ANALYSIS: Predicting the role of every Miami Hurricanes freshman for the coming season
Miami fall drills are around the corner, and there will be 24 true freshmen on the roster looking to bump older players out of jobs. Today CaneSport takes a closer look at where things stand with the newcomers entering fall drills:
QUARTERBACK
Emory Williams: Williams looked good in the spring, picking up the Shannon Dawson offense well and showing good accuracy and arm strength. Tyler Van Dyke is the starter, so Williams is looking to push Jacurri Brown for the backup job and he was believed to be right there at the end of spring practice. If Brown still struggles with accuracy in fall camp, Williams might move up the depth chart by default. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: No. 3 QB
RUNNING BACK
Mark Fletcher: Fletcher was a summer arrival, so missing the spring cost him some valuable reps. But he’s too talented to keep off the field, especially in a running backs room with some question marks. Henry Parrish is the returning starter at running back but was just okay last season (616 rush yards), and Fletcher adds a power run element that Parrish doesn’t possess. Other backs could also factor in here, but we are very high on Fletcher’s potential as a true freshman and can see him winding up the starter in Year 1. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Major role on offense, possible starter
Christopher Johnson: Johnson is a smaller, home run hitter type of back with championship track speed. Go ahead and call him lightning to Fletcher’s thunder. Johnson optimally would redshirt to get bigger, stronger and learn the system, but Miami just doesn’t have backs with his downfield speed. He can be a really good receiving option in year 1. Break a tackle and he’s gone. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Third down type role, limited reps
WIDE RECEIVER
Ray Ray Joseph: Joseph enters fall drills as the backup to Xavier Restrepo in the slot, with Brashard Smith also talented and looking to earn reps. But with that said we saw in the spring that Shannon Dawson will put Joseph in motion and move him around the field. He got the ball in his hands on quick hitters and also deep throws. We see Joseph getting a decent amount of reps in year 1 and having a sizable impact … including possibly as a returner if he shows coaches they can trust him in that aspect of the game. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Immediate role in slot, helps on returns
Robby Washington: Washington was banged up for much of the spring, and there’s a lot of competition on the outside where Washington lines up. The team added a couple of post-spring receivers in JUCO Shemar Kirk and Alabama transfer Tyler Harrell, making Washington’s path to significant reps even tougher. Washington probably would benefit best with a redshirt year to spend his time in the weight room getting bigger, faster and stronger. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Redshirt
TIGHT END
Jackson Carver: Carver is a tall, lanky target with a very bright future. But he needs to put on weight and really hone in on becoming a solid blocker in addition to his pass-catching capability. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Redshirt
Riley Williams: Williams has been a standout this summer and with Jaleel Skinner struggling with drops last year and Cam McCormick mainly a blocker it’s possible Williams could carve out a role for himself in Year 1 (Elijah Arroyo is the anticipated TE starter). CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Backup TE, special teams role
OFFENSIVE LINE
Miami freshman offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (61) and Samson Okunlola (63) (Photo by Neil Gershman/CaneSport)
Tommy Kinsler: Kinsler has impressed this off-season and without much quality depth on the O line he has every chance to work his way onto the two-deep. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: In 2-deep
Francis Mauigoa: Mauigoa spent the spring as the first team right tackle, and we don’t see that changing in the fall. The 5-star signee has NFL future written all over him. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Starting RT
Samson Okunlola: Okunlola has all the size and athleticism you want in a future NFL left tackle, but he comes from a Massachusetts program that didn’t face a high level of competition so it’s a really big jump up for him to college. The 5-star signee was the second-teamer behind Jalen Rivers in the spring, but with Rivers better suited at guard we think there’s a great chance Okunlola will be your starting left tackle. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Starting LT
Frankie Tinilau: Tinilau has a lot of athleticism and great size, but he needs the year to really hone his technique and be in the weight room. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Redshirt
Antonio Tripp: Tripp needs seasoning and is best suited with a redshirt year. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Redshirt
DEFENSIVE LINE
Collins Acheampong: Acheampong has a bright future but it’s a solid defensive ends spot with Akheem Mesidor, Jahfari Harvey, Nyjalik Kelly and Rueben Bain expected to be the main four as of now. So he could certainly use a year in the weight room to get bigger, stronger and faster. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Redshirt
Rueben Bain: Anyone who watched Miami’s spring game will know that Bain is going to be tough to keep off the field. He had three sacks that day, showing the burst and combination of size/power you want off the edge. Bain also has the advantage of being big enough to work inside in passing situations. Look for him to have a significant role in Year 1. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: In 2-deep on DL
Rueben Bain (photo by Neil Gershman)
Joshua Horton: Horton is a summer arrival at a DT position where it’s tough to get on the field right away. But there is a real dearth of defensive tackle talent on the team, which opens the door for Horton to get on the field quite a bit in Year 1. We see him working into the two-deep with Leonard Taylor and Branson Deen the most likely starters. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: In 2-deep at DT
Jayden Wayne: Wayne would benefit from a redshirt year to get bigger, stronger and faster, and at a solid end position that’s probably where this one is headed. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Redshirt
LINEBACKER
Raul Aguirre: Aguirre has a bright future at Miami, but in Year 1 his most likely role is on special teams. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Depth guy who will help on special teams
Malik Bryant: See Aguirre above. We don’t see Bryant being ready to be a force in Year 1, but he can use his size and athleticism to help the Canes’ special teams. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Depth guy who will help on special teams
Marcellius Pulliam: Of the four freshmen linebackers it’s Pulliam that’s gotten the most buzz this summer, so we are projecting him getting an immediate role as a second-teamer who will also be a help on special teams. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Second-team LB who will help on special teams
Bobby Washington: Washington is a big, physical linebacker who can get to the point of attack and hit hard. But we don’t think his time is here quite yet. His main role this year, we think, will be helping on special teams. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Depth guy who will help on special teams
CORNERBACK
Damari Brown: There’s a reason Miami brought in four transfer cornerbacks this year – guys like Brown and Robert Stafford are going to need some time to really acclimate to this level. It isn’t easy for a CB in the Lance Guidry defense, since he likes to leave them on an island with a lot of blitzes. So Brown’s most likely going to be helping on special teams. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Depth guy who will help on special teams
Robert Stafford: See above with Brown. Stafford is probably more game-ready than Brown right now, but it’s hard to say either is going to be a guy that Miami coaches want to count on in Year 1. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Depth guy who will help on special teams
SAFETY
Kaleb Spencer: There isn’t a lot of safety depth on this team, with Markeith Williams and Brian Balom the only other backups to James Williams and Kam Kinchens. And Balom entered the portal earlier in the year before returning to Miami. Spencer is a physically imposing safety who we think will work in ahead of Balom on the two-deep, and he can also be a nice addition to the special teams units. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Second-team safety and will help on special teams
SPECIAL TEAMS
P Dylan Joyce: Joyce is the only scholarship punter on the team, and coaches have raved about his leg strength, saying it’s not much different from Lou Hedley’s. So yes, Joyce has some big shoes to fill with Hedley gone. But the job is his and hopes are high there won’t be a drop-off in this aspect of the game. CANESPORT’S PROJECTION: Starting punter
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