Miami defensive tackle Daylen Russell intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal once the winter window opens in January, ending a two-year run with his hometown Hurricanes.
Russell came to Coral Gables as a homegrown recruiting win. The former Miami Christopher Columbus standout earned Miami-Dade 4M-3M Defensive Player of the Year honors and helped the Explorers capture back-to-back state championships. Miami’s staff beat out Florida State, Louisville, Nebraska, UCF and West Virginia for his signature during the 2024 cycle.
At Miami, Russell worked through a developmental year in 2024, mainly handling practice-squad duty while preserving a redshirt. The 2025 season brought a foothold in the rotation. The 6-foot-3 tackle logged action in five games, finishing with six tackles and one tackle for loss.
Russell supplied snap-eating depth on the interior. Miami leans heavily on waves of linemen, and he handled spot duty behind a loaded group that features blue-chip talents such as Justin Scott, Artavius Jones and Donta Simpson.
The move makes sense. Three years of eligibility remain for Russell, and the portal offers a path toward a bigger role instead of waiting behind multiple early-round NFL prospects. On3’s profile lists him as a transfer defensive lineman with an 85.40 rating, the kind of grade that should attract steady Power Four interest once his name officially populates the database.
Miami continues prep for a College Football Playoff matchup with Texas A&M, so any depth loss on the interior matters, even if Russell played only a rotational role.
Mario Cristobal and defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman still hold a strong interior core. Recent recruiting hauls and portal additions at defensive tackle leave the room with size and twitch, even after earlier departures. Russell’s exit, though, trims a homegrown, state-title-winning lineman who embraced Miami early from the fold.
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