‘Tis the season for Miami and the NCAA transfer portal — as well as shopping sprees
The University of Miami, one of the nation’s leaders in turning transfer portal players into success stories, could have more coming their way.
Oregon defensive tackle Jayson Jones, a second-year freshman, entered the portal on Wednesday, according to multiple reports, and told CaneSport.com that new UM coach and former Oregon coach Mario Cristobal “wants me at Miami.’’
Jones is listed as 6-6 and 320 pounds in the 2021 Oregon media guide. He’s from Calera, Alabama, and was rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals in the Class of 2020.
This season, Jones played in 13 games and had 19 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Jones told CaneSport he wants to “check out” several schools, but wants to make his decision “soon.’’
“He said he’ll do great things there,’’ Jones said of Cristobal, “and I believe him because look what he did at Oregon.’’
Also likely on the horizon for the Hurricanes is 6-0, 180-pound former Alabama cornerback Marcus Banks, who entered the portal Nov. 8 and will have two seasons of eligibility left. Banks was a four-star member of the recruiting Class of 2019 out of Houston Dekaney High School. The 247Sports composite rankings that year had him as the 127th-best player in the nation, 13th best at his position and 21st best in Texas.
Among the highly rated transfers in recent UM years have been defensive ends Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche, kicker Jose Borregales, quarterback D’Eriq King, receiver KJ Osborn, safety Bubba Bolden — and most recently cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, defensive end Deandre Johnson, offensive lineman Justice Oluwaseun and receiver Charleston Rambo.
East-West Shrine
NFLsapient.com and 247Sports reported that former UM starting quarterback King, who only played in three games this season because of a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery, will play in the East-West Shrine Bowl on Feb. 3 in Las Vegas.
Also reportedly on the East-West roster is UM’s Rambo, who opted out of the Sun Bowl and will enter the NFL Draft.
AllCanes Shopping Spree
AllCanes, the retail fans shop for everything Miami Hurricanes since 1959, on Wednesday had its 21st annual allCanes Shopping Spree for Kids in memory of Bryan Pata, a former Canes defensive lineman.
Cristobal showed up after his signing day news conference to greet the 23 children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade and thehometeam.org. Each child received a $95 allCanes gift card.
“It was another great event,’’ said allCanes general manager Harry Rothwell, who also hosted 20 children from the Police Athletic League on Monday night. “We were honored to have Coach Cristobal and other UM coaches talk to the kids and appreciate all the donors and sponsors that helped make it possible.’’
Pata played for UM from 2003 to 2006. Earlier this year, an arrest was made related to his 2006 death.
