STATE OF THE U 2024: 2023 Miami Hurricanes recruiting class analysis

As you look at our analysis of the classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022 over these last several days, it’s hard to say any of those are difference-making classes. There were numerous misses, guys that transferred out, etc. It’s why you see Mario Cristobal continuing to dip heavily into the transfer portal in this 2024 cycle looking for guys that can plug holes on the roster – there’s a realistic chance that around 10 of the team’s 22 starters on offense and defense this coming season will be in this year’s transfer portal (QB Cam Ward, RB Damien Martinez, WR Sam Brown, C Zach Carpenter, DE Tyler Baron, DT Simeon Barrow, DT CJ Clark, LB Jaylin Alderman, DB Mishael Powell and CB D’yoni Hill).

That’s a massive number, but it’s what happens when there are recruiting misses.

Gary Ferman’s series introduction overview as Miami looks to turn around program … 2020 recruiting class analysis …. 2021 recruiting class analysis … 2022 recruiting class analysis

At some point the cycle of recruiting misses and the need for massive amounts of portal takes should diminish. At least, that’s the master plan.

Could it start with the Class of 2023, which is now entering Year 2 at Miami?

As you look at this group, it’s a massive haul with 40 new faces signed including the portal.

It also was Cristobal’s first full cycle recruiting class, landing a No. 8 spot nationally.

There is no overemphasizing how important this class is to Cristobal’s vision for what Miami Hurricanes football should and needs to be.

So without further ado let’s dive right into it:

GRADUATED MIAMI / LEFT FOR NFL (6)

* LB KJ Cloyd: Cloyd was a veteran backup from Louisville who transferred to Miami, and he beat out Wesley Bissainthe for the starting OLB job early in the season before Bissainthe regained it. Cloyd finished with 44 tackles, 6.5 TFL and two sacks. He went undrafted and signed with the Vikings.

* LG Javion Cohen: Adding Cohen from Alabama was a big deal for Miami last year – he’d started for the Crimson Tide at left guard in 2021 and 2022 and was a second team All-SEC pick his final season there. He was solid as a Hurricane in his lone season despite a 59.4 percent Pro Football Focus grade. In 771 reps he only allowed one sack and 10 QB hurries. Cohen left Miami with a year of eligibility remaining and wasn’t drafted – he was signed by the Browns.

* CB Jaden Davis: Davis was taken in the second transfer portal window of 2023 after starting on a not-real-good Oklahoma secondary (he had 65 tackles and 2 PBU in 2022). He started for Miami and was up-and-down in coverage, allowing 26 of 43 completions when targeted for 383 yards and a TD with no INTs. But he had a good physical presence, ending with 42 tackles, three for losses. He was drafted in the seventh round by the Cardinals.

* DT Branson Deen: Deen arrived from Purdue off a year in which he had 27 tackles for the Boilermakers with 4 TFL and 2.5 sacks along with 4 QB hurries. In 2021 he was All-Big Ten honorable mention after starting 11 games and finishing with 26 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 4 sacks and 4 QB hurries. He was hampered by injury in his lone season at Miami, finishing with 18 tackles and 2.5 sacks, and he wasn’t drafted but signed with the Bills.

* WR Tyler Harrell: Harrell had a 500-plus yard season in 2021 at Louisville but injury cost him in 2022 at Alabama when he missed the first half of the season and then was a backup. He saw very limited action at Miami in his lone 2023 season, ending with four catches for 45 yards. Harrell went undrafted and signed with the Jets.

* C Matt Lee: Lee chose Miami as a UCF transfer, and in 2022 he was the top center per Pro Football Focus grades (90.6 percent pass blocking grade). Lee was excellent in his lone season at UM, grading out at 79.0 overall with an elite 89.1 pass blocking grade – he was noted allowing no sacks and just three QB hurries all season. Lee was drafted in the seventh round by the Bengals.

TRANSFERS OUT FROM MIAMI / DEPARTED (NOT FOR NFL) WITH ELIGIBILITY REMAINING (7)

* DE Collins Acheampong: Acheampong was injured after arriving at Miami and just didn’t look like he was going to develop the way coaches wanted him to. He wound up transferring to UCLA.

* CB Davonte Brown: Brown arrived from UCF last year with 36 games of playing experience, and in his time there he had 91 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, a sack, 21 pass deflections and a forced fumble. He had 30 tackles, two INTs and four PBU in 2022, so hopes were high he could emerge as a starter and playmaker at Miami. It didn’t happen, and he had 10 tackles off the bench in limited reps. He was down the depth chart and transferred to FSU.

* JUCO CB Demetrius Freeney: Freeney arrived from the JUCO ranks to help a cornerback spot that lost both its starters. But he was mired down the depth chart and has transferred to Arizona.

