Miami Hurricanes S Kam Kinchens atop CaneSport’s 2023 summer Player Performance Index
If you want an idea of how much can change in a year, all you have to do is check out the perception of the players on this Miami Hurricanes team at this time in 2022. Among the players listed in CaneSport’s top 10 of its 30-player top players index at that time was S Avantae Williams, TE Jaleel Skinner and RB Jaylan Knighton. That was a trio that just didn’t make an impact. And then there were guys who really surprised like No. 29 Kam Kinchens, who many thought last summer might take a backup role to Avantae Williams. True story. Or Leonard Taylor being undervalued at No. 17 due to his prior inconsistency. Others you can argue were adequately placed, like Will Mallory (No. 10), Henry Parrish (No. 7), Lou Hedley (No. 6), Tyrique Stevenson (No. 5), James Williams (No. 3) and Tyler Van Dyke (No. 1, injury issues and early inconsistency cost him last year).
Now it’s time to unveil the 2023 list. And yes, there are bound to be surprises on this year’s list as well.
But as of now this is the best guess for who will be the top players on this 2023 Miami team as Mario Cristobal & Co. look to turn things around off a 5-7 finish.
We created this top 30 University of Miami Player Performance Index for a snapshot of the team, and we’ll break down each of these players in more depth in the days ahead. This list includes true freshmen, transfers and returners.
The below list in its aggregate gives a snapshot of the talent level of this team … and if you look by position it can also give an inkling as to the strengths of each position. For instance, there are two OL in the top 5, three in the top 15 and five in the top 25. A year ago there were no offensive linemen in the top 5, two in the top 15 and four in the top 25. That position has gotten a significant upgrade.
There’s a lot of talent on the list, but at the same time as you go through it you will see much of it is to some extent unproven, whether it’s a transfer or someone that just didn’t get a ton of work last year.
Also of note: There are six freshmen and eight new transfers in out of the 30 players on this list, so that’s almost half the top players.
Without further ado, your CaneSport Miami Hurricanes Player Performance Index in reverse order from 30-1 (note that players just outside the top 30 include OT Zion Nelson due to his injury issues, OG Anez Cooper, RB Don Chaney, WR Isaiah Horton, WR Brashard Smith, TE Jaleel Skinner, CB Daryl Porter, Jr., CB Ja’Dais Richard, LB Corey Flagg and DT Jared Harrison-Hunte.
Ray Ray Joseph (photo by Neil Gershman)
No. 30 DT Branson Deen, 6th year senior – Deen impressed coaches this spring as a Purdue transfer and right now we think it’s most likely he’s the guy starting opposite Leonard Taylor. Given the team’s questionable tackle depth, the Canes need him to step up in a big way.
No. 29 CB Jaden Davis, senior – Davis didn’t come from Oklahoma for his final year of eligibility to sit on the bench, and none of the corners this spring really shined. So there’s every chance Davis can emerge this fall after arriving as a second portal addition.
No. 28 TE Cam McCormick, 8th year senior – McCormick is a rare eighth-year player, but he was with the ones ahead of Jaleel Skinner this spring and looked the part of a physical presence who can also make plays here and there in the passing game. Miami will put a premium on physicality at the point of attack and pass protection, which means McCormick should get plenty of action this season even if it’s in a No. 2 tight ends role (likely to Elijah Arroyo).
No. 27 WR Ray Ray Joseph, freshman – Joseph has all the speed and tools you want … but he’s just a freshman. Look for Shannon Dawson to try and get the ball in his hands in a variety of ways once he knows he can trust Joseph not to make too many freshman mistakes.
No. 26 WR Jacolby George, junior – George always had the talent but has yet to emerge in year 3. He was with the ones in the spring but will have a tall task keeping that role with others like Colbie Young, freshman Ray Ray Joseph, transfer Tyler Harrell, Isaiah Horton and others looking to step up. August drills will be hugely important for George.
No. 25 PK Andy Borregales, junior – Borregales isn’t as consistent and doesn’t have as strong a leg as big brother Jose, but few do (Jose was the nation’s top kicker as a senior). Borregales worked on his leg strength this off-season and has to be ready to hit the big kicks in the big games.
