Mario Cristobal just poured gasoline on Miami’s already burning backfield, snatching a workhorse running back right from Houston’s Willie Fritz—a player built for tough yards and craving Power Five competition. With Carson Beck waiting in the wings, Cristobal’s amassing talent at an incredible rate, and this latest transfer forces ACC defenses back to the drawing board. Yes, Miami’s defense crumbled late last season, losing two of their final three games, but this cornerback isn’t just a stopgap—he’s a game-changer from day one. Miami isn’t just rewriting the script; they’re burning the old one. This year, there will be no easy wins.

Well, after an inconsistent defensive unit last season, this was the least Mario Cristobal could have done. Now, Lance Guidry shouldered some of the blame, and deservedly so. Miami’s heavy reliance on man coverage—a league-high 46.7% of defensive snaps, according to TruMedia—resulted in 12 touchdowns allowed in man coverage, tying them for the third-most in the ACC. Their zone coverage didn’t fare better. Pre-snap motion consistently disrupted their assignments, leaving receivers wide open.

While a freshman like O.J. Frederique was keen to make mistakes, senior players making the same mistakes raised serious concerns. This highlighted not only on-field breakdowns but also questioned the coaching staff’s preparation and teaching effectiveness. As a result, Mario Cristobal didn’t just bring a new DC, Corey Hetherman, into the team but also gathered a strong defensive force – Keionte Scott, transferring from Houston, who previously played for the Auburn Tigers.

Now, Scott’s addition doesn’t just come from Cristobal’s push but also from his connection to his former Auburn alum, who’s now Canes CB coach – Zac Etheridge, which is only going to increase their chances to shine. Even Locked on Canes host Alex Donno highlights the same thing and said, “You had a feeling he was going to reunite with Zach Etheridge, which is exactly what’s happening here. And so you like that. I mean, this is a player that was not here for spring football, so he’s going to be a little bit behind the curve, but he knows his DBS coach.”

Well, Keionte Scott’s commitment came at a very crucial time for the Hurricanes, as the team had already lost their key secondary players, Zaquan Patterson and Emmanuel Karnley, who got into the portal. But with Scott’s commitment, things might turn for them real fast. “He’s going to know exactly what Miami expects from him, he’s going to be ready to compete in off-season workouts the minute he gets down here, and in summer and fall practices that are coming up,” Donno said.

It looks like Mario Cristobal is in a serious roster revamp this season. Their portal class is already ranking at the 4th position in the country, and Keionte Scott’s addition makes him the 18th addition to the portal this season. Even Alex Donno said the same. “I’ve been thinking about this a lot, actually. Every time Miami adds a new defensive back, the obsession that Mario Cristobal and his staff have taken in trying to turn that weakness of a unit from last year into a strength, right”? Now, that’s sure going to be the case as Scott is an exceptional player coming from Auburn, where he played in 33 games, recorded 115 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and a punt return touchdown.

But defense isn’t the only focus of Mario Cristobal.

Mario Cristobal lands another key player on his roster

Miami landed a big one late in the transfer portal, snagging North Dakota State running back CharMar Brown. The freshman sensation joins Mario Cristobal’s Hurricanes after a dominant FCS debut season. Brown racked up over 1,000 rushing yards and won the 2024 Jerry Rice Award as the top FCS freshman. Cristobal clearly saw star potential and acted quickly.

Look, Brown wasn’t a highly touted recruit coming out of high school, ranking #147 among running backs in the 2023 class and #13 in Nebraska, flying under the radar at North Dakota State. His breakout season, however, catapulted him to national attention. As Hayes Fawcett tweeted, “BREAKING: North Dakota State transfer RB CharMar Brown has Committed to Miami, he tells @on3sports. He rushed for 1,181 Yards & 15 TDs in 2024 Won the 2024 Jerry Rice Award, which goes to the Top FCS Freshman.”

Brown’s breakout Bison season saw him dominate on the ground, rushing 244 times for 1,181 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also showed versatility with six receptions for 57 yards. His 4.8 yards-per-carry average demonstrates consistent production, and his size and physicality project well to the Power Five level. Now, he is not just a key addition for Miami but even a right step for Brown’s future. “What makes Miami a great fit for me is I come from an offense that is physical, tough and I feel like having that aspect to it of me doing the same thing in the ACC will bring wonders to the offense – something that’s missing, something that can wear out the defense,” said Brown.

He further adds to it and said, “I feel I can be that guy to punish the defense, also make stuff happen as well, get first downs. That’s what really matters – keep the chains moving and make those big runs as well.” Miami isn’t just filling a need; they’re adding a game-changing running back. Their continued use of the transfer portal fuels their ACC title and College Football Playoff aspirations for 2025. No wonder the Hurricanes aim to resume their progress and achieve their goals this fall.