

A key but relatively under-the-radar cog in the Miami defensive machine last year was nickelback Keionte Scott, who brought back both of his interceptions for touchdowns, including one in the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State. He's now playing with Bain on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaving BC transfer Omar Thornton as the likely choice to start alongside O.J. Frederique and Xavier Lucas at cornerback. Another starting defensive back, Jakobe Thomas, the team's picks leader in 2025, is gone for the pros as well. Thornton played well last season for BC, grabbing two INTs and forcing four fumbles.

Jarquez Carter

• Position: Defensive tackle
• Year: Sophomore
• Previous school: Ohio State (2025)

Ahmad Moten and Justin Scott are the surefire starters in the middle of the defensive line, but keeping them fresh will be pivotal in keeping the defense afloat this season. The two played all but three games in 2025, but Moten injured his ankle during the playoffs and played in just 11 games over his first two seasons in Coral Gables. DL depth comes down to Carter and fellow transfer Keona Davis (Nebraska). Carter played in six games during his freshman season making one tackle amid a loaded defense, while Davis had 3½ tackles for loss and 1½ sacks in his sophomore campaign for the Cornhuskers.

Miami football schedule 2026

All times Eastern.

• Friday, Sept. 4: at Stanford* | 9 p.m. | ESPN
• Thursday, Sept. 10: vs. Florida A&M | 8 p.m. | ACC Network
• Friday, Sept. 18: at Wake Forest* | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
• Saturday, Sept. 26: vs. Central Michigan | 6:30 p.m. | The CW
• Saturday, Oct. 3: at Clemson* | TBD
• Saturday, Oct. 10: Open
• Saturday, Oct. 17: vs. Florida State* | TBD
• Saturday, Oct. 24: vs. Pittsburgh* | TBD
• Saturday, Oct. 31: at North Carolina* | TBD
• Saturday, Nov. 7: at Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. | NBC
• Saturday, Nov. 14: vs. Duke* | TBD
• Saturday, Nov. 21: vs. Virginia Tech* | TBD
• Saturday, Nov. 28: vs. Boston College* | TBD

*- ACC game

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: These 5 transfer portal additions will define Miami football season

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.