Miami receivers to enter transfer portal

The University of Miami has a pair of junior wide receivers that will be entering the transfer portal, announced head coach Manny Diaz on Monday. Dee Wiggins and Mark Pope will both enter the transfer portal after seeing their roles with the Hurricanes diminish.

Miami receivers entering transfer portal

“Dee Wiggins, who has four catches for 25 yards this season, and Mark Pope are expected to be headed to the transfer portal,” Manny Diaz said via Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.

Diaz had told reporters last week that there were players that were unhappy with their role on the team, but no names were given at the time. On Monday, Diaz confirmed that two of the players who were entering the transfer portal were Wiggins and Pope.

Pope is coming off of his best season with the Hurricanes in 2020 where he had 33 receptions for 403 yards and two touchdowns. Pope started 10 games out of 11 in 2020 before having his offensive opportunities cut this season. At Miami, Pope has 52 career receptions for 780 yards and four touchdowns.

Wiggins stats are similar, as he has 62 career receptions of his own with 791 yards and four touchdowns. Wiggins set career highs in 2020 as well, with 31 catches for 358 yards.

Through Saturday, Wiggins has only four catches on the season for 25 yards. Pope was moved to cornerback earlier in the season and played against Central Connecticut at the new position. Of note for Pope, he was not seen on the sideline of Miami’s loss to Virginia on Sep. 30.

Miami has started the season 2-4 with a pair of frustrating back-to-back losses to Virginia and North Carolina. The losing start combined with limited opportunities for Wiggins and Pope likely contributed to their decision.

Pope and Wiggins have lost most of their snaps to younger players and Miami transfer Charleston Rambo. Second-year freshmen Xavier Restrepo and Keyshawn Smith, and true freshmen Romello Brinson and Breshard Smith have combined for the majority of snaps that were once Pope and Wiggins.

Wiggins and Pope were both without a catch against North Carolina in a game where seven different Hurricanes players received a pass.