Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No. 22 Reese Poffenbarger
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 … 32. D’YONI HILL … 31. RAY RAY JOSEPH … 30. ISAIAH HORTON … 29. MARLEY COOK … 28. JAYLIN ALDERMAN … 27. JADAIS RICHARD … 26. SAMSON OKUNLOLA … 25. ELIJA LOFTON … 24. ELIJAH ALSTON … 23. DAMARI BROWN
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. 22:
NO. 22 QB REESE POFFENBARGER
Why He’s No. 22
If not for a late change-of-mind from Cam Ward to forgo going pro, Reese Poffenbarger would likely be Miami’s starting quarterback this coming season. Certainly he has all the skills to succeed… and he can serve as a more-than-capable backup this year and then look to start behind center in 2025. Poffenbarger transferred to Miami from Albany this spring, and he starred there last season with an FCS-best 3,603 passing yards on 58.7 percent completions along with 36 TDs and 13 INTs. He also ran for five more scores with 187 rush yards. Two years ago he completed 61.5 percent of his throws for 2,999 yards with 24 TDs and four INTs, adding 128 rush yards and two more scores. Poffenbarger began his career at Old Dominion after arriving from Middleton (Md.) High School as an industry 3-star QB prospect, and he redshirted there as a freshman before transferring to Albany. He’s not going to wow you with his measurables at 6-0, but he’s a dual threat who showed off good arm strength and accuracy in spring practice.
What he needs to do to move up this list
Get some opportunities. Because until we see him play at this level there’s only so much you can glean when he’s playing against the Fordham’s and Monmouth’s of the world. Going against longer, faster defensive linemen and needing to find passing lanes at 6-0 could be a challenge, but he can make plays with his feet and extend the pocket. Poffenbarger could be an outstanding quarterback at Miami, but until he gets reps on the field at this level it’s somewhat of an unknown just what his ceiling is going to be.
Realistic season objective
The backup battle to Ward is between Poffenbarger and Emory Williams, and we think Poffenbarger will be the second QB in games since Williams is eligible for a redshirt after playing as a true freshman. Poffenbarger will be a redshirt senior in 2025, and it likely will be a battle between him and Williams at that point unless a younger guy outplays them or Miami brings in another portal guy to compete. So this year is all about getting Poffenbarger some backup reps, getting him comfortable in Shannon Dawson’s offense and getting a real sense of how he can perform if he is Miami’s starting quarterback in 2025.
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