The Miami Hurricanes have ties to one of the transfer portal’s biggest entrants
The Canes should have their eyes on an impact defender in the portal.
Things are going very, very well for Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes nowadays. The Canes defeated Ohio State, 24-14, in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve to advance to the College Football Playoff semifinal. They are one win from playing for the national championship in their home stadium.
With players like Carson Beck, CJ Daniels, Jakobe Thomas, Keionte Scott, and others leading the way, the transfer portal has been very good to the Canes. It could get even better in 2026 if one star defender reunites with his former defensive coordinator.
Minnesota safety Koi Perich is entering the transfer portal, per ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel.
Koi Perich played for Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman when they were in Minnesota together
Perich is one of the best and most accomplished defenders in the portal this cycle. He earned first team All-Big Ten honors in 2024 and third team this year for the Golden Gophers. He also earned FWAA All-Freshman honors as well. Through two seasons in Minneapolis, he’s compiled 128 total tackles and six interceptions.
Corey Hetherman should win the Frank Broyles Award given to the nation’s top assistant coach this season, given how he’s turned the Hurricanes’ defense from one of the nation’s worst by the end of 2024 into arguably the nation’s best by the end of 2025. He and Perich were together for the 2024 season at Minnesota, and with Hetherman in charge, Perich had his best of two seasons there, netting five of his six interceptions in 2024.
We’ll see how things go in the coming days as players begin their visits, but given how high the Hurricanes are soaring right now, how hot Hetherman’s stock is right now, and the prior connection between the two, and Miami’s willingness to be aggressive with NIL, Miami undoubtedly should be a team to keep an eye on as Perich’s plans take shape during the portal window.