Miami has added some needed depth to the safety room.
On Thursday afternoon, former Arizona safety Isaiah Taylor, the son of Miami defensive line coach and NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, announced on social media that he was transferring to Miami.
A Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas product, Taylor was considered a three-star recruit coming out of the Class of 2021. He held offers from Syracuse, Maryland, Missouri, Minnesota, and Kansas amongst others.
In three years in Tucson, Taylor started three games for the Wildcats, including two this past season. In eight appearances, the 5-foot-11, 200-pounder allowed five catches on seven targets for 65 yards and one touchdown. He finished the season with 15 tackles.
During the 2022 season, Taylor played 290 snaps in mostly a rotational role and finished with a strong 70.9 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus. He allowed eight catches on 14 targets for 76 yards with zero touchdowns and an interception and two pass breakups.
Taylor was credited with 40 tackles that season.
The 247Sports Rankings Council doesn’t have a grade on Taylor currently, but with two years of eligibility, there is a path to playing time for Taylor in a room that loses a pair of starters in James Williams and Kamren Kinchens.
The Hurricanes have added Vanderbilt transfer safety Savion Riley this portal cycle and return Jaden Harris, Markeith Williams, and Kaleb Spencer to the room. Miami is also set to add prized freshman safety Zaquan Patterson this month.
In total, Miami has now added six transfers this off-season with Taylor and Riley joining Albany quarterback Reese Poffenbarger, NC State defensive tackle C.J. Clark, Middle Tennessee State defensive tackle Marley Cook, and Indiana center Zach Carpenter.
