Miami Adds FCS Passing Leader in Transfer Portal and Fans Are Underwhelmed

Hurricanes fans were hoping for a bigger name at QB.

Quarterbacks moving from one Power 5 program to another draw most of the attention during college football’s transfer portal season, and the right switch can change the balance of power in the sport. 

As just one example, Washington became a national title contender with the outstanding play of Michael Penix Jr., who joined the Huskies after four years at Indiana. That’s typical of a quarterback moving from a lower-tier program to a school in the top 25, hoping that the higher profile increases their opportunity to win and exposure to NFL scouts. 

Less common is a player moving from the FCS level up to the FBS level of play, and that’s what makes Albany’s Reese Poffenbarger’s move intriguing. Poffenbarger led FCS with 3,603 passing yards and 36 touchdowns this past season. So what might he be capable of while playing for a Power 5 program? 

Miami intends to find out. Poffenbarger is transferring from Albany to the ACC school, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining and should be able to play immediately. 

JUST IN: Reese Poffenbarger is transfering to the University of Miami in 2024.

Take a look back at thr QB's top five passing touchdowns from the 2023 season at UAlbany.@ReesePoffenbarg | @CanesFootball pic.twitter.com/0PqkQUSS2j

— FloFootball (@FloFootball) January 8, 2024

Poffenbarger will compete for the Hurricanes’ starting QB job with sophomore Jacurri Brown and freshmen Emory Williams and Judd Anderson. Miami needed another quarterback with some experience after Tyler Van Dyke entered the transfer portal and moved to Wisconsin. 

Hurricanes fans hoping for a more established talent under center weren’t too impressed by the addition of Poffenbarger when bigger names like Cam Ward, Will Howard, Malachi Nelson, or even Taulia Tagovailoa were rumored to show interest in Miami. 

Went from Cam Ward to FCS QB ????????

— Happy (@V8Happy) January 8, 2024

After all that talk, this is the QB Miami ends up with??

— 14-0 (@MCSbanned4x) January 8, 2024

LMFAO, WHO?!

— Athens Steve (@rainy_steve) January 8, 2024

Miami finally got there QB after the 4 try ????

— Justin Truitt (@justinbtruitt) January 8, 2024

The U is NOT back ????????

— Austin ???? (@deviousduck_) January 8, 2024

In two seasons at Albany, Poffenbarger completed 59.9% of his passes for 6,613 yards with 60 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.