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Another year, another eventful transfer season for Miami football

<p>Fans take in a Miami football game at Yager Stadium</p>

Fans take in a Miami football game at Yager Stadium

The time has come for the annual transfer portal mayhem across college football.

With the portal allowing players to transfer to new schools without sacrificing a year of eligibility as of April 2021, yearly turnover among college football programs has become commonplace. For the second consecutive year, Miami football will be saying goodbye to several key players and welcoming multiple new faces into the program.

Departures (position and commitment in parentheses):

Position glossary: WR = Wide Receiver, OL = Offensive Lineman, CB = Cornerback, S = Safety, RB = Running Back, QB = Quarterback

Jeremiah Batiste (WR, Uncommitted)

Angelo Butts (WR, Uncommitted)

Devon Dorsey (WR, Uncommitted)

Rusty Feth (OL, University of Iowa)

Ja’Von Kimpson (CB, Uncommitted)

Tre’Von Morgan (WR, Uncommitted)

Ryan O’Hair (OL, Robert Morris)

Deavion Pierce (S, Robert Morris)

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Austin Robinson (WR, Uncommitted)

John Saunders (CB, Ole Miss)

Caleb Shaffer (OL, University of Oklahoma)

Tyre Shelton (RB, Louisiana Tech)

Darez Snider (RB, Uncommitted)

In total, 13 players from Miami’s 2022 roster are either currently in the transfer portal or have already committed to a new school. Some of the most notable losses include two key contributors on the offensive line: Rusty Feth and Caleb Shaffer.

Feth will be playing for the University of Iowa after starting at center for the RedHawks in each of the past two seasons. He announced his commitment via Twitter on Jan. 29.

Shaffer is heading to the University of Oklahoma, which he announced in a Twitter post on Jan. 5. He was also a multi-year starter for Miami, missing only one game over the past two seasons.

The RedHawks will be losing Tyre Shelton as well, who will be transferring to Louisiana Tech. Shelton was the team’s third-leading rusher in 2022, collecting 85 carries for 321 yards and 3 touchdowns across 13 games.

On defense, Miami’s most notable loss is John Saunders. Saunders is joining the Ole Miss Rebels next season after becoming a significant contributor in Miami’s secondary. In 21 total games over two seasons with the ‘Hawks, he collected five interceptions and 19 passes defended.

According to On3.com, Miami football will also be welcoming several new players for next season, all playing on the offensive side of the ball.

Incoming Transfers (position and eligibility in parentheses):

Rashad Amos (RB from South Carolina, 2 years remaining)

Maddox Kopp (Quarterback from Colorado, 3 years remaining)

Gage Larvadain (WR from Southeast Louisiana, 2 years remaining)

Joe Wilkins (WR from Notre Dame, 1 year remaining)

John Young (OL from Kentucky, 2 years remaining)

Rashad Amos spent the last three seasons with the South Carolina Gamecocks, mostly serving as a reserve. He has appeared in 13 total games and collected 106 rushing yards on 20 carries, gathering 18 of those carries for 99 yards as a first-year. Amos will be looking for an increased role as a member of the RedHawks backfield.

Kopp is one of many players to flee the University of Colorado this year, after Coach Deion Sanders joined the program, bringing many of his players from Jackson State along with him and attracting numerous highly-rated recruits. Miami will be Kopp’s third school in three years after redshirting during his first season at the University of Houston. He played in one game last season with the Buffaloes, throwing for 123 yards and one touchdown against the University of Utah.

Gage Larvadain spent the last two years at Southeastern Louisiana University, an FCS school that plays in the Southland Conference. He was the school’s leading receiver in the 2022 season, collecting 59 receptions for 731 yards and two touchdowns.

The other addition to the RedHawks receivings corps is Joe Wilkins, who is coming from the University of Notre Dame. He will be entering his sixth and final year of eligibility, having taken a redshirt year and being granted an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19.

Wilkins battled injuries and failed to record a stat this season. In a message posted on his Twitter account, Wilkins explained his desire to join a program where he would receive more playing time in his final year.

Finally, John Young from the University of Kentucky slots in as a replacement on the offensive line for either Feth or Shaffer. According to 247Sports, Young was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and the third-highest ranked player in the state of Kentucky in the 247 composite rankings. However, Young had a limited role at Kentucky, collecting most of his playing time on special teams. In 2022, he also served as Kentucky’s backup left guard while taking some practice snaps at center as well.

With an offense revamped through the transfer portal, the RedHawks will hope to reclaim the MAC title for the first time since 2019 and to earn a fourth consecutive bowl game appearance in 2023.

kehreswe@miamioh.edu

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