Mold Remediation in Miami, FL

Whether teams are ready for it or not, the transfer portal is officially open for business. Players now have until Dec. 28 to enter their names. One team that’s likely to see plenty of action, both in additions and subtractions, is the Miami Hurricanes.

Since Mario Cristobal took over in 2022, the Miami (FL) football program has been active in the portal, using it to boost the team significantly. This season looked like Cristobal’s best yet, thanks to key transfers, most notably Heisman Trophy finalist Cam Ward.

However, Ward will be moving on to the NFL after the Hurricanes compete in their final game of the season in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Dec. 28. Along with Ward, several upperclassmen are expected to depart for the NFL or elsewhere, not to mention those entering the portal.

That leaves Cristobal and his staff with the unenviable task of rebuilding once again, hoping to assemble another impressive group to build on Miami’s 10-2 season and aim for bigger goals in 2025. Here’s a look at some top transfer targets the Hurricanes should consider.

Quarterback

Cam Ward’s one-and-done season in Coral Gables revitalized Miami’s offense and made “The U” relevant again. His departure leaves Miami in search of an experienced, capable signal-caller to lead them back to ACC contention. Now, Cristobal faces one of the toughest tasks in college football in replacing a quarterback of Ward’s caliber.

Several intriguing options have already emerged in the portal, and Miami will need to find someone who can handle the pressure of competing for a conference championship.

Maalik Murphy, Duke: The former Texas transfer revitalized his career at Duke, leading the Blue Devils to a nine-win season and breaking the school’s single-season passing touchdown record. Murphy completed 60.3% of his passes for 2,933 yards, with 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Having faced Miami in November, throwing three touchdowns and three interceptions, he’s already on the Hurricanes’ radar, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

John Mateer, Washington State: While Mateer has yet to officially enter the portal, it’s widely expected. The Cougars couldn’t have asked for a better successor to Cam Ward, as Mateer finished the season ranked fifth in passing touchdowns, eighth in efficiency, and first in points responsible for. His dual-threat ability, with 826 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, makes him a prime target. However, with his offensive coordinator now at Oklahoma, Miami may face stiff competition for his services.

Defensive Back

If there’s one position where Miami struggled the most this season, it was the secondary—a weakness that everyone saw coming before the year even began. While the Hurricanes looked solid in their opener against Florida, those issues quickly became evident as the season progressed.

The problem wasn’t just a lack of top-tier talent but also a significant lack of depth. While true freshmen cornerback O.J. Frederique and safety Zaquan Patterson showed promise, there isn’t much proven talent beyond them. Whether it’s at safety or cornerback, the Hurricanes need reinforcements across the board.

“I don't think Miami needs five studs in the secondary, but I think Miami should probably be willing to overpay for some veteran presence who at least knows what the heck they're doing, won't blow assignments and just kind of help the defense stay in check,” Bud Elliot at 247Sports said. “That's a large part of it. Miami's going to be a high-pressure defense under Lance Guidry. … You can't bank on having the same level of offense next year that you did this year because I don't think there's another Cam Ward out there in the portal.”

Julian Humphrey, Georgia (CB): The highest-ranked defensive back currently in the portal, Humphrey has played in 23 games, including 11 this season. He recorded four pass deflections but no interceptions and graded out with a 69.0 defensive rating from PFF. However, his tackling grade (42.7) raises concerns, as Miami can’t afford missed tackles in its secondary.

Dillon Thieneman, Purdue (S): With at least two years of eligibility remaining, Thieneman offers potential despite a down year. He finished 2023 with an impressive 89.5 defensive grade but saw a steep decline to 67.9 this season. Nonetheless, his five pass breakups and strong 2023 tape could make him a valuable addition to the Hurricanes’ secondary.

Looking Ahead

As of now, these are some of the best available options for Miami in the transfer portal. However, with the Dec. 28 deadline looming, more names are expected to enter, giving Cristobal and his staff a broader pool to evaluate. The Hurricanes’ ability to capitalize on the portal will be crucial as they look to build on their successful 2024 campaign and make a deeper push in 2025.

UCLA has already had a number of players enter the transfer portal but is making an effort to bring in transfers as well.

One of the latest players in the portal who the Bruins recently offered was Miami (FL) defensive back Robert Stafford. He announced the offer on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday.

