Hittin' The Portal

Hurricanes Football
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So Poffenbarger already discussed elsewhere but feel free to pile on.

Now it seems Chris Johnson and Antonio Tripp saying adios.

Skeeter had Tripp ranked low on his 2023 commit list. I can’t say anything about him except I never saw him which intimates he wasn’t playing as well as other options.

Everyone and their mother said Chris Johnson was The Flash. As a Dillard grad I rooted for him. He perhaps should have been the “change of pace” option complementing the bruisers. Coaches must not have seen potential for improvement or maybe there were poor personality mixes in the end. Happens once you get on campus. This brings to mind how Miami has gotten RBs in the portal before giving their own recruits a legit chance. Especially in this age of younger players seeing playing time. I am all for “throw them in the deep end and see who’s the best swimmer.” But eventually won’t recruits see a pattern and think why commit there, they will just get some portal guy over my head.

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Next season is going to be ugly if they don’t find a legit qb.

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Have they given up on Emory Williams? Is he not good enough if he has great talent around him.

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It’s a really fine balance between recruiting and the portal. Personally, I think there should only be ONE portal opening, not two.

This year we NEEDED Cam Ward. Next year? If we go grab a portal QB I think Williams leaves.

We have some CLEAR needs on D as far as DT, LB, DB/S. I think our ends are good but not great.

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Per the Herald Ajay Allen and Robert Stafford also in the portal. Who is Robert Stafford? [joke]

I never understood what Ajay Allen offered that wasn’t already on the roster. When I saw Lyle getting carries Allen did the year before I kind of knew this would be the outcome. Can’t imagine this is a big blow.

Herald also has the usual this guy is visiting, UM finalists for this transfer, UM the favorite. Not reading any of that. Dust will settle, now who is here.

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Ya Lyle looks like a beast…But I didn’t want to lose both CJ and Allen. That has us down to 4 next year (assuming D-Mart leaves which I have to think he does), wouldn’t be surprised if we add a RB via portal, unless we plan on using Lofton there behind Fletcher as a power back.

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Running Portal Update:

QB Poffenberger
IOL Tripp
RB Allen
RB C.Johnson
CB/WR- R.Washington
WR - Horton
TE- R. Williams
LB B.Washington
CB Stafford
CB Mooyung - (Former walk-on given a schools this past season)

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I’m glad they cut the window down to 30 days.

Yeah stinks to lose Johnson for sure. Doesn’t Martinez have one year left?

Lord help us if we start losing what D line we have

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I forgot about the Washington brothers leaving, had read that somewhere earlier today. So what happened here? Skeeter, you had said that Robby was “Maybe top slot in entire country…” Less enthusiastic about Bobby but saw upside.

Again, based on lack of playing time I am not surprised at all they are bailing rather than balling. UM fan perspective on recruiting.

First, we don’t get excited when UM makes a kid’s top 5 list.

Then we don’t get excited when he’s visiting campus.

Then we don’t get excited when he signs.

Then we don’t get excited when he enrolls early.

Then we don’t get excited when he is lights out in training camp.

Then the season starts and we forget he’s on the team.

Then we remember him when he hits the portal.

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So far none of those who left is a major loss. Maybe potential upside but not much more.

This opens necessary scholies for incoming portal support. By my count we need about 10 impact players:
QB 1
WR 1-2
RB 0-1
DT 1-2
DE - 1
DB -3 (at least 1 safety and an outside CB and a nickel)
LB - 1

OL / TE are luxury if we can get a difference maker…

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I loved em both…But yeah Robbie is really puzzling to me. His HS tape was excellent. No idea.

Maybe I was dead wrong, maybe it’s a work ethic issue, maybe Cristobal plays favs and has em in his blessed dog house.

So far none of those who left is a major loss. Maybe potential upside but not much more.

I would have liked one of the RB to stay so that stings a little. I thought Stafford was a nice get as a recruit, but if he couldn’t get on field with our DB issues this year, maybe there’s nothing there.

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HE does, doubt he uses it. JMO

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Is anyone surprised to not see a given player in the portal? That is, all things considered, do we have fewer players leaving than might be otherwise expected?

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gotta get the QB right. i see people talking about Ewers but i’m not sold on him at all

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I’m watching who Miami is bringing in and/or targeting and it’s heavily offensive minded. I have to imagine we need some big time D help on the interior of the line, all LB and DB positions. What gives?

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OK, no one playing so thoughts on…

Terrell Walden
Chris Wheatley-Humphrey
Sam Brown
Ray Ray Joseph
Shemar Kirk
Riley Williams
Armando Blount
Malik Bryant
Markeith Williams

Given attrition to date hard to see another RB hit the portal.

As casual observer, still not sure why Ray Ray doesn’t hit the field more.

Didn’t folks expect Blount to be this year’s Bain? What happened?

Some kids turn out to be JAGs, sure. Others are impatient, sure. Others perhaps turn out to be bad system fits or for some strange reason underperform based on incoming expectations.

Since this is just a mental exercise for fun, I’d say that my top three I’d wish would stay are Blount, Joseph, Wheatley-Humphrey. Based on need and incoming hype. But, as they say, what the hell do I know.

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Isaiah Horton to portal

Would be a huge loss. One of top 4-5 returning players on the team.

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Maybe he doesn’t think Miami will have a decent qb to throw him the ball.

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Ya could be…Could be a lot of things.

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Herald says Alabama after Horton. Maybe there’s NIL involved? Agreed that he is set up for major playing time next season. Miami losing a lot at the receiver position. Plus one would think that WR competition at Alabama is fairly fierce. Saban may be gone but it’s not like the roster is trash.