Miami (Ohio) RedHawks Bank on a Loaded Transfer Haul to Chase a Fourth Straight MAC Title Game
Miami finished 7-7 overall and 6-2 in the MAC in 2025, reaching a third straight conference championship game before losing to Western Michigan 13-23 and then falling to Fresno State 3-18 in the Arizona Bowl. Twelfth-year coach Chuck Martin has built the RedHawks into one of the league's steadiest programs, with a MAC title in 2023 and title-game trips in each of the past three seasons.
The defining theme of the offseason is money and movement. A fresh influx of NIL funding let Martin chase and retain higher-end talent, and the roster is now stocked with Power 4 and all-conference transfers on both sides of the ball. New coordinators inherit a program that keeps humming regardless of who is calling the plays, and the central question is simply whether the incoming pieces live up to their billing.
Offense
Thomas Gotkowski is the front-runner to open the season under center after being thrown into the fire as a redshirt sophomore, when the surprise midseason exit of Dequan Finn pushed him into the lineup. He started three games down the stretch, including the MAC title game and the bowl, and flashed early with four touchdown passes across his first two outings before both he and the offense cooled off in the two season-ending losses. The job may not be fully settled, though, with the competition potentially carrying into fall camp. Kansas transfer David McComb, a strong-armed runner still learning the system, and Caleb Heavner, who brings Division II starting experience from Fort Hays State, round out a room with several candidates.
The receiving corps is short on proven production and leans heavily on newcomers. Braylon Isom and Keith Reynolds are penciled in as starters, with Reynolds offering slot explosiveness and genuine big-play upside, while Carl Jenkins is also in the rotation. Miami typically deploys four wideouts, and much of the depth arrives through the portal: Arizona's Devin Hyatt and Kentucky's Quintin Simmons bring Power 4 pedigree, and 6-4 Ohio State transfer Damarion Witten profiles as a red zone target with the ceiling to match his lofty high school ranking. Freshman tight end Brendan Loftus, at 6-6, is set for a larger role.
The backfield picture is unsettled and could hinge on how the transfers pan out. Rodney Nelson arrives from FCS Monmouth as a decorated back who earned CAA Player of the Year honors after piling up 1,802 yards and 18 touchdowns, and he projects to shoulder a heavy load. Returning option D'Shawntae Jones, a thick 5-10, 248-pound runner, added 277 yards and seven scores a year ago, and Wisconsin transfer Cade Yacamelli brings 31 games of experience to the mix. Miami has often leaned on a committee, so a timeshare would be no surprise.
The line is young but returns four starters, giving the offense a stable foundation. Left tackle Eric Smith earned third-team all-conference recognition last season and anchors the group, and Northern Illinois transfer Evan Malcore, also a third-team honoree, adds a proven body on the outside. Andrew Lowry, center Kris Manu and guard Greg Smith Jr. fill out an experienced interior, with Greg Smith flagged as one to watch.
Defense
The front is experienced if short on marquee names. Roosevelt Andrews III returns as a starter inside next to OJ Alexander, and the tackle duo brings depth and a strong grasp of the scheme. On the edge, ends Devin Bell and Grant Lyons are veteran presences expected to take a step forward, with Bai Jobe adding another rush option off the end. Rotational pieces are counted on to keep the group fresh.
Linebacker is the strength of a defense that has ranked among the MAC's top five for four straight years. Malcolm McCain, the leading returning tackler, and steady Brock Uihlein are back, and they are joined by two accomplished transfers: CJ Young, a second-team all-conference pick at Kent State, and Blayne Myrick, a first-team All-Sun Belt honoree at South Alabama. Both newcomers should push for all-league recognition, giving the unit real depth and athleticism.
The secondary lost both starting safeties, who ranked among the conference's best, yet the group returns valuable experience from a long season and may be better positioned than a year ago, especially at cornerback. Kaleb Martin and Adrian Walker Jr. form a solid corner tandem, and safeties Leo Colombi and Jackson Pons are in line for bigger roles. Mychal Yharbrough drew praise in the spring, and Iowa State transfer Mason Ellens intrigues with his big-play ability.
Special teams has long been a calling card, with Miami regularly among the nation's most efficient units and its coaching held in high regard around the league. Punter Pierse Stainton is a returning starter who averaged 42.3 yards per kick and had 12 punts travel beyond 50 yards. Junior Kellan McLaughlin, the kickoff specialist for the past three years, adds placekicking to his plate in 2026 following the departure of all-conference kicker Dom Dzioban.
Overview and Prediction
The schedule opens with demanding Power 4 road tests at Pittsburgh and Cincinnati before settling into a manageable MAC slate, with the rivalry meeting against Ohio and a season-closing trip to Western Michigan looming as the toughest league dates. The consensus pegs Miami as a top-of-the-conference contender, with projections ranging from the outright MAC favorite to a top-three finish.
The verdict is straightforward. Miami has reached three consecutive conference title games, and a fourth is well within reach if the higher-end transfers deliver as advertised. The offense should be steadier as Gotkowski settles in and the backfield sorts out its pecking order, and Martin can be trusted to field a stout defense once again. The make-or-break is the portal haul: if the incoming talent hits, the RedHawks are the team to beat in the MAC, and if it falls short, another good-but-not-great season awaits.