Miami EDGE Nyjalik Kelly enters NCAA transfer portal

Miami is set to lose a key defender to the transfer portal. EDGE Nyjalik Kelly is planning to enter the transfer portal, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Nyjalik Kelly signed with Miami as a four-star recruit in the class of 2022. He was ranked as the No. 9 EDGE and the No. 93 overall player in the country, according to the On3 Industry rankings.

Kelly played in four games, with three starts, in 2023. He recorded eight tackles and one tackle for loss while battling injuries.

The For Lauderdale native suited up against Miami (Ohio), Texas A&M, Georgia Tech and North Carolina this past season. He had his best game against the Tar Heels, recording four tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss on Oct. 14.

Less than two weeks after that game, Miami coach Mario Cristobal revealed that Nyjalik Kelly would miss the rest of the season.

“He’s been out for a little while,” Mario Cristobal said. “I can tell you, Nyjalik will be out probably for the rest of the season. It’s a little bit more significant.”

In addition to starting three games last season, Kelly was also a key contributor as a freshman in 2022. That year, he recorded 11 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks.

Kelly chose Miami over offers from Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, Texas and plenty of others out of high school. It will be interesting to see where he ends up next and if any of those schools make a run at him again.

More on Miami and the NCAA transfer portal

Miami seems to always be active in the transfer portal, whether it be players coming in or leaving.

In addition to Kelly, the Hurricanes have had plenty of other departures since the conclusion of the 2023 season.

Some of the more notable ones including quarterback Tyler Van Dyke leaving for Wisconsin, leading rusher Harry Parrish Jr. entering the portal and one of the top receivers in Colbie Young transferring to Georgia.

However, Miami also brought in some talented players this offseason, too, led by quarterback Cam Ward.

Ward had a strong 2023 season at Washington State, passing for 3,735 yards and 25 touchdowns, while rushing for 144 yards and eight scores.

It will be interesting to see how the Miami roster continues to shape out leading up to the start of the 2024 season. The Hurricanes open the year at Florida on Aug. 31.