ANALYSIS: Miami’s five biggest position battles looking ahead to fall camp

The Miami Hurricanes have a lot of top end talent and overall depth questions coming off a 5-7 season. Mario Cristobal tried to shore it up by taking 14 players in the transfer portal and a 26-strong freshman class that ranked No. 6 in the nation.

Certainly there are some key position battles with fall camp around the corner that will very much determine if Shannon Dawson/Lance Guidry are successful in their first years as Miami coordinators … and if the Canes can quickly turn around a rough 2022 season.

With a nod as honorable mention to the left tackle battle between Zion Nelson (if he’s back healthy), Jalen Rivers and 5-star freshman Samson Okunlola, here are your top 5 position battles entering fall camp (note that we are not including every roster player at the position but the ones we feel are high up in the mix to start entering fall drills):

5. BACKUP QUARTERBACK

Jacurri Brown vs. Emory Williams

This is going to be a very interesting battle between the second-year Brown and true freshman Williams. Tyler Van Dyke, of course, is the starter, but as we saw last year it’s ultra-important a capable backup is ready to go into games and succeed. That wasn’t the case with Brown last year, as he struggled with accuracy when he got his chances following Van Dyke’s injury. The dual threat passed and ran for over 1,000 yards in his final two years of high school but really was only effective with his legs during his opportunity. He wasn’t able to get things going through the air and finished with 230 total passing yards on the season with three TDs and three INTs. He also had 223 rush yards including a long of 40 yards. He didn’t complete a single pass of 20 or more yards. Brown showed improved accuracy in spring practices before having issues in the Spring Game, so he will need to be on point to hold off Williams.

Emory Williams hopes to emerge as Van Dyke’s backup (photo by Neil Gershman)

As for Williams, he looked beyond his years this spring in terms of accuracy and poise. He still has work to do learning the college system and the nuances of what coordinator Shannon Dawson is teaching. At 6-5 and 220 pounds, Williams is more in the drop-back mode of passer compared to Brown, who has that outstanding run component to his game. Williams was the No. 3 QB in the spring but will be given every chance to show why he should be No. 2 this fall. And whoever wins the backup battle will also have a leg up on the competition to start when Van Dyke heads to the pros. So this also is very much about the future of Quarterback U and not just this season.

4. STARTER AND NO. 2 RUNNING BACK

Henry Parrish/Don Chaney/Ajay Allen/Mark Fletcher/Christopher Johnson in an open competition

This is one of the most important fall battles, since last year the Miami rushing attack really struggled behind an O line that wasn’t very good (No. 95 rushing offense). Henry Parrish was the main starter, and he ended the season with 616 rush yards (4.7 yards per carry) and four TDs. He added 17 catches for 120 yards and two more scores. So it wasn’t by any means a “wow.” And Miami needs a “wow” here to help the Shannon Dawson offense really thrive. So while Parrish may be considered a favorite to start, we would not at all be surprised if true freshman Mark Fletcher takes over that role sooner rather than later. He has that combination of speed and power that Mario Cristobal covets vs. the smaller Parrish. Also don’t sleep on Nebraska transfer Ajay Allen, who was expected to have a sizable role for the Cornhuskers before transferring in the second portal window. He’s also a physical back who can make a big impact. Don Chaney is probably a bit on the outside looking in after not overtaking Parrish in the spring and with his injury history. And true freshman Christopher Johnson is a guy with elite track speed but probably will be best served in a third down / change-of-pace role this season. Keys for Johnson and Fletcher will be showing they are good pass-protectors and reliable, consistent options as first-year players.