Stafford tagged UCLA's soon-to-be secondary coach, Demetrice Martin, in the post. Martin had recruited him when he served as the cornerbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Oregon.

Stafford played in 12 games for the Hurricanes this past season, posting seven tackles and a pass defensed. It was his second season at Miami, which he enrolled at in May of 2023.

Stafford was a four-star class of 2023 recruit from Eau Gallie High School in Florida. He was ranked the No. 35 Florida prospect in his class and the No. 17 cornerback in his class, per the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Below was an evaluation of Stafford from 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins from April of 2022:

"An explosive multi-sport athlete that has just started to make the transition from wide receiver to defensive back. Not much meat on the bones, but makes up for it with his fast-twitch muscle fibers and insane ups. Tested off the charts spring before senior season posting the fastest 40-yard dash at an invite-only camp loaded with talented skill players. Also had the best vertical jump out of anyone that day. Aggressive in coverage and not one to shy away from a challenge. Ability to go up in the air and make a play at the catch point separates him from most other defenders his size. Rather fluid in his backpedal and has shown that he can mirror with his hips while gaining some depth. Appears to be pretty comfortable in off-man situations, which makes sense given his burst and ability to close gaps. However, will need to bulk up some if he’s going to jam larger wideouts at the line of scrimmage on Saturdays. Viewed by most college recruiters as a corner at the next level because of how easily he changes directions. Could also get a look as a single-high safety given his range, although he would need to embrace the role of mashing ball carriers in the open field. Skillset and athletic profile suggest that he should be viewed as one of the top cornerback prospects in the Sunshine State for the 2023 cycle. Will need some seasoning, but has NFL upside."

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A Mega Millions player just missed a $619 million jackpot — but still scored a massive win in Florida.

The player bought a ticket that matched all but one number picked in the Dec. 10 drawing. Since the person spent an extra dollar on the Megaplier option, their $1 million prize rose to $5 million, results show.

The winning numbers: white balls 12-14-26-48-52, with gold Mega Ball 21.

So, where did the lucky player buy the ticket? It was sold at a Publix supermarket in Crystal River, a roughly 80-mile drive north from Tampa, the Florida Lottery wrote in a news release.

The Mega Millions player is set to get richer after their ticket matched the five white balls. It was one number short of hitting the jackpot, which stood at an estimated $619 million the night of the drawing, according to the game’s website.

As of early Dec. 11, the Florida Lottery website didn’t say whether the Mega Millions prize had been claimed. Winners have about six months to cash in, rules show.

To score the jackpot in the Mega Millions, a player must match all five white balls and the gold Mega Ball. The odds of scoring a jackpot prize are 1 in 302,575,350.

Tickets cost $2 and can be bought on the day of the drawing, but sales times vary by state. Officials have announced they will cost $5 starting in April.

Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET and can be streamed online.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

A “resilient” dog went “through so much” — then her luck took a turn for the better.

Cleo, who arrived at a Florida shelter underweight but full of love, was adopted into a new home.

“Everyone here was so excited for her,” Regan Blessinger, marketing and content manager for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, told McClatchy News in a Dec. 10 email. “This family is perfect for her and she will have the best time with the kids.”

The heartwarming adoption came after 1-year-old Cleo experienced a rough patch. Her past owners struggled to give her enough food, leaving her hungry and thin, photos show.

“Her previous family loved her deeply and did everything they could to care for her, but after facing unimaginable hardships, they had to make the difficult decision to surrender her so she could get the help she needed,” the shelter wrote in a November Facebook post.

As Cleo started her journey toward recovery, she became known for being a loving, happy dog with a positive attitude, McClatchy News reported.

“While Cleo may be underweight and her ribs are visible, her spirit is anything but broken,” the shelter wrote in November. “This sweet girl radiates happiness and love, showing us all what true resilience looks like.”

Then one day, a family visited the shelter and noticed Cleo perk up.

“She was very gentle, and you could see she knew how to play well with kids,” one of the family members told the humane society in a Dec. 9 social media post. “She was considered ‘high energy,’ but my daughter managed to tire her out before the adoption was finished, meaning both she and the kids would be plenty entertained and active together.”

The family adopted Cleo, ending her stay at the shelter. Several Facebook users congratulated the dog as she kicked off her next chapter.

“I think with our four-year-old daughter, Cleo will get plenty of under-the-table snacks and gain that weight fast,” the adopter wrote.