Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No. 25 Elija Lofton
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
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. 25:
NO. 25 TE ELIJA LOFTON
Why He’s No. 25
Lofton arrived as a true freshman early enrollee and wowed in spring practice. He lined up all over the field, from tight end to split out wide to even getting carries as a running back. At 6-2 and 240 pounds he has good quickness for his size, power and great hands. Think perhaps a slightly smaller version of Jaheim Bell in terms of the role that Lofton can fill (Bell had 503 receiving yards for FSU last year and 261 rush yards in 2022, for reference). Some also compare him to a “little Deebo Samuel,” as fellow TE Riley Williams put it during the spring. Lofton is in line to be the team’s starting H-back, with Elijah Arroyo expected to start at tight end. Depth will come from blocking tight end Cam McCormick along with second-year TE Riley Williams, who were the main two guys last year when the tight ends room had no one with more than 100 receiving yards on the year. That’s set to change this year. Lofton arrived at Miami as a 4-star prospect from Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman High School, the same program that sent TE Brevin Jordan to Miami. His ceiling is very high, even in Year 1.
What he needs to do to move up this list
Continue to show in fall drills that he can be a difference-maker in Year 1. We loved what Lofton showed in the spring, but Elijah Arroyo and Riley Williams are other talented do-it-all type tight ends and with a talented wide receiver room it’s unclear how often Miami coaches will want to have two tight ends in games together. Certainly Lofton can be a weapon with the ball in his hands as a running back or receiving tight end, so he’ll also have to show he can be a reliable, trusted option even as a true freshman.
Realistic season objective
We think Lofton has a chance to lead the tight ends room in receiving yards given his skillset as a pass catcher, even with Elijah Arroyo back healthy. Lofton has a rare combination of size and speed plus excellent receiving skills. So we can see him with over 400 yards and perhaps a handful of touchdowns in Year 1. His future is extremely bright.
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