REPORT: DT Tito Odenigbo Transferring to the University of Miami

If you haven’t already heard by now, Miami Hurricanes football added a defensive tackle to the roster on Friday. Redshirt junior defensive tackle Otitodilinna Odenigbo, AKA Tito, is reportedly transferring to the University of Miami and will be eligible immediately for the 2018 season as a graduate transfer. The transfer has yet to be confirmed by UM.

Odenigbo, is transferring from Illinois, where he finished eighth on the team with three-and-a-half tackles for loss, piling up 28 total tackles, two pass break ups and one blocked field goal. Tito’s brother, Ifeadi Odenigbo, played for Northwestern and is currently a member of the Minnesota Vikings practice squad.

Odenigbo was a consensus three-star recruit coming out of high school. Growing up in Centerville, Ohio, Odenigbo was the 39th ranked player in the state of Ohio in 2014 according to ESPN.com.

With the losses of starting defensive tackles RJ McIntosh, Kendrick Norton, along with the graduation of Anthony Moten and transfer of Ryan Fines, Miami is looking to replenish the depths of the defensive interior. The addition of Odenigbo adds another body to the position, especially given his experience. With Gerald Willis III, Jon Ford, Pat Bethel and Tyreic Martin being the only options at defensive tackle at the moment, adding QUALITY depth is a solid start and good insurance policy before next month’s National Signing Day.

Whether Odenigbo pans out to get a decent share of reps in the starting rotation remains to be seen. Odenigbo (six-foot-three, 300 pounds) could be a candidate, along with Jon Ford to fill the spot vacated by Norton. That does not account for current UM commit Nesta Silvera. One thing working in Odenigbo’s favor will be the advantage of soaking in knowledge from Miami defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski.

This could and should be the first of many new faces along the defensive line for Miami in the coming months.

IT’S ALWAYS ABOUT THE U!