The Miami Hurricanes are actively targeting high-profile quarterbacks in the NCAA Transfer Portal for the 2026 season, with top names linked including Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati), DJ Lagway (Florida), and Dylan Raiola (Nebraska), alongside others like CJ Bailey, Aidan Chiles, and Rocco Becht, as they look to replace talent like Carson Beck and find another veteran presence for their offense.
Key Transfer QB Targets & Rumors:
- Sam Leavitt (ASU): A primary target, Leavitt is expected to enter the portal after a season-ending foot injury at Arizona State, with Miami being a strong contender.
- Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati): Another significant name being watched by the Hurricanes, known for his dual-threat ability.
- DJ Lagway (Florida): The former top recruit is a major portal target, with Miami listed as a potential landing spot after his surprise exit from Florida.
- Dylan Raiola (Nebraska): While talented, there are questions about his maturity and fit for Miami’s culture, but he remains a high-profile option.
- Other Names Mentioned: C.J. Bailey (NC State), Aidan Chiles (Michigan State), Rocco Becht (Iowa State), Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (Cal), and Drew Mestemaker (North Texas) are also on Miami’s radar.
Why Miami Needs a QB:
- Success with Transfers: Miami found huge success with transfers Cam Ward and Carson Beck, leading them to expect another big portal addition.
- Carson Beck’s Departure: With Beck likely heading to the NFL, Miami needs a proven starter for the next season.
Current Roster:
- Miami has young QBs like sophomore Emory Williams and freshman Luke Nickel, but they are heavily pursuing a high-caliber veteran via the portal.
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- The Miami Hurricanes are actively exploring the transfer portal for a new starting quarterback for the upcoming season, with prominent targets including DJ Lagway (Florida), Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), and Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati).
After successfully utilizing the transfer portal for their previous starting QBs (Cam Ward and Carson Beck), Miami is expected to pursue an experienced, high-caliber player again for the 2026 season.
Potential QB Portal Options
Player
Previous School
Notes
DJ Lagway
Florida
A former five-star recruit with high potential, Miami is considered a strong potential landing spot. He is expected to formally enter the portal on January 2nd, 2026.
Sam Leavitt
Arizona State
Miami is a school to watch for Leavitt, who is reportedly exploring transfer options and is unlikely to return to the Sun Devils.
Brendan Sorsby
Cincinnati
Known for his arm talent and mobility, Sorsby is a top contender being watched closely by the Hurricanes’ staff.
Dylan Raiola
Nebraska
Another potential top target who is expected to explore the portal.
CJ Bailey
NC State
A Miami native, Bailey has emerged as a potential option after a strong season at NC State.
Current Roster Context
Miami’s current quarterback depth chart includes sophomore Emory Williams and four-star freshman Luke Nickel. While these players offer potential, the program appears likely to bring in a veteran transfer to take over the starting reins following the anticipated departure of Carson Beck to the NFL. Emory Williams himself may also explore the transfer portal for a starting opportunity.
Miami’s NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) offers for top transfer quarterbacks in the 2025–2026 cycle are expected to range from $4 million to over $6 million. This reflects the aggressive spending pattern established by head coach Mario Cristobal to attract elite talent to Coral Gables. - Established NIL Benchmarks at Miami
- The Hurricanes have set high market standards with recent transfer quarterback acquisitions:
- Carson Beck (2025): Reportedly signed an NIL package with a $4 million base salary, with performance-driven incentives potentially pushing the total value to $6 million. Some estimates suggested his combined brand and collective deals reached as high as $10 million over a 12-month period.
- Cam Ward (2024): Was considered the market leader during his transfer window before being succeeded by Beck’s record-setting deal.
- Potential 2026 NIL Valuations
- Top candidates entering the 2026 transfer portal already command high market valuations, which Miami would likely have to match or exceed:
- DJ Lagway (Florida): Holds a current NIL valuation of approximately $3.8 million.
- Sam Leavitt (Arizona State): His valuation surged to $3 million following a strong 2025 season.
- CJ Bailey (NC State): Valued at approximately $1.6 million as he enters the 2026 cycle.
- The Role of “Canes Connection”
- Miami’s primary NIL collective, Canes Connection, facilitates these large-scale deals. These packages often include:
- Base Retainers: Guaranteed monthly or annual payments from the collective.
- Performance Incentives: Bonuses for reaching milestones like an ACC title or College Football Playoff appearance.
- Endorsement Access: Facilitation of deals with major brands such as Beats By Dre, Chipotle, and Morgan & Morgan
Concerns about CJ Bailey against top defenses primarily revolve around his performance and decision-making when under pressure, which has led to increased turnovers and decreased passing efficiency in those specific situations.
Performance Under Pressure
- Interceptions: Bailey’s most significant issue under pressure is throwing interceptions. For example, against Duke, all three of his interceptions came when he was pressured, despite only having one pick in all his games prior to that point in the season.
- Decision-Making: Bailey has acknowledged he needs to make better decisions and be more accurate when under duress. He has specifically mentioned difficulties finding running backs quickly when facing long yardage situations.
- Sailing Passes: He has indicated that the ball sometimes sails on him when he is taking hits or under pressure, impacting accuracy.
- Reduced Depth of Target: In games where he struggled with pressure, his average depth of target (ADOT) significantly decreased, indicating a potential reluctance or inability to push the ball downfield against stout defenses.
- Game Performance: His worst performance in the 2025 season came in a loss to Notre Dame, a high-level opponent, where he threw three fourth-quarter interceptions and struggled to manage the game effectively.
