Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No. 32 D’yoni Hill
The Miami Hurricanes have massively reshaped the roster from a year ago with five primary offensive starters gone (QB Tyler Van Dyke, RB Henry Parrish, WR Colbie Young, OL Javion Cohen and Matt Lee) along with seven on the defensive side (DT Leonard Taylor, DT Branson Deen, DL Jared Harrison-Hunte, S Kam Kinchens, S James Williams, CB Jaden Davis and CB Te’Cory Couch).
50. RB JORDAN LYLE … 49. RB CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON … 48. DE COLE MCCONATHY … 47. S ZAQUAN PATTERSON … 46. TE CAM MCCORMICK … 45. NY CARR … 44. JUSTIN SCOTT … 43. OT Markel Bell … 42. RB AJAY ALLEN … 41. TE RILEY WILLIAMS … 40. OL MATTHEW MCCOY … 39. LB CAM PRUITT … 38. DT JOSHUA HORTON … 37. LB RAUL AGUIRRE … 36. S MARKEITH WILLIAMS … 35. S JADEN HARRIS … 34. QB EMORY WILLIAMS … 33. WR JOJO TRADER
Which brings us to our annual series breaking down the top 50 players on the current roster. As we go along on this list you’ll get an idea of the overall depth of talent on Mario Cristobal’s team this year as he seeks Miami’s second 10-win season in the last two decades.
Today we are at No. 32:
NO. 32 CB D’YONI HILL
Why He’s No. 32
D’yoni Hill might not wow you as a portal transfer from Marshall who enjoyed some success at the lower level program last season (55 tackles, 1 INT, 10 PBU in 671 reps), but given Miami’s lack of top end talent/depth at cornerback he’ll have every opportunity to win a starting job and at worst be a key piece on the two-deep. Because aside from returning starter Daryl Porter, Jr. there is only one other cornerback that’s played significant reps – Damari Brown started the final four games last year as a freshman. Porter and Brown, by the way, had no INTs, something they aim to change this year. Also note that Washington transfer Mishael Powell was at nickel this spring but could move to safety in the fall given the need there (Powell played both for the Huskies). Which brings us back to Hill. He has prior experience in Lance Guidry’s system when the coach was at Marshall two years ago, so the transition should not be difficult. Per Pro Football Focus this past season he checked in at a solid 74.1 percent overall with an 84.1 tackle grade and 70.9 cover grade. He was noted allowing 34 of 61 completions for 517 yards with three TD passes given up and one interception (55.7 pass completion percentage against, 15.2 yards per completion allowed). A 6-0, 172-pound junior, Hill was a three-star prospect in the Class of 2022 (he played 20 reps that year before starting for the first time last season). Out of high school in Gainesville, Fla., Hill had other offers from Arkansas State, Ball State, Florida Atlantic, FIU, Georgia State, Kent State, Middle Tennessee, Troy and Austin Peay.
What he needs to do to move up this list
A question, of course, is how Hill will fare against a higher level of competition in the ACC. He was a solid cover corner last year at Marshall and perhaps it will help that the Canes aren’t really going against a lot of elite passers with a pretty workable schedule this season. But is Hill better than a Porter, Brown or even Jadais Richard or one of the younger guys? That’s something he’ll have to prove in fall drills.
Realistic season objective
Hill isn’t taking up a roster spot out of the portal to sit on the bench, so from his perspective the idea is to emerge as a starter. We’re not sold on that happening, but that would be the ceiling for him, in addition to having a solid season. At worst he should be a good depth guy that can work in on the boundary and not have a drop-off in play. Miami needed more experienced depth at corner, so adding him makes sense. It just remains to be seen if he’s ready to make a real impact at this level.
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