MIAMI NOTES

Transfer portal turning Red Hawk

By MIKE SMITH
With Miami football graduating a bevy of quality talent and several other RedHawks joining the portal, recent weeks have been a busy time as MU attempts to reload. 
Some moves came relatively early, but a flurry of recent additions have been been exciting. One even borders stunning.

According to On3.com, the RedHawks have landed six transfer portal players.
The most recent might also be the most surprising, given that just over a year ago he was leading Toledo's offense against Miami in the MAC Championship game. Dequann Finn was the 2023 Vern Smith Leadership Award winner. That's the . . . 

---

. . . equivalent of league MVP.
After the MAC title game, he went into the transfer portal and subequently joined Baylor. However, he suffered a shoulder injury in Week 2 and saw action in just one game after that. Now, 
With a medical waiver, Finn has a seventh year at his disposal. According to Pete Nakos of On3 Sports, he visited Oxford Saturday and signed with Miami the same day. 

• Two tight ends have also been identified as Miami bound. Freshman Brady Kosin (6-6, 234) was at Indiana but did not see action this year. Grant Leeper (6-7, 215) is one of three Colorado Buffalos reportly coming to Miami.

• With up to three MU wide receivers leaving, the RedHawks will have a lot of new faces on the edges in 2025. Martin indicated some of the younger wideouts have shown potential. With Finn in the wings, there can be a lot of speculation. However, freshman Cordale Russell (6-2, 203) is reportedly on his way in from Colorado. 

• Another Buffaloes freshman transferring to MU is offensive lineman Payton Kirkland (6-6, 315). Meanwhile, former Stanford Cardinal O-lineman Austin Uke will join the MU O-line mix, as well. 

MORE ON UKE

• On the defensive side, former four-star cornerback Koy Beasley was at Purdue last year. Playing in Oxford, he will be a closer to home as he graduated from LaSalle High School in Cincinnati. He holds the school record in the 100 meter, 4x100 and 4x200, earning two 4x100 state titles