3. NO. 2 DEFENSIVE TACKLE AND THE 2-DEEP

Jared Harrison-Hunte/Anthony Campbell/Branson Deen competing to start opposite Leonard Taylor

Miami needs to find some answers at defensive tackle aside from returning starter Leonard Taylor. Branson Deen is a Purdue transfer who looks most likely to be the second starter (had 27 tackles, 2.5 sacks starting there last season), but the team hopes Jared Harrison-Hunte off injury can finally fulfill his vast potential (he’s had numerous injuries in the past that have slowed  down his progress). The team also brought in Anthony Campbell from Louisiana-Monroe as a 6-7 guy with huge upside but not a lot of experience (was a backup at La.-Monroe and had 3.5 TFL last season). Campbell will need to really transition quickly to a much different level of play. While these are the most likely guys in the two-deep at tackle, also don’t sleep on true freshman Joshua Horton. There just are not elite level guys behind Taylor at this position, and Miami coaches will play the best guys. Defensive ends Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain could also wind up getting a lot of tackle reps if the Harrison-Hunte/Campbell/Deen play is not up to the Miami standard. So there are a ton of question marks that need to be answered at this all-important spot.

2. NO. 2 DEFENSIVE END AND THE 2-DEEP

Rueben Bain (photo by Neil Gershman)

Nyjalik Kelly/Jahfari Harvey/Reuben Bain competing to start opposite Akheem Mesidor

Like at the defensive tackle position where Miami has back Leonard Taylor, the Hurricanes also have a top end performer returning in Akheem Mesidor. Now the question is who starts opposite him … and who else provides the depth. Most likely this will be a Nyjalik Kelly vs. Jahfari Harvey battle in fall camp, although Rueben Bain flashed in the spring as a true freshman (3 sacks in Spring Game) and certainly has the talent to work his way into the picture. Kelly has the advantage of playing in the spring while Harvey was out injured, and Kelly took advantage and really looked the part. He’s coming off a strong freshman season where he made the most of his backup reps with four sacks. But Harvey has the benefit of 13 career starts under his belt, and the veteran has 19.5 career TFL and 9.5 sacks. This past season he was part of a heavy end rotation in Kevin Steele’s system and started seven times, ending with 31 tackles, 7.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks. So this is going to be a very interesting battle to watch in fall camp. Another unanswered question is how much the team will need to use Mesidor and Bain at tackle given the depth issues there (both can work at DE and DT). So a Chantz Williams or freshmen like Cyrus Moss (in year 2), Jayden Wayne and Collins Acheampong could also get some opportunities in 2023.

1. CB/NICKEL STARTERS

CBs Davonte Brown/Daryl Porter, Jr./Jaden Davis/Demetrius Freeney/Ja’Dais Richard competing for 2 boundary spots; Nickel/STAR Te’Cory Couch trying to hold off Ja’Dais Richard

There is no more important answer that Miami coaches need to find in fall camp than capable starters at both the cornerback spots and the nickel position. The Lance Guidry attacking defense puts a lot of responsibility in one-on-one coverage down the field on these guys, and if they don’t hold up it’s going to be difficult for the overall D to have success. Let’s start at boundary corner. With Tyrique Stevenson and DJ Ivey gone, coaches quickly realized they needed a lot of portal help to fill jobs this season. Before the spring Davonte Brown was brought on board from UCF, and in spring drills he and Daryl Porter, Jr. (a portal arrival in 2022 who was a backup during the season) were the first-teamers. Coaches weren’t satisfied with that situation and added three more corners in the second portal window – Oklahoma’s Jaden Davis, Vanderbilt’s Ja’Dais Richard (who can play corner or nickel) and JUCO arrival Demetrius Freeney.  So now it’s going to be an all-out battle between those guys for the outside jobs. Brown and Davis probably have a leg up based on Brown’s prior success at UCF (30 tackles, two INTs and four PBU this past season, and he also started every game as a sophomore in 2021 and ended with 13 PBU and an interception) and his speed aspect, while Davis knows what it is like covering top opponents as a starter for the Sooners (22 career starts, struggled last year there, though – had 35 tackles, 2 PD and a TFL). At nickel/STAR Te’Cory Couch is a multi-year starter but he’s never had a “wow” season. Last year he had 37 tackles and six PBU. Look for Richard (2 PBU in Year 1 at Vandy last season) to get every opportunity to unseat him. It’s going to be a massive competition for reps at these three spots in fall camp. May the best man win.

The post ANALYSIS: Miami’s five biggest position battles looking ahead to fall camp appeared first on On3.