Miami University has added a high-profile signal-caller to its roster, landing Dequan Finn, a 24-year-old quarterback who has spent seven college seasons across Toledo, Central Michigan, Baylor and, most recently, a transfer portal destination. Finn will lead the RedHawks’ offense this season after years of standout performances and a long journey through college football’s transfer dynamics.
Finn’s path to Oxford has been anything but conventional. He rose through Detroit-area football, starring at Martin Luther King High School and earning Michigan Mr. Football honors in 2018. He initially committed to Central Michigan, but changed course after the firing of CMU coach John Bonamego. He then became a three-year starter at Toledo, where he put up a remarkable run of production and accolades.
During his time with the Rockets, Finn became known as a dynamic dual-threat quarterback. He finished his Toledo career with 93 total touchdowns (66 passing, 27 rushing), and in 2022 he put together a MAC-record seven touchdowns in a single game (six passing, one rushing) as Toledo defeated Kent State 52-31. He helped Toledo win the conference championship game the same year and was named the MVP of the Boca Raton Bowl after Toledo beat Liberty. In 2023, Finn earned MAC MVP honors as Toledo again stood out, before transferring to Baylor.
At Baylor, Finn started the first two games of the 2023 season but suffered a pinched nerve in his throwing arm, limiting him to three appearances and ultimately leading to a medical redshirt. He had previously redshirted a season at Toledo and benefited from the NCAA’s COVID-era extra eligibility. All told, Finn has accumulated a substantial amount of experience and resilience across multiple programs, a factor Miami coach Chuck Martin says is shaping this season’s roster dynamics.
Finn’s move to Miami came after the RedHawks had just seen quarterback Brett Gabbert depart after six seasons. Martin and the staff originally weren’t sure they would pursue a transfer quarterback, but Finn’s reputation as a “difference maker” aligned with what Miami needed. Finn himself acknowledged a cautious start to the process, noting that while there weren’t as many offers this time around, the timing and fit felt right. “This is a quarterback-friendly school,” he said, and he pointed to the success of former Miami standout Ben Roethlisberger as a historical example of the program’s potential.
The transfer era has also reshaped Miami’s roster. Martin said that roughly 77 percent of the roster is freshmen, sophomores or transfers, a sign of the ongoing evolution in college football rosters. He compared the process to a cooking show, where coaches must assemble a dish from “crazy ingredients” and do so within a tight timeframe, underscoring the challenge of coaching amid a constantly changing player landscape.
Finn’s personal story resonates beyond the field. His family emphasizes grit and perseverance born in Detroit. His mother, Lakia, who works in Detroit’s automotive industry, has reinforced the message of resilience, noting Finn’s determination and his shift from past uniforms to the Miami red and white as a symbol of his latest chapter. She described Finn’s approach to life with the same warmth and humor that has followed him from high school to college.
On the field, Finn is eager to prove doubters wrong and to build on a track record of winning. “No matter where I’ve gone, I’ve been a winner, and our team has been a winner,” he said, reminding fans that his career has been defined by clutch performances and leadership. He also emphasized a readiness to embrace the coaching process and to help Miami maximize its talents as a program.
What this means for Miami is straightforward: Finn brings a rare blend of experience, talent and leadership to a RedHawks offense that has been navigating a period of rapid transition. If he can stay healthy and quickly acclimate to Miami’s system, the offense could benefit from a proven playmaker who thrives in high-stakes situations and a program that is embracing a new era of roster development under transfer rules and NIL dynamics.
In summary, Dequan Finn’s arrival at Miami marks a significant milestone for the RedHawks. It’s a move that blends a storied college career with a bold expectation: to lead Miami to sustained offensive production and to help the program capitalize on the evolving landscape of college football. Finn’s Detroit-born grit, competitive drive and proven ability to deliver in big games give Miami a hopeful path forward as the season unfolds.