Miami Hurricanes land first transfer portal commitments of 2026 cycle
The Miami Hurricanes, who are in the midst of preparing for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 19, have landed their first transfer portal commitments of the 2026 cycle.
The pledges: Defensive back Omar Thornton and wide receiver Vandrevius Jacobs, who announced on Saturday night that they are transferring to Miami.
Thornton played his first two seasons at Boston College. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining and is listed as the No. 89 overall prospect in the portal by 247Sports.
Jacobs just finished his redshirt sophomore season at South Carolina. Like Thornton, he has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Thornton, who starred at the prep level at Plantation American Heritage, played in 23 games at Boston College the past two seasons, logging 111 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception and five forced fumbles. Most of his snaps with the Eagles came as a slot corner or in the box, similar to the role that Keionte Scott has thrived in this season under defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman.
He was teammates in high school with current Hurricanes Malachi Toney and Xavier Lucas.
While Miami is slated to lose a few key contributors from its secondary in Scott and safety Jakobe Thomas, most of its top players from the unit are slated to return for 2026. That includes cornerbacks Lucas, Ethan O’Connor, OJ Frederique and Damari Brown as well as safeties Zechariah Poyser and Bryce Fitzgerald. True freshman Ja’Boree Antoine has also seen spot reps this season. The Hurricanes also signed six freshman defensive backs this cycle in JJ Dunnigan, Camdin Portis, Jaelen Waters, Cortez Redding, Brody Jennings and Jontavius Wyman.
As for Jacobs, the wide receiver is coming off a redshirt sophomore season in which he led the Gamecocks with 32 catches and was second with 548 yards and four touchdowns catches.
For his career, which included five games at FSU in 2023 and two seasons at South Carolina, Jacobs has 47 catches for 789 yards and five touchdowns in 26 games (10 starts).
The 6-0, 195-pound receiver will help Miami reload at wide receiver. Two of UM’s top pass catchers from this season in CJ Daniels and Keelan Marion are out of collegiate eligibility after 2025.
He’ll join a receiver room that is led by second-team All-American and ACC Rookie of the Year Malachi Toney. Fellow true freshman Joshua Moore should be in line for a bigger role next season as well. Miami also has a talented incoming class of freshman receivers that includes Somourian Wingo, Milan Parris, Vince Spafford and Tyran Evans.
The Hurricanes are currently in the midst of balancing both their preparation for the Indiana Hoosiers in the title game and preparing for the team’s future.
UM was scheduled to host seven players this weekend, according to 247Sports. Former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt headlines that group. The others: Former West Virginia wide receiver Cam Vaughn, former Pittsburgh linebacker Rasheem Biles, former Tennessee edge rusher Caleb Herring, former South Carolina offensive lineman Josiah Thompson, former Georgia tight end Pearce Spurlin and former Northwestern kicker Jack Olsen.
Biles reportedly committed to Texas on Saturday night.
The transfer portal is open until Friday for all players to enter. Miami and Indiana players are allowed to enter the portal until Jan. 24, five days after the national championship game.
This story was originally published January 10, 2026 at 7:15 PM.
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