On Friday afternoon, Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post reported that RS Freshman OL Brendan Loftus had left the Miami Hurricanes Football Program.

Susan Miller Degnan of the Miami Herald followed up with additional confirmation.

Miller Degnan also supplied the following quote from Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt:

A 6’8, 300lb lineman from Tallahassee, FL, Loftus was one of the last players to join Miami’s 2015 recruiting class. He came to Miami with little fanfare, and was thought to be a long term project at best for Miami.

Loftus’ reported departure makes him the 2nd OL to leave the Hurricanes following the 2016 season. Earlier, OL Hunter Knighton left the team with intent to transfer elsewhere.

The losses of Knighton and now Loftus are not major for Miami. Neither was considered a top tier talent, and having them elect to leave now opens up additional scholarship slots for Mark Richt to rebuild the Canes’ roster.

While it would be better to have more numbers than less at a position like OL, the inescapable fact is that neither Knighton nor Loftus were going to have a role on this team moving forward.

Loftus has yet to announce where he will be transferring. He will have to sit out the 2017 season per NCAA transfer rules, unless he elects to go to an FCS school.

We wish Brendan Loftus the best in his future endeavors as a transfer, and as a man.

All the best, sir.

Go Canes