Another one: All-American DE Quincy Roche announces transfer to Miami in time for spring
The Miami Hurricanes have once again landed one of the most high-profile transfers in the country. Quincy Roche, one of the best defensive linemen in the nation last season, is heading to Miami, where he’ll be eligible to immediately play out his final season of eligibility for the Hurricanes.
Roche announced his transfer from the Temple Owls to Miami with a post he shared Monday on Twitter.
Roche’s decision puts him on track to participate in spring practices for the Hurricanes. As long as the star defensive end enrolls in classes at Miami by Tuesday, Roche can participate in spring camp. He spent this weekend in Blacksburg, Virginia, to visit the Virginia Tech Hokies before he opted to commit to the Hurricanes. He spent the prior weekend visiting Miami.
Roche is the second massive transfer-portal pull of the day for the Hurricanes. Earlier Monday, quarterback D’Eriq King announced his intention to join the Hurricanes as a transfer from the Houston Cougars.
The addition of Roche will give the Hurricanes perhaps the most dangerous pass-rushing tandem in the country. Roche, who was the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, finished his junior season with 13 sacks, tied for seventh most in the country, and was named a first-team All-American by Sports Illustrated. One of the few players ahead of Roche on the national sacks leaderboard was star defensive end Gregory Rousseau, whose 15 1/2 were second most behind only Ohio State Buckeyes star edge rusher Chase Young. Now the two will be teammates in Coral Gables, giving Miami two of the top three returning players from last season in terms of total sacks. Oregon State Beavers star linebacker Hamilcar Rashed Jr., who had 14 sacks in 2019, rounds out the top three.
While the Hurricanes were in solid shape at defensive end even without him, Roche will help fill a significant void left behind by Jonathan Garvin and Trevon HIll. The two defensive linemen combined for 9 1/2 sacks in 2019 and both should be drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft in April. Garvin was a multi-year starter for Miami, while Hill was a major contributor in his one season with the Hurricanes after he arrived as a high-profile transfer from Virginia Tech last year.
The addition of Roche gives Miami four defensive ends with game experience. Scott Patchan last year received a waiver allowing him a sixth year of eligibility, and fellow defensive lineman Jahfari Harvey played in the Hurricanes’ 14-0 Independence Bowl loss and is on track for an increased role as a redshirt freshman in 2020.
Miami’s defensive ends group currently also includes redshirt freshman Cameron Williams and freshman Chantz Williams, an Under Armour All-American who enrolled earlier this month. Four-star defensive end Elijah Roberts and three-star defensive end QUentin Williams also signed national letters of intent with the Hurricanes last month, and expect to enroll later this year.
This story was originally published January 20, 2020 at 6:31 PM.