While he has shown significant improvement and the ability to make every throw, consistency against top-tier defensive schemes that can generate consistent pressure remains a primary concern for analysts and potentially for NFL evaluators.
9 sites
- Bailey Under Pressure, Defense Falters vs. DukeSep 22, 2025 — Under Pressure. Quarterback CJ Bailey struggled under pressure against the Blue Devils, which was a first for the 2025…
Sports Illustrated
- CJ Bailey’s Thoughts After NC State’s Week 1 Win – YardbarkerAug 29, 2025 — On what he needs to improve moving forward Bailey: “Being more accurate when I’m under pressure. The ball started to s…
Yardbarker
- Coffee With Cory: NC State QB CJ Bailey’s Stock Skyrocketing …Sep 11, 2025 — he has to make you’re not you’re not trying to throw a turnover worthy play you’re not putting it in um harmful positi…
YouTube·Pack Pride — NC State Wolfpack Athletics
CJ Bailey has not transferred to Miami; he is still the quarterback for NC State. The circumstances surrounding his potential transfer revolve around speculation that he might enter the transfer portal after his bowl game due to Miami being his hometown team and a potential suitor.
Context of Rumors
- Hometown Pull: Bailey is a Miami native who grew up near the University of Miami campus. This connection naturally leads to speculation that he might want to return home to play.
- Initial Recruiting Miss: Miami was late in offering Bailey a scholarship during his initial high school recruitment, having already signed another quarterback, Judd Anderson. This led to Bailey choosing NC State, where he has since excelled.
- Miami’s QB Needs: Miami has consistently sought transfer portal quarterbacks in recent seasons to fill their starting role, making Bailey an attractive and experienced option if he decides to leave NC State.
- NIL Potential: Sources speculate that Miami could potentially offer more lucrative Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, which could influence a potential decision to transfer.
- Undecided Future: Bailey has remained diplomatic and has not made a definitive decision on his future, stating he will decide after the upcoming Gasparilla Bowl game.
Currently, these are all rumors and speculation, and Bailey remains committed to the Wolfpack for the time being.
What NIL deals might be available for a QB at Miami?
Quarterbacks at the University of Miami can receive lucrative Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, primarily through the official collective, Canes Connection, and various brand partnerships. Deals for starting quarterbacks can reach into the millions of dollars, a figure comparable to some NFL salaries.
Types and Examples of NIL Deals
Miami’s NIL structure involves various opportunities, from collective payouts to individual brand deals and local business endorsements.
- NIL Collectives: The primary source of large-scale NIL money. Miami’s collective, Canes Connection, pools money from donors and alumni to create opportunities for athletes. Quarterbacks are a premium position and have received substantial sums from the collective.
- Brand Endorsements: High-profile QBs at Miami have signed deals with national brands. Former Miami QB Carson Beck, for example, secured partnerships with:
- Chipotle
- Beats By Dre
- Powerade
- Airstar Charter
- Local Business Appearances: Opportunities also exist with local South Florida businesses for appearances, autograph signings, and social media promotion. Early on, a deal was offered to almost all scholarship players by American Top Team, a local chain of MMA gyms.
- Performance-Driven Incentives: While base NIL pay is not tied to on-field performance by NCAA rules, overall deal packages can include incentives that allow earnings to increase, with some top QB packages reaching up to $6 million with incentives.
Notable Compensation Figures
Recent starting quarterbacks at Miami have commanded significant financial opportunities:
- Carson Beck: His deal was reported to be at least $3 million in base value, with a potential to reach $6 million with performance-related incentives. Reports indicate his total NIL earnings over a 12-month period reached nearly $10 million from various sources.
- Cam Ward: Before Beck, Cam Ward received an estimated $1.5 million in NIL money to play for Miami.
These figures highlight Miami’s robust and competitive NIL market, especially for the quarterback position, which is a prime target for high-value deals in college football.
Beyond large collectives and major brand endorsements, Miami QBs can generate NIL income through entrepreneurial services, which allow athletes to monetize their personal brand directly.
Other sources of NIL income include:
- Social Media Monetization: Athletes earn money through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing links, and promo codes on their social media accounts. The Miami Exchange, facilitated through the university’s partnership with INFLCR, helps connect athletes with these opportunities.
- Personal Appearances and Speaking Engagements: QBs can be paid appearance fees for attending events, signing autographs, or giving speeches.
- Branded Merchandise and Autographs: Athletes can sell personally licensed apparel and signed memorabilia. Fanatics, for instance, sells “NIL Pick-A-Player” jerseys customized with the player’s name and number.
- Personal Camps and Private Lessons: QBs can organize and teach at their own football camps or provide private training sessions.
- Digital Content: Creating and monetizing personal websites, blogs, podcasts, or web shows can be a source of income.
- Local Business Deals: Beyond major brands, numerous local South Florida businesses offer smaller, direct endorsement deals, such as the initial offer by the owner of American Top Team, a local chain of MMA gyms, to all scholarship players.
- Group Licensing: Income can also be derived from group licensing agreements, such as those related to video games like EA Sports College Football.
- Intangible Benefits: Some NIL arrangements include non-monetary perks that are a form of compensation, such as access to or the use of luxury cars and private jets, which effectively reduce personal expenses.
- Miami NIL Program / GuidelinesJul 6, 2022 — NIL Activities: … NIL activities governed by the Policy, Florida NIL law, and University of Miami athletics policies …
University of Miami Athletics
- American Top Team plans $540000 NIL commitment to Miami …Jul 5, 2021 — Each of the 90 existing Miami scholarship players will be offered a $500 a month contract (up to $6000 for a year) to e…
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