The Miami Hurricanes couldnโt have asked for a better start to their 2024 football season through nine games. However, they also couldnโt have imagined a worse collapse than their last four games of the season, dropping three of them to finish 10-3 after having more than 90% odds of making the College Football Playoffs after starting 9-0.
As is the new normal in college football, several Hurricanes have entered the transfer portal seeking better opportunities on the field or financially. One of those players seeking a better opportunity on the field was Ajay Allen, who recently made his decision to join a fellow in-state program that has Hurricane ties.
Following the commitment of offensive line transfer Antonio Tripp Jr. the day prior, Allen announced his decision to join Florida International University (FIU) for the third stop of his collegiate career. As mentioned earlier, this move makes a lot of sense for Tripp and Allen as theyโll rejoin some familiar faces that they spent the last two years with.
Announced prior to Miamiโs loss to Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Ed Pata and Benedick Hyppolite joined the FIU staff as position coaches after spending time with the Hurricanes. Pata is set to serve as the assistant running backs coach, as he previously served on FIUโs staff back when Mario Cristobal was the head coach there from 2007-2012. Hyppolite will serve as FIUโs running backs coach.
The transfer of multiple Hurricanes going to a school with former staffers follows the same pattern that has been with the SMU Mustangs, who since hiring Rhett Lashlee as head coach have brought in 11 different former Miami players via the transfer portal.
With several Hurricanes still in the transfer portal and not committed to a new school, donโt be surprised if a few more players decide to join Allen and Tripp at FIU.
