Who left and stayed in final hours of portal window for UM. Full list of exits
During the final hours that Miami Hurricanes players could enter the transfer portal, UM on Saturday night lost one veteran player but held onto another whose future had been in question.
Raul Aguirre, who was a reliable rotation linebacker for UM, entered the portal just before the window closed, according to multiple reports.
But running back Jordan Lyle opted to stay at UM - something which had been in question because he played sparingly after returning from an ankle injury sustained during the opener against Notre Dame, a game that he started.
Lyle finished the season with 35 carries for 108 yards (a 3.2 average), but UM sees great potential in a player who averaged 7.4 yards on 54 carries as a freshman in 2024.
Lyle’s return -- coupled with Gerard Pringle Jr.’s decision to return to UM after briefly entering the portal -- means the entire Canes running back room is in line to return next season.
That group includes Mark Fletcher Jr., CharMar Brown, Lyle, Pringle and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey. UM also add West Boca High four-star running back Javian Mallory in its 2026 signing class.
As for Aguirre, his departure -- coupled with the exits of seniors Wesley Bissainthe, Chase Smith and Jaylin Alderman -- leaves UM likely needing at least one veteran linebacker to join a room featuring starter Mo Toure (who opted to stay for another year, per 247 Sports), Kamal Bonner, Cam Pruitt, Kellen Wiley Jr., Ezekiel Marcelin Jr. and three freshmen (Orlando Edgewater’s Justin Edwards, Miami Northwestern’s Jordan Campbell and Louisville Xavier High’s Karsten Bursch).
All 30 of UM’s freshmen are enrolled except Bursch.
Aguirre had 43 tackles (two for loss) for UM this season (in 306 defensive snaps) and 77 tackles over three seasons with the Canes.
The window to enter the transfer portal closed Jan. 16 except for players in the national championship game. Miami and Indiana players had until Saturday night to enter the portal.
Eighteen players left UM this offseason, including 11 this past week.
The 11 who departed since the national title game: Quarterback Emory Williams (committed to East Carolina); Aguirre; wide receiver Joshisa Trader; edge rusher/linebacker Malik Bryant (committed to Missouri); reserve linebacker Bobby Washington (committed to Missouri); backup offensive linemen Deryc Plazz (committed to Auburn), Nino Francavilla and Tommy Kinsler IV (committed to Ole Miss); backup defensive lineman Artavius Jones; reserve cornerback Jadais Richard; and freshman defensive back Amari Wallace.
The seven players who departed before the title game: defensive linemen Donta Simpson (committed to Missouri) and Daylen Russell (committed to Louisville); wide receivers Ny Carr (committed to Wake Forest), Chance Robinson (committed to NC State) and Ray Ray Joseph (committed to East Carolina); tight end Brock Schott (committed to Indiana); and defensive back Charles Brantley (returned to Michigan State).
This story was originally published January 25, 2026 at 9:14 AM.