No. 24 OL Samson Okunlola, freshman – Okunlola spent the spring as the second team left tackle but look for him to push up the depth chart this fall as he keeps working hard in the summer. He’s too good to keep off the field, and with Zion Nelson’s status questionable off recurrent knee issues it would help Miami to move Jalen Rivers back to guard from LT … if Okunlola is ready to emerge.
No. 23 Nickel Te’Cory Couch, redshirt senior – Couch is a multi-year returning starter at nickel and in Lance Guidry’s system he might do more blitzing but is going to still be called on to cover slot guys and help out in run support. He’s not going to wow you, but he’s solid and experienced.
Davonte Brown (photo by Neil Gershman)
No. 22 CB Davonte Brown, redshirt junior – Brown was a first-teamer in the spring after arriving from UCF but coaches want more competition here so they hit the transfer portal again in the second window. Now it’s more of a question mark if Brown will start, so he’ll have to really step up in fall drills.
No. 21 RB Mark Fletcher, freshman – Fletcher arrived on campus this summer and immediately wowed with his physical ability. We think it’s just a matter of time before he is getting the majority of carries at running back, but he’s behind returning starter Henry Parrish on this list because it might take a bit of time for Fletcher to really learn the offense and show he can get the job done in pass protection as needed.
No. 20 P Dylan Joyce, freshman – Don’t sleep on the true freshman Joyce, who we are hearing has as strong a leg as departing senior Lou Hedley. Hedley was one of the nation’s top punters, and we think Joyce will be heading in that direction too. As a true freshman Miami needs him to be ready to flip the field whenever he’s called upon.
No. 19 WR Colbie Young, junior – Young led Miami in receiving yards last year, but that wasn’t saying much with his 376 total. The Canes can do better, and maybe part of it was Tyler Van Dyke being hurt the last half of the year but there’s also going to be competition for reps here with the addition of speedy true freshmen (Robby Washington, Ray Ray Joseph), the development of guys like Isaiah Horton and Jacolby George and a transfer portal addition (Tyler Harrell). So Young will have to show out this fall to hold onto his starting job.
Bain had 3 sacks in the spring game (photo by Neil Gershman)
No. 18 DL Rueben Bain, freshman – Bain had three sacks in the spring game, and we think that’s a sign of things to come. He’s got the size and quickness to help at a DT spot that has weak depth and also contribute at end as a true freshman. We think he’ll be a significant part of the DL rotation.
No. 17 DE Jahfari Harvey, fifth year junior – Harvey is going to be pushed by Nyjalik Kelly, Bain and others for the starting end job after missing the spring due to injury, but he has experience and has 19.5 career TFL and 9.5 sacks. Right now we think Harvey is beaten out by Kelly for the starting job opposite Akheem Mesidor, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have a significant role as a backup.
No. 16 OL Jalen Rivers, fourth year sophomore – Rivers struggled at left tackle after playing guard previously, and if Miami can find someone capable to take over there (freshman Samson Okunlola or if former starter Zion Nelson is back off injury) that would allow Rivers to return to his more comfortable RG position. Either way we anticipate him in the starting lineup, and he’s experienced and capable.
No. 15 RB Henry Parrish, redshirt junior – Parrish didn’t have a great season in 2022 as a starter (after transferring in from Ole Miss), but that was partially the fault of a problematic offensive line and a Josh Gattis attack that just wasn’t a good fit. This year Parrish will have to hold off highly regarded freshman Mark Fletcher, Don Chaney and others, and while we wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Parrish starting in Game 1 we also wouldn’t be surprised if he’s passed by Fletcher as the year goes along.
Nyjalik Kelly (photo by Ron Bailey)
No. 14 DL Nyjalik Kelly, sophomore – Kelly flashed at times as a true freshman in a backup role in 2022, and we think this year he emerges onto the big stage as a playmaker. He’ll have to beat out veteran Jahfari Harvey first, but don’t be surprised if he does that in fall camp.
