Hurricanes add three key portal pickups; DT Taylor signs free agent deal with Jets
The Miami Hurricanes landed veteran help in the transfer portal at three need positions over the weekend, snagging commitments from former Oregon State tailback Damien Martinez, ex-Marshall cornerback D’yoni Hill and ex-Louisville linebacker Jaylin Alderman.
Martinez was a huge UM priority; he ran for 1085 yards last season on 6.2 yards per carry. Among running backs with at least 100 carries last season, Martinez was 25th in the country in per-carry average at 6.1.
He was fifth among all FBS backs in per-carry average among running backs who ran the ball at least 190 times. (Martinez ran 194 times.) He also had 11 receptions for 126 yards.
In addition to his campus visit the past four days, Martinez also hosted UM running backs coach Matt Merritt twice at his home over the past 10 days.
Coach Mario Cristobal called Martinez’s mother to make a case for UM. Several defensive coaches also called Martinez’s home, lobbying for him to join the Hurricanes.
Martinez will join Mark Fletcher, who’s coming off a foot injury, Ajay Allen, Chris Johnson and freshmen Chris Wheatley Humphrey and Jordan Lyle in UM’s backfield. UM lost three running backs to the transfer portal: TreVonte
Citizen (who never regained his form after an August 2022 knee injury), Henry Parrish (to Mississippi) and Don Chaney Jr. (to Louisville).
Martinez’s NIL agent, Shawn O’Gorman, said UM will “give him the opportunity to be the best running back in the 2025 draft. They have all the pieces for him to be great.” Martinez also visited Arizona and Mississippi State before committing to UM after his Coral Gables campus visit.
As for the linebacker addition Alderman, he started for Louisville last season and had 58 tackles, including seven tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks in 606 defensive snaps. He played as a backup in 2021 and redshirted in 2022. UM linebackers coach Derek Nicholson previously coached him at Louisville.
The 6-1, 230-pound Alderman will compete with Wesley Bissainthe to start at weakside linebacker, alongside starting middle linebacker Francisco Mauigoa. Chase Smith, who has battled injuries throughout his career, is the fourth veteran linebacker on UM’s roster.
Alderman also can play middle linebacker, a position handled by Raul Aguirre this past spring while Mauigoa recovered from injury. UM has several promising young linebackers, including Aguirre and early enrollee Cam Pruitt, who impressed throughout spring.
Meanwhile, Hill will help UM’s depth at cornerback, where only six players were on scholarship heading into the weekend. He played for UM defensive coordinator Lance Guidry and cornerbacks coach Chevis Jackson during their time there.
Per Pro Football Focus, Hill allowed a 93 passer rating in his coverage area last season — 32 completions in 57 attempts for 464 yards (14.5 average), three touchdowns and an interception.
As of Sunday afternoon, UM was awaiting clarity from Louisville edge player Tyler Baron and Houston receiver Sam Brown — two additional players who visited UM this weekend in addition to the three who committed after their visits.
Highly coveted Michigan State defensive tackles Simeon Barrow and Derrick Harmon are scheduled to visit UM’s campus on Monday.
TAYLOR FALLOUT
No UM player had more reason to be disappointed Saturday than defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III, who bypassed his remaining college eligibility to turn pro.
Taylor — who was projected by some as a firstround pick in mock drafts last summer — ended up going undrafted. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. said his game tape didn’t consistently match the talent.
Taylor signed as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Jets and will receive $110,000 guaranteed whether he makes the team or not, according to a source.
His agent, Adie von Gontard, said more than 10 teams — including the Dolphins — expressed interest after the draft and Taylor chose the Jets partly because of opportunity.
“New York in the draft did not address defensive line,” von Gontard said. “It made a ton of sense for him to go to New York. They showed interest through the entire pre-draft process.”
The Dolphins auditioned Taylor at their team headquarters in early April and saw potential.
The Dolphins told his rep that they were interested in offering him a contract after the draft, but the thinking on Taylor’s side was that a fresh start outside Miami might be good for him.
Taylor, who played at Miami Southridge and Miami Palmetto High, was rated the No. 3 defensive tackle and No. 41 prospect overall (by Rivals) in the 2021 class.
Taylor played in 10 games for UM last season and had 19 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack. He finished his UM career with 22.5 tackles for loss and six sacks in three seasons.
Besides Taylor, other undrafted Canes players who agreed to contracts after the draft include guard Javion Cohen (Cleveland), receiver Tyler Harrell (Jets), linebacker KJ Cloyd (Vikings) and defensive tackle Branson Deen (Buffalo). (Home team in ALL CAPS)
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Team Line Team
MIAMI -146 Washington
N.Y. METS OFF Chicago Cubs L.A. Dodgers -142 ARIZONA Cincinnati -116 SAN DIEGO AMERICAN LEAGUE
Team Line Team
BALTIMORE -136 N.Y. Yankees TORONTO -148 Kansas City Minnesota -162 CHI. W.S.
Line +124 OFF +120 -102
Line +116 +126 +136
St. Louis Tampa Bay Philadelphia Pittsburgh Atlanta
-102 -104 +116 +112 +130
Team Line O/U Team Boston 10½ (203) MIAMI Oklahoma City 4½ (204½) NEW ORLEANS DENVER 7½ (217) LA Lakers
Team FLORIDA Dallas
-116 DETROIT -112 MILWAUKEE -136 L.A. ANGELS -132 OAKLAND -154 SEATTLE
Line Team
-178 Tampa Bay -115 VEGAS
Line +146 -104