* DT Thomas Gore: Undersized at 6-0 and 280 pounds, Gore wasn’t able to make much headway on the depth chart as a Georgia State arrival (he was All-Sun Belt Conference honorable mention in 2021 and in his career there he amassed 93 tackles, 11 sacks and two forced fumbles). After the spring he transferred to Georgia Tech.

* LB Marcellius Pulliam: Pulliam came in with high hopes for him developing into a playmaker, but he didn’t get a single defensive rep as a freshman and now has transferred to Michigan State.

* S Kaleb Spencer: Spencer got work on special teams in his lone season at Miami, but he was sort of a tweener at LB or safety. He wound up transferring to Virginia Tech after the spring.

* DE Jayden Wayne: Wayne played 135 reps on defense and had six QB hurries as a true freshman, but he transferred back to his home state to play for Washington.

ANTICIPATED STARTERS (5)

* DL Rueben Bain: Bain enjoyed a freshman All-American season, causing fits for offensive linemen coming off the edge and occasionally working inside. He ended with 45 QB pressures per PFF, grading out at an elite 89.3 percent as a pass rusher. Bain totaled 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks and he should be that much better in 2024 having that experience under his belt.

* CB Damari Brown: Brown started the final four games last season and was up-and-down with his play, but that’s to be expected for a true freshman. He was limited this spring but the expectation is he’ll step up as the starter opposite Daryl Porter, Jr. (with Marshall addition D’yoni Hill probably providing the main competition unless Brown moves to nickel). Brown ended last season with 14 tackles and 1.5 TFL.

* P Dylan Joyce: Joyce was an All-ACC honorable mention pick as a true freshman after averaging 43.8 yards on 43 punts, with 15 inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. He has a strong leg and will continue winning field position battles for Miami.

* OL Francis Mauigoa: Mauigoa emerged as the starting right tackle as a true freshman, and the 5-star signee didn’t disappoint. He graded out at 68.1 percent per PFF and allowed five sacks and 15 QB hurries. He missed the spring due to injury but will be back better than ever this fall.

* LB Francisco Mauigoa: Mauigoa came to Miami from Washington State, where he had 60 tackles, 5.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks as a starter, also forcing three fumbles (tied for the Pac-12 lead) with an interception. He had an outstanding first year at UM, leading the team with 82 tackles and 18 TFL while tallying 7.5 sacks. He’s one of the nation’s top returning linebackers.

COMPETING TO START (1)

* OL Samson Okunlola: Okunlola was injured early last season after playing jus 30 reps in three games, but the former 5-star looked the part this spring and is pushing to be the final starter on a line that has four guys penciled in – returning starters Jalen Rivers, Francis Mauigoa and Anez Cooper plus Indiana veteran starting center Zach Carpenter.

ANTICIPATED BACKUPS (21)

* LB Raul Aguirre: Aguirre didn’t get many reps last year but this spring was working in with the ones and should be in the two-deep.

* RB Ajay Allen: Allen played 73 reps at Nebraska as a freshman in 2022 and carried 33 times for 190 yards with two TDs. He transferred to Miami and was the third-team back behind Henry Parrish and Mark Fletcher, ending 2023 with 361 yards rushing and five TDs. He’ll battled to be the team’s second option this year, with Oregon State transfer Damien Martinez the lead back.

* LB Malik Bryant: Bryant moved from linebacker to defensive end this spring and will be a depth guy as he develops.

* TE Jackson Carver: Carver still has work to do bulking up and will be a depth guy this year, with Elijah Arroyo and true freshman H-back Elija Lofton expected to carry the load.

* DL Anthony Campbell: Campbell’s was taken as a bit of a project as a Louisiana-Monroe transfer and hasn’t panned out. He started his college experience at Independence (Kan.) Community College, was a backup there for two seasons and headed to ULM, where he was a backup in 2021 and played 57 reps in six games and had one QB hurry. This past season he was again a backup but played well – in 208 reps he had 13 tackles, 3.5 TFL and a sack along with 2 QB hurries. He redshirted at Miami in 2023.

* OL Luis Cristobal: Mario’s nephew arrived from Georgia State and was on scholarship last year but will compete without a scholarship this year. He was a backup at Georgia State and is in the same capacity at Miami.

* RB Mark Fletcher: Fletcher came on strong as last season progressed, winning the starting job over Henry Parrish in the latter half of the season. His outstanding freshman year included 514 rush yards and five TDs … but he suffered a serious foot injury in the bowl game against Rutgers, missed this spring and his status for the season is in doubt. Regardless the feature back this year will be Oregon State star transfer Damien Martinez.

* DT Joshua Horton: Miami coaches are high on Horton, but he arrived late last summer and never was able to work into the mix. He was banged up this spring and is going to battle to be in the two-deep this fall with a group that includes transfers CJ Clark, Simeon Barrow and Marley Cook.

