Miami Hurricanes’ revamping of secondary continues with latest transfer portal pledge

The Miami Hurricanes’ Saturday began with a transfer portal commitment from tight end Alex Bauman.

It continued with their latest addition in the secondary, as former Washington State cornerback Ethan O’Connor announced his pledge to the Hurricanes.

O’Connor, who just finished his redshirt freshman season and was rated as the No. 13 cornerback in the transfer portal by 247Sports, has three years of eligibility remaining.

The 6-1, 172-pound cornerback started all 12 games for Washington State last season, leading the Cougars with four interceptions and eight pass breakups along with recording 32 tackles. He allowed 32 receptions in 62 targets for 406 yards (12.7 per reception) and three touchdowns in 2024.

He is the fourth defensive back to commit to Miami this transfer portal cycle, joining fellow cornerbacks Emmanuel Karnley and Charles Brantley along with safety Zechariah Poyser.

It continues a complete overhaul of the Hurricanes’ secondary, which loses both of its starting safeties (Mishael Powell and Jaden Harris) and two starting cornerbacks (Daryl Porter Jr. and D’Yoni Hill).

UM returns OJ Frederique, Damari Brown and Jadais Richards — the latter two of whom missed significant time in 2024 due to injury — at cornerback, along with Zaquan Patterson and Markeith Williams at safety in addition to its new portal pledges. The Hurricanes also have four defensive backs signed in their 2025 recruiting class, all of whom were four-star prospects in safety Bryce Fitzgerald along with cornerbacks Amari Wallace, Jaboree Antoine and Chris Ewald.

Miami so far has already received commitments from 10 players via the transfer portal: Karnley Brantley, O’Connor and Poyser in the secondary, defensive lineman David Blay, wide receiver CJ Daniels, safety Zechariah Poyser, kicker Carter Davis, long snapper Adam Booker, center James Brockermeyer and tight end Bauman.