TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER: Washington State CB Ethan O'Connor wowed on Miami Hurricanes visit - "I've never seen anything like that before"
Washington State’s Ethan O’Connor is a priority target for the Miami Hurricanes in this portal cycle, a playmaking cornerback who is very much needed in a UM secondary that struggled mightily this season.
O’Connor visited Miami this weekend, and the trip made quite an impact. He previously visited Oklahoma, is heading out for a Georgia visit today and will visit Colorado next weekend. UCLA is another school that remains in the picture.
Off his UM visit, O’Connor told CaneSport “It was beautiful. First thing I have to say is for sure I’ve never seen anything like that before. I had a great time really liked it, the history of it, campus tour – it was awesome.”
O’Connor said he spent a lot of time with head coach Mario Cristobal, defensive coordinator Lance Guidry and cornerbacks coach Chevis Jackson.
“I had great talks with all of them,” O’Connor said. “Coach Cristobal is a great dude. He said he really wants me there, says I’m kind of like the missing piece right now. They need a corner they can play on an island that they don’t have to worry about teams throwing bombs over. Coach Guidry – they want to put me on an island, they want me because they can trust me on an island. That’s what I’m used to, what I did at Wazzu. That’s it right there. And Coach Jackson was teaching me some good stuff while I was there, gave great advice.”
He says Miami coaches want to use him “
“They also have a great DB (OJ Frederique) on the other side,” he adds. “They are really trying to build something.”
As for what O’Connor would bring to Miami?
The 6-2, 176-pounder had a team-high four interceptions, eight pass breakups and 32 tackles this past season after redshirting and playing off the bench in two games in 2023 – that was year in which he overlapped at Washington State with current Miami QB Cam Ward.
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“He was at the Heisman (in New York), but I’m going to have to reach out to him,” O’Connor said.
Per Pro Football Focus O’Connor had a 78.2 overall grade this year in 755 reps, including a stellar 80.1 cover grade. He was targeted 62 times and allowed 32 completions for 406 yards and three TDs along with his four picks.
“He’s long, smooth in his movement, everything real quiet,” O’Connor’s former high school coach, Ray Fenton, said. “He has the Miami mindset back in the day of defensive guys – hyper competitive, no mercy, would rather rip your jersey off and win. I’d compare him to those guys back in the day when there was no mercy.”
O’Connor has three years of eligibility remaining.
Trying to add a guy like O’Connor makes a lot of sense for Miami after only one player enjoyed fairly consistent success in the secondary – true freshman CB OJ Frederique. UM also will return CB/nickel Jadais Richard and CB D’yoni Hill, but both struggled. CB/nickel Damari Brown also could be a standout, but he missed most of the season injured. Safeties Jaden Harris, Zaquan Patterson and Markeith Wiliams will be back (with Meesh Powell departing), but there were issues at safety as there were at corner in 2024.
So where do things stand here off the visit?
“I’d say the chances are 50/50 (for Miami),” O’Connor said. “I feel like I keep getting farther and farther from home, so location isn’t as much of an aspect. But I want a family-bonded team. That’s the thing (Washington State) did really well with. I feel that family bond has to be there. And a place where everyone competes.”