* RB Christopher Johnson: Johnson has track level speed and got a lot of reps this spring with a thin healthy depth chart, but given his size (6-0, 180) it’s more likely than not he’d serve as a change-of-pace/receiving back. He will look to get some reps behind Damien Martinez this fall.

* WR Ray Ray Joseph: We thought Joseph would make a big immediate splash last season given his ability with the ball in space, but he wound up playing in the slot behind Xavier Restrepo and Brashard Smith. With Smith now gone, Joseph should get more chances on the field. He ended last season with just six catches for 36 yards. He can also make an impact returning kicks.

* OL Tommy Kinsler: Kinsler continues to develop and coaches are high on what he can bring to the table in the future … but it appears this year his role will be as a backup given there are three returning starters, Indiana center transfer Zach Carpenter and guys like Samson Okunlola, Markel Bell and Matthew McCoy battling for the last starting spot.

* JUCO WR Shemar Kirk: Kirk never emerged last season, only getting into the Rutgers game at receiver, but this spring he looked pretty good and cold factor into the two-deep. But with Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George, Sam Brown, Isaiah Horton, Ray Ray Joseph and young talent like JoJo Trader on board, there are only so many balls to go around.

* TE Cam McCormick: McCormick enters his record ninth year of eligibility given his long prior injury history at Oregon, and in his first year at Miami reuniting with coach Mario Cristobal, McCormick was thrust into a starting role after Elijah Arroyo missed most of the year injured. McCormick was okay as a blocker but struggled as a receiver, dropping three passes and ending with just eight catches for 62 yards.

* CB Ja’Dais Richard: Richard is a physical corner/nickel who arrived from Vanderbilt in this class, and in his one year with the Commodores 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 was buried down the depth chart, but with Jaden Davis and Te’Cory Couch gone he’s likely to be in the two-deep and can push to start this fall. If Mishael Powell moves from nickel to safety then it could be Richard or Damari Brown that get looks at playing nickel. Otherwise Richard will remain at cornerback.

* CB Robert Stafford: Stafford redshirted last year and is looking to emerge on the two-deep this season.

* OL Frankie Tinilau: Tinilau redshirted last year and will battle to be on the two-deep this fall.

* OL Antonio Tripp: Tripp redshirted last year and hopes to be the future at center when Zach Carpenter is gone after this season.

* LB Bobby Washington: There isn’t much depth at linebacker, so Washington will have every chance to work into the two-deep.

* WR Robby Washington: Washington was briefly moved from receiver to cornerback this spring as Miami tries to find the best spot for his combination of speed and athleticism. It appears as of now he’ll remain at receiver, but he’s got an uphill battle to be on the two-deep this year.

* QB Emory Williams: Williams got two starts under his belt as a true freshman – a win against Clemson when Tyler Van Dyke was hurt, then a loss at FSU when Van Dyke was benched for erratic play. Against the Tigers he hit on 24 of 33 passes for 151 yards with a TD and interception, and vs. the Seminoles he connected on just eight of 23 passes with two touchdowns and no INTs. Coaches didn’t take many chances with Williams, using a conservative passing approach. As Williams gets more comfortable he should have a very bright future, and he will get a chance to learn behind Cam Ward this year and then compete with Reese Poffenbarger and others to start in 2025.

* TE Riley Williams: Williams has added size and strength this offseason after playing in 11 games last year and finishing with eight catches for 72 yards and a TD. But with Elijah Arroyo back healthy and freshman Elija Lofton showing he’s ready for an immediate receiving role, Williams might not match the 316 reps he saw last year.

* NOTE: Does not include Iowa transfer Terry Roberts, who transferred to Miami prior to that spring and went back in the portal afterward

ANALYSIS

As you look at this massive group of 40 players, six taken as transfers are gone due to eligibility and seven more departed with eligibility left (two of them transfers and one a JUCO take). Which leaves 27. Of that number, five are anticipated starters (Rueben Bain, Damari Brown, Dylan Joyce and the Mauigoa brothers), and we also list Samson Okunlola as the lone guy under our “Competing To Start” heading.

That leaves a massive amount of 21 players that are going to be depth-fillers in their second years at Miami. And that’s fine, with four of them transfer arrivals in the 2023 class and one a JUCO take. So the 16 remaining guys are in their second year of college and it’s going to be extremely important that coaches have them ready to play at a high level when they are called upon and get them ready to be the team’s future starters.

That’s how you build a roster full of talent from the ground up, filling in with free agent transfers as needed.

This year’s team might have around 50 percent transfers in the starting lineup, in the future with classes like these – if the players are talented enough and developed well – then that is the future.

How these guys pan out from this class will have a huge impact on how many transfers Mario Cristobal feels he will need as 2024 turns to 2025. It would be good news for the program if that number isn’t in double digits, as it has been in Cristobal’s first three portal years.

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