No. 13 WR Tyler Harrell, 6th year senior – Harrell has been timed at 4.24 seconds in the past but has only one solid season under his belt when he was at Louisville. Alabama took a chance on him last year but he was injured the first half of the season. Now Miami’s taking a chance and hopes Harrell can live up to his potential. We don’t think he was taken to sit on the bench, so there’s a very good chance he starts and is that speed outside threat for Shannon Dawson.
No. 12 OT Francis Mauigoa, freshman – The 5-star signee worked with the first team OL at right tackle starting with spring practice No. 2 and very much looks the part of a dominant lineman. It’s not often a true freshman can start and succeed at this level, but look for Mauigoa to buck the trend. It also helped that he already was playing under essentially college-level coaching at IMG Academy.
No. 11 TE Elijah Arroyo, redshirt sophomore – Arroyo is one spot ahead of McCormick, and he’s got the best blend of physicality and pass catching ability of the tight ends room. We expect him to be the main starter replacing Will Mallory, although McCormick, Jaleel Skinner and the freshmen arrivals will push.
No. 10 LB Wesley Bissainthe, sophomore – Bissainthe flashed last year, especially late in the season, and is looking to carry that momentum into this year. With the team adding Francisco Mauigoa at MLB out of the portal, if Bissainthe can live up to his potential then this should be a much best linebacker performance than what Miami has gotten in recent seasons.
Francisco Mauigoa (photo by Neil Gershman)
No. 9 LB Francisco Mauigoa, junior – Mauigoa was a much-needed addition in the portal after Miami’s linebacker play was subpar in 2022. He showed this spring he has a physicality and burst that was missing in the middle, and he’s expected to take the job over multi-year starter Corey Flagg. We expect a big season out of Mauigoa.
No. 8 WR Xavier Restrepo, redshirt junior – Restrepo hasn’t lived up to his potential quite yet, in part due to injury last year. He has a great rapport with Tyler Van Dyke (they’re roommates) and has a knack for getting open quickly off the line. We would not be surprised if Restrepo leads this team in receptions, and Shannon Dawson’s offense has rewarded slot receivers in recent years.
No. 7 S James Williams, junior – Williams has all the ability in the world but has been held back by his tendency to freelance, not wrap up tackles and also injury. If he puts it all together he has All-American / high NFL draft pick potential.
No. 6 DT Leonard Taylor, junior – Some are already projecting Taylor as a first round NFL pick, and the biggest thing he has to show is simply that every-rep-100-mph motor. Inconsistency has plagued him in the past, and that can’t be the case anymore in Year 3. There’s no reason he shouldn’t have at least a dozen tackles for loss and 5+sacks.
No. 5 C Matt Lee, redshirt junior – Jakai Clark was a multi-year starter at Miami who was out-physicaled too much at the line of scrimmage, so UM brought in UCF transfer Matt Lee. Lee has a little bit of that KC Jones “do whatever it takes to win a rep” mentality and he showed as a prior UCF starter and also in Miami’s spring ball that he can be a dominant force up front.
Tyler Van Dyke and Javion Cohen (photo by Neil Gershman)
No. 4 OG Javion Cohen, redshirt junior – Cohen started for two years at Alabama, which is more than enough credentials to show why he can be a star at Miami. He steps into the left guard first team role and we expect him to be one of the ACC’s top linemen.
No. 3 DL Akheem Mesidor, redshirt junior – Mesidor starred last season with 10.5 TFL and seven sacks and should be even better with that first ACC experience under his belt (after transferring in prior to the season from West Virginia). A bonus: Mesidor also gets reps inside and can help a DT spot without much depth, especially in passing situations.
No. 2 QB Tyler Van Dyke, redshirt junior – Van Dyke starred in his first starting experience in 2021, earning ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, then floundered last year when Josh Gattis took over the offense. It didn’t help that Van Dyke missed the last half of the season with a shoulder injury. He looked no worse for wear this spring, though, and should be poised for a huge season in a QB-friendly attack under new coordinator Shannon Dawson.
No. 1 S Kam Kinchens, junior – Kinchens already got his name in the rafters at the Indoor Practice Facility after earning All-American honors last season when he finished with six interceptions. A guy who never leaves the film room, he’s a leader by example and has some projections that he could leave after this year as a first round NFL pick. Don’t bet against it.
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