By Tony Thomas
Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal finally has elite talent at the offensive skill positions: QB Cam Ward, WR Xavier Restrepo, and now an all-conference, 1,100-yard running back to tote the rock. In addition, the Canes added a talented linebacker from the transfer portal.
The dam of football talent at Colorado continues to show cracks seemingly by the minute, as another Buffalo player has shuffled off to another playing destination. In addition, Louisville and USC added talent to their depth charts.
RB Damien Martinez
Miami Hurricanes (from Oregon State)
6’0”, 232 lbs.
In 2023, Damien Martinez led the Beavers in rushing with 1,185 yards, nine touchdowns, and averaged six yards per carry. Martinez posted six games over 100 yards rushing, including a season-high 146 yards and four touchdowns in a 62-17 win over Stanford.
For his efforts, Martinez earned 1st Team All-PAC-12 honors. Martinez is a significant upgrade to the Miami rushing attack that saw leading rusher Henry Parrish, Jr. enter the portal.
RB Dylan Edwards
Kansas State Wildcats (from Colorado)
5’9”, 170 lbs.
A native of Derby, KS, Dylan Edwards returns to his home state and brings rushing and receiving skills to Kansas State. Edwards rushed for 321 yards and one touchdown. In addition, he recorded 299 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Edwards’s lone rushing touchdown and three of his receiving TDs all came in the week one win over TCU.
Edwards is yet another Colorado player who took the fastest motorized conveyance out of Boulder. He was originally committed to Kansas State in high school.
LB Jaylin Alderman
Miami Hurricanes (from Louisville)
6’1”, 230 lbs.
Last season, Jaylin Alderman was 4th on the Louisville team in tackles with 62. In addition, Alderman recorded seven tackles for loss and two pass breakups. Also, Alderman posted six games of five or more tackles, including a season-high eight stops, one sack, and one tackle for loss vs Boston College.
DE Richard Kinley II
Louisville Cardinals (from Middle Tennessee State)
6’3”, 235 lbs.
A season ago, Richard Kinley II recorded 20 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass breakups, and three quarterback pressures. Against Jacksonville State, Kinley recorded five tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and two pass breakups.
Kinley provides depth for a position of need for head coach Jeff Brohm and the Cardinals and will compete for a starting job in fall camp.
WR Jay Fair
USC Trojans (from Auburn)
5’10”, 186 lbs.
Last season on the Plains, Jay Fair was 3rd on the team in with 31 catches for 324 yards and two touchdowns, including a season-high seven catches for 93 yards in a 45-13 win over Samford.
Fair will have a ton of competition in fall camp, with fellow transfers Kyle Ford and Jaden Richardson, and 4-star prospect Xavier Jordan. In addition, the Trojans also return Zachariah Branch and other contributors from the wide receiver room.
More must-reads: