Ranking the top 50 Miami Hurricanes going into fall camp (2024)

Miami is keeping the Australian punter pipeline alive with Joyce. At 22 years old, Joyce has four years of eligibility at the college level. Joyce's background is in Australian rules football and his pure leg talent has the UM staff excited.

Borregales was solid in 2022, converting 17-of-20 field goal attempts and made all of his extra points. Borregales sent 37-of-57 kickoffs as touchbacks.

Pre-Spring Ranking:Not ranked.

Kinsler is an intriguing freshman offensive lineman because of his massive, strong frame. He is going to try and push his way into the playing rotation this year, but in the long term he projects as a big time player on the line of scrimmage.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 39

Smith has played a lot of football at Miami with 848 career defensive snaps over the past four seasons. In 2023, Smith projects as a player that brings valuable depth at linebacker as a rotational options and he will likely play a role on special teams.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 44

Harris is a versatile defensive back that can play on the outside, as a big nickel, or maybe even at safety. He is also viewed internally as a player with good football IQ and a willingness to do the necessary extra work in the film room to improve at his craft. What is the best position for Harris? He showed some potential at nickel. It will be interesting to monitor where he lines up during the course of fall camp.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 46

Williams needs to continue to get stronger in the weight room, but he does flash some ability when he gets on the field. Williams only played 18 defensive snaps as a true freshman in 2022, but he found a way to make his presence felt with three tackles and one tackle for loss. Williams needs to stick with the process in the strength and conditioning program to build his body up, but there are intriguing traits and physicality that he brings to the back end of the defense.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 40

Lichtenstein is a veteran interior defensive lineman that brings experience to that position group along with length and a motor. He projects as a rotational player that can give close to ten snaps per game on the defensive. You can't teach 6-feet-6 and 290 pounds.

Pre-Spring Ranking:Not ranked

Brown is a future starter at cornerback for the Miami Hurricanes. The only question has to do with when? Brown has the length, instincts, and competitive pedigree to be a good college cornerback. Will he get an opportunity to show what he can do in 2023? That will likely depend on a combination of his development and the performance of the older players at the position group.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 36

Chaney ranks here because of his unfortunate injury luck. He has dealt with injuries during his UM career, but when he is healthy there is no denying his talent. At 6-feet and 210 pounds, Chaney has an intriguing blend of size, speed, and vision. Last year, he was impressing the UM coaching staff with the way he was starting to improve during fall camp when he sustained an injury to his hip. He made it through the spring without any signs of injury. Chaney will look to carve out a role in 2023.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 21

Couch is a veteran cornerback that works hard and does all the right things. He was Miami's primary nickel corner in 2022 and he will likely continue in that role in 2023. Couch has played 1,746 defensive snaps in his UM career and he took a step forward in consistency in 2022. With that said, however, he does have room for growth in coverage and with his tackling in space.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 27

This season is a big opportunity for Porter, who played sparingly in 2022 after transferring from West Virginia. Miami must replace both starting cornerbacks from the 2022 season and Porter played 716 defensive snaps as a starter at West Virginia in 2021. Porter brings man coverage ability and is a consistent tackler for his size. We'd like to see him get some looks at the nickel corner spot, but he has not really been used much in that role.

Pre-Spring Ranking:Not ranked

Davis is a transfer from Oklahoma that will improve the depth and competition level at cornerback. Davis brings position versatility with the ability to play outside corner and nickel. He isn't the biggest corner, but he has been an effective tackler during his college career.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 31

One of the most physically gifted players on the team in terms of a size-speed-twitch combination, it would be great if Williams can put those physical attributes together for some on-field production. Williams played 111 defensive snaps in 2022. He is not a player that plays with the best bend, but he has the skill set to help set the edge and defend the run.

Pre-Spring Ranking:Not ranked

Richard looks the part with his body type at 6-feet-2 and 200 pounds. He has the length, physicality, athleticism, and football intelligence to line up at outside corner, in the nickel, or even safety. It is that versatility that makes Richard an intriguing player to monitor in 2023. He played roughly 200 snaps as a true freshman at Vanderbilt. We think he will carve out a role at Miami this season.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 25

Flagg had a productive 2022 season, totaling 56 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss. He will be competing for playing time in 2023 with the Hurricanes adding transfer linebacker Francisco Mauigoa from Washington State to the defense. Flagg is a veteran that is experienced--and that is valuable.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 29

From a pure talent and raw potential standpoint, Jacurri Brown is a top ten player on this team. He needs to take the next step with his skill level and consistency with completing the "lay-up" passes as a quarterback, however. As the back-up quarterback, Brown still has plenty of time to develop and he has come a long ways in his first year in the UM program. If he puts it all together, he is going to be special. Brown had no business starting any games in 2022 and he earned one win while taking on that responsibility. The ceiling is very intriguing.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 24

Skinner is oozing with talent because of his unique combination of length and smooth movement skills. He is at his best when he can catch the ball on little bubbles and pick up yards after the catch. If Skinner ever develops into a player that can catch the ball through contact and make contested catches while using his length and athleticism, he can be a freak mismatch. If Skinner takes the next step in that phase of his development, he can be a top ten player on the roster.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 22

Smith has the ability to be a productive slot receiver and his production should improve with the addition of offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, who does a nice job of designing favorable match-ups for athletic slot receivers against interior defenders. Smith is UM's leading returning receiver in terms of receptions, totaling 33 catches for 308 yards. We think he is still going to have a role--and we think this staff will play him plenty--but we would rank him below Xavier Restrepo and Nathaniel Joseph.

Pre-Spring Ranking:Not ranked

Williams had a strong showing in the spring and looks like he can be Miami's next big time tight end in a couple years. Williams showed the ability to flex out wide and make plays as a pass catcher and he has the frame and size to be an effective blocker. He also showed the wiggle as a route runner that separates the average tight ends from the good ones. Williams will have a role with this 2023 team.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 8

Nelson hasn't been available for the past year and so it is difficult to rank him any higher than this. If Nelson makes a full recovery, he has the ability to be a top 15 player on this team. Until he is cleared to fully participate, however, we can't rank him higher than this. Nelson missed the majority of the 2022 season with a knee injury. When Nelson is fully healthy, he can be a very good pass protecting offensive tackle.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 10

Don't get things twisted, Okunlola is easily a top ten pure talent on this roster. We think he probably needs a year at the college level before he makes a significant impact, however. Once Okunlola adds some functional strength in a college weight program, he is going to be a special tackle. Okunlola soaks up all the new challenges like a sponge and is expected tobe a part of Miami's top seven or eight offensive linemen this year. He is a special talent.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 32

McCormick is an addition from Oregon that will significantly improve the blocking efforts at the tight end position. He is a role player that will play an important factor in Miami's success in short yardage and red-zone situations. His impact as a receiving threat won't move the needle much, but his blocking ability will provide a noticeable upgrade year over year.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 34

We are high on Joseph as a true freshman in 2023, but the path for playing time is not going to be easy. He likely will start fall camp as the third slot receiver on the depth chart and he will have to scratch and claw his way into playing time. The work ethic, speed, and YAC ability will be enough to get him on the field in the second half of the season. Joseph has the ability to be a big time player in this Shannon Dawson offense.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 38

From a potential standpoint, George has a high ceiling, but he needs to start putting his ability together and produce on the field in 2023. According to coach Mario Cristobal and quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, he has taken that next step this offseason. George has the ability to run clean routes, make contested catches, and make defenders miss with YAC, but he needs to consistently show he can be counted on. George has the ability to rank higher on this list, but he needs to earn a bigger role in order to rank higher. It would be a nice development for the UM offense if George stepped up in 2023.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 23

It is time for Bissainthe to take the next step in his career and in order to do that in 2023, he will have to compete for playing time with Louisville transfer K.J. Cloyd. Bissainthe has the speed, instincts, and physicality to be an impactful linebacker for the Hurricanes.

Pre-Spring Ranking:Not ranked

Cloyd, who is a transfer from Louisville, was brought in to be a starting weak-side linebacker for the Hurricanes, but he has to go win the job. At 6-feet-2 and 230 pounds, Cloyd plays with the type of speed and violence Miami wants to have at the linebacker level, but he never really won a starting job during his time at Louisville. His position battle with Wesley Bissainthe will be one to watch.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 19

In college football, you win with older players and Deen is a veteran with plenty of experience. Deen is a transfer from Purdue that can line up at different spots with the ability to get after the quarterback. He generated over 30 pressures for the Boilermakers in 2022 and he is going to play a key role for the Hurricanes in 2023 as he pushes for a starting job.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 30

Cooper was thrust into action as a true freshman in 2022 when the offensive line was hit by injuries. Once he got his feet wet, Cooper held his own in the final month of the season. Cooper has a massive frame and he has worked hard to improve his conditioning level since arriving last year weighing close to 360 pounds. He plays with a brand of toughness and physicality that can be impactful in the run game.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 20

Harrison-Hunte is a steady defensive tackle that has some intriguing upside. He dealt with some injuries in 2022 that limited his effectiveness, but when he is fully healthy, he can impact a game with his plus athleticism and length. Miami really needs Harrison-Hunte to step up. He is a big key to the season on the defensive side.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 14

Parrish had a solid showing in 2022, rushing for more than 600 yards in ten games. He will likely benefit from running behind a revamped offensive line that got bigger and stronger up front in the run blocking phase. He is at his best when he is able to use his vision and patience to find space. He can also be an effective player in the passing game when coming out of the backfield.

Pre-Spring Ranking:Not ranked

Fletcher is a beast of a true freshman running back at 6-feet-1 and 225 pounds. He runs with a brand of violence and contact balance that will translate to the college level in short yardage and red-zone situations. Don't be surprised if Fletcher is one of the top two running backs in the rotation by the end of the season. Fletcher has the potential to be a big time back for the Hurricanes.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 18

At 6-feet-2 and 180 pounds, Brown has the length and experience to be Miami's top cornerback in 2023. As a transfer in from UCF, Brown played 1,885 defensive snaps at the college level. He showed steady improvement during the course of the spring and ended on a high note with a solid performance in the spring game.

Pre-Spring Ranking:Not ranked

Harrell is a transfer from Alabama that brings an elite trait to the field that cannot be taught: speed. Harrell was hampered this past year at Alabama by a lower extremity injury. Miami is confident he has recovered from that injury and he can now return to the form he showed at Louisville when he averaged 29 yards per catch while totaling 523 yards and six touchdowns. Harrell has been routinely clocked in the 4.2s in the 40 and that type of speed will scare defenses to death.

Pre-Spring Ranking:Not ranked

Allen is a transfer from Nebraska that has people inside the program buzzing. Allen runs with a solid blend of vision and contact balance. He flashed plenty of potential as a true freshman in 2022, rushing for 190 yards and two touchdowns through four games before an injury ended his season. By the end of the 2023, don't be surprised if Allen has emerged as Miami's lead running back.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 17

Get ready for Restrepo to have a monster 2023 season, if he can stay healthy. This new Shannon Dawson offense allows for slot receivers like Restrepo to produce in a big way and he is a safe bet to lead the team in receptions and yards this year. A foot injury going into the Texas A&M game derailed his 2022 season. A fully healthy Restrepo is going to have a big year this year--and we all know about the strong connection he has with quarterback Tyler Van Dyke.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 41

Bain is going to be an impact player for the Miami Hurricanes as a true freshman. He is a newcomer that wont necessarily impress you with his size, length, or pure athleticism, but when the pads come on and it is time to play football, Bain shines. At the high school level, Bain's technique and body control was elite--and that has translated to the college level. He also plays with an impressive motor. Bain is going to be one of the top four defensive ends for Miami in 2023.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 13

Harvey took a step forward as a pass rusher in 2022, generating 28 quarterback pressures and 5.5 sacks. There is still some meat on the bone for Harvey to keep improving in 2023 as he looks to continue to improve his technique. Harvey has athleticism and a motor. That effort gives offensive linemen problems during the course of a game. Harvey is an explosive straight line athlete.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 9

Rivers is one of the more underrated players on the UM roster. Rivers was Miami's best offensive lineman in 2022 and a lower extremity injury in the last month of the season ended things prematurely. Rivers has the ability to play either guard or tackle. The majority of his UM career has been spent playing guard, but in the spring he kicked outside to left tackle and held his own. His steady veteran presence is valuable. Rivers has NFL potential as an interior lineman.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 7

Williams took a step forward in 2022, totaling 58 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one interception on the year. Can he take the next step and become one of the better defenders in the ACC in 2023? That's the question for the uber talented Williams, who has special movement skills at 6-feet-5 and 220 pounds. Williams has the talent to be a top five player on this list at the end of the season. If he can eliminate some of the negative plays like missed tackles and penalties while making a few more impact plays on the year, he will be one of the top safeties in the ACC.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 14

Young enters the 2023 season as Miami's clear WR1 on the outside. At 6-feet-5 and 215 pounds, brings a size advantage on the outside and his speed has to be respected with the ability to top 20 miles per hour on the team's GPS tracking system. Last year at this time, Young was a JUCO transfer that was still working his way into the type of conditioning that is needed at the Power Five level. Miami didn't really know what they had in Young. This year, Young is expected to get a ton of targets and lead the Hurricanes in receiving yards.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 4

Cohen arrives at Miami as a two-year starter at Alabama that did not give up a single sack during that stretch. He has a big, athletic frame and his Alabama mentality will be a valuable asset to the Hurricanes up front. The Hurricanes lacked the type of body types and depth it takes to be effective on the interior in order to establish the necessary physicality. Cohen represents a big upgrade in those areas.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 16

Arroyo looks and moves like a tight end that can play at the NFL level. The only question mark in the spring surrounding him was his recovery from a non-contact knee injury that he sustained during the bye week of the 2022 season. Arroyo is one of the top pure athletes on the team with his combination of size and athleticism. He is an important player for the Hurricanes because of the way he can impact the game as a blocker and receiver. Now that he is TE1, he is in a position to put up big numbers in 2023.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 12

Mauigoa made a strong impression during the month of spring football with his combination of size, physicality, movement skills, and instincts. A transfer from Washington State, Mauigoa generated 60 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one interception as a starter in 2022--his first year as a starter at the college level. Miami has been missing impactful middle linebacker play since Shaquille Quarterman and Mauigoa is going to be the best player at the position UM has featured since then. Run defense was an issue for Miami in 2022. With Mauigoa on the field, most of those issues will be cleaned up.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 6

We are betting on Tyler Van Dyke having a productive 2023 season. Shannon Dawson, who has an Air-Raid background, will now serve as Miami's offensive coordinator and the Hurricanes have vastly upgraded the talent level on the offensive line with the addition of Matt Lee and Javion Cohen in the transfer portal along with five-star recruits Samson Okunlola and Francis Mauigoa. The depth is better at the skill positions as well with the addition of wide receiver transfer Tyler Harrell and running back Ajay Allen. We have seen Van Dyke put up huge numbers in the past. We think he does it again in 2023.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 11

Mauigoa is such a freak that we could have ranked him higher on this list. He is a freshman, though, and there will be some learning moments during the course of this season, but he is a tremendous talent that has the physical ability and mentality to be a high level starter as a true freshman. Mauigoa can play anywhere on the offensive line. He has the athleticism to play tackle and the physicality and strength to play inside. He is a future first round pick.

Pre-Spring Ranking:No. 5

You could make the argument that Taylor is the most talented player on the team, but until he improves his consistency level each week, he can't rank higher than No. 5 overall. Taylor plays with twitch and generated 10.5 tackles for loss in 2022. He is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential. He played only about 320 defensive snaps in 2022. If Taylor improves his conditioning level in 2023 and his snap count grows, his production will as well. If it all comes together for Taylor this season, he could end the year ranked No. 1 on this list.

Pre-Spring Ranking: No. 15

This is a bit of a projection because Kelly played a limited role as a true freshman in 2022, but in that time he was productive as a pass rusher. Kelly brings an impressive blend of size, athleticism, and the natural bend that allows him to be an impactful pass rusher. Kelly has everyone inside the building excited about his potential in 2023. If everything comes together for Kelly this season, he could end up being the leader in sacks. He is a strong bet to be a breakout player for the Hurricanes this year.

Pre-spring ranking:No. 2

Kinchens was playing at a high level during the last month of the season and finished with six interceptions on the year. Now the challenge is to play an entire season at that high level and be one of the key leaders for the defense. Kinchens has taken on more of a leadership role in 2023 and he continues to be one of the hardest workers on the team with the extra work he puts in during film study sessions on his own. Kinchens figured things out in the final month of the 2022 season. He is now poised to have a monster 2023 campaign.

Pre-spring ranking:No. 3

Lee was viewed as one of the top centers in the country during the 2022 season while at UCF. People inside the UM building believe he has the potential to play for a long time at the professional level. Lee wasted no time taking on a vocal leadership role with the offense that is built on accountability and hard work. Special centers can impact the game with the calls and checks they make pre-snap to put the offensive line in a position to succeed on the next play. Lee is that type of center. Lee will be Miami's best center since Brett Romberg.

Pre-spring ranking: No. 1

When Mesidor was at his best, he was UM's most impactful player in 2022, totaling 10.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 11 games. Mesidor played through some nagging injuries in 2022 and if he can put together a fully healthy 2023 and continue to improve his athleticism a touch, he can be one of the more impactful defensive linemen in the ACC because of his versatility, motor, and technique. We are probably higher on Mesidor than most, but in our mind he has the best combination of being a high floor / high ceiling player on the roster. We wouldn't be surprised if he takes his game to another level this year.