Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No. 27 Jadais Richard
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
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. 27:
NO. 27 CB Jadais Richard
Why He’s No. 27
A physical and athletic 6-1, 195-pounder, Richard arrived at Miami from Vanderbilt prior to last season and ended 2023 coming off the bench with 14 tackles. And he may not start this year, either, given Daryl Porter, Jr. and Damari Brown played ahead of him and the team also added D’yani Hill from Marshall in the second portal window. But Richard makes our top 30 because we believe in him – you watch him and he’s that long corner who can handle the bigger receivers. He also could get some work at nickel. He was a starting Vanderbilt cornerback the spring prior to his transfer, and he played in 11 games in 2022 as a true freshman (with one start) and had six tackles, a sack and two pass breakups. His Pro Football Focus grades over the last two seasons? In 2022 he played 203 reps at Vanderbilt and had a 62.4 overall grade with a 60.3 tackle grade and 60.3 cover grade as well. Per PFF he was targeted 13 times and allowed nine receptions (69.2 percent) for 211 yards with two TDs. This past season at Miami he played in 187 reps and graded out at 67.7 percent overall (76.2 percent run defense, 65.5 cover grade). Opponents targeted him 14 times with 10 completions for 120 yards.
What he needs to do to move up this list
You’d think with Te’Cory Couch and Jaden Davis gone that this could be a year for Richard to break out. But he’s going to have to earn his reps over guys like Porter, Brown and Hill. In the spring Richard struggled with getting a big handsy and drawing flags, so he really needs to perfect his technique and be in the right position when the ball is in the air.
Realistic season objective
Richard will be in the mix to start but more likely than not he will be a key depth guy. Given the team’s lost four starters in the secondary and not much experienced depth returns, there’s little doubt he will be called upon for some significant action. Perhaps his best chance for action would be if Mishael Powell moves from nickel to safety – if that happens we could see Richard pushing into the starting lineup at either corner or nickel.
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