ANALYSIS: 5 Miami Hurricanes with increasing expectations for 2023
Today CaneSport is taking a closer look at five Miami players that have increasing expectations for the upcoming season, with a breakdown of the rationale for each:
5. QB Tyler Van Dyke
This one goes without saying. Tyler Van Dyke thrived in Rhett Lashlee’s pass-happy offense two years ago in his first opportunity, starting the final nine games and completing 62.3 percent of his passes for 2,931 yards with 25 TD passes and just six INTs. He was named the ACC Rookie of the Year. Then last year, with Josh Gattis taking over the reins of the offense, he ended with 1,835 passing yards, 10 TDs and five INTs including what essentially was a season-ending injury in game 7. Not the year he had hoped given the high expectations off his outstanding 2021 performance. In 2022 this Miami offense ranked No. 85 in the nation in total offense (367.1 yards), No. 95 in rushing offense (128.1 yard), No. 59 in passing offense (239.0 yards) and No. 96 in scoring offense (23.6 points). Now it’s on to Van Dyke’s third coordinator at Miami, Shannon Dawson. It will again be a quarterback-friendly system similar, a hybrid Air-Raid, that should suit Van Dyke well. He showed this spring he’s very comfortable in it, and with what should be an improved offensive line he should look a heck of a lot more like the version we saw two years ago than v2022.
4. DE Nyjalik Kelly
As a Miami true freshman last season, Kelly played 183 reps and had 10 QB hurries (both stats per Pro Football Focus) along with four sacks. He played behind Akheem Mesidor, Jahfari Harvey and Mitchell Agude, the latter of whom graduated. And if you extrapolate Harvey’s 412 reps to Kelly’s production, then Kelly would have ended with nine sacks and 23 QB hurries. So this is a guy who flashed in Year 1 and should be in store for an even better year 2 given his opportunities and the growth you expect between a true freshman season and a sophomore year. We expect Kelly to push Harvey (who missed spring coming off injury) for the starting job in the fall and regardless play a big role on this team. He fits very well into the physical, attacking style that new coordinator Lance Guidry favors.
3. TE Elijah Arroyo
Why is a guy that was a backup the last two years and had 86 receiving yards as a freshman in 2021 and 66 yards last year on this list? Well, Arroyo missed the bulk of last season injured, remaining out this spring coming off that, and played behind Will Mallory both years. So he hasn’t had a chance to really prove himself. But we think this will be his breakout season – the expectation is he will start ahead of eighth-year Oregon transfer Cam McCormick and Jaleel Skinner (who was backing up McCormick this spring). McCormick is built more in the blocking mold, and Skinner still needs to bulk up to include solid run-blocking to his repertoire. Arroyo has the best of both worlds, blocking and receiving. At 6-4 and 245 pounds he can run past linebackers and outmuscle safeties. He’s going to have every opportunity to be a do-everything guy in Shannon Dawson’s offense, and without a clear top wide receiving threat the tight ends could have a big role in the passing game. Look for Arroyo to answer the bell and really help this attack get things going.
2. LB Wesley Bissainthe
There should be a big growth curve from Year 1 to 2 for any college player, and Bissainthe was already starting at a pretty high growth point last season when he played 276 reps and flashed at times. He ended with 30 tackles while starting the final three games. A former top recruit, Bissainthe is expected to start at WILL this season and there isn’t much depth behind him (Keontra Smith is the only experienced backup, although MLB Corey Flagg can also play outside). Bissainthe had no tackles behind the line of scrimmage last year, but this is now a Lance Guidry defense that can really utilize his explosiveness. Look for Bissainthe to make plays all over the field this coming season, including getting after the QB and making plays in the offensive backfield.
1. WR Xavier Restrepo
If Tyler Van Dyke’s injury midway through last season was the biggest offensive disappoint on the field for Miami, then Xavier Restrepo’s injury was probably a close second. Many were expecting Restrepo to break out taking over for the departed Mike Harley, but he was banged up in game 2 and then wound up playing off the bench in the final five. His numbers: A disappointing 21 catches for 240 yards and two TDs. This spring Restrepo was back healthy, and Van Dyke’s roommate is poised for a big year. Shannon Dawson’s offense saw the slot receiver lead the team in catches the last two years at Houston (Nathaniel Dell both years, and this past season he had 109 catches for 1,398 yards and 17 TDs playing in the slot 63.4 percent of the time), and that’s of course where Restrepo lines up. He has a knack for quickly getting open off the line of scrimmage, and we would not be surprised if he pushes past 70 receptions this season.
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