In a major boost to their defense, Miami has secured one of the nation’s top young ballhawks, cornerback Ethan O’Connor, who transfers from Washington State. The highly sought-after talent chose the Hurricanes over powerhouse programs like Colorado, Georgia, and UCLA, signaling a big win for head coach Mario Cristobal’s recruiting efforts.
The 6’2″, 175-pound redshirt freshman had a standout season at Washington State, recording 32 tackles, 8 pass deflections, and 4 interceptions. Rated as the #2 cornerback in the transfer portal by On3, O’Connor played in all 12 games for the Cougars last season, racking up 755 snaps. His speed is another asset, having been clocked at 22 MPH, which also makes him a potential special teams contributor after logging 72 snaps there.
O’Connor, originally from Irvine, CA, has three years of eligibility remaining and joins a revamped Miami secondary that already boasts Charles Brantley and Emmanuel Karnley. The Hurricanes are also eyeing future talent like Xavier Lucas once he becomes available in the portal.
Along with new arrivals, Miami returns promising defensive backs like OJ Frederique, Damari Brown, and Jadais Richards, who missed much of 2024 due to injuries. With additional safety talent such as Zaquan Patterson and Markieth Williams, the Hurricanes’ secondary has been completely revamped. Now, Miami’s focus shifts to bolstering the middle of the field and strengthening their offense for the upcoming season. The future is looking incredibly bright for the Hurricanes!
