Miami Hurricanes players to watch during Pop-Tarts Bowl with an eye on the future
When the No. 13 Miami Hurricanes face the No. 18 Iowa State Cyclones in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ABC), the game will serve as both the ending of the 2024 season and a springboard into the 2025 campaign.
Miami is set to lose a lot of key players from this season’s team, one that went 10-2 and was in contention for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff all year until dropping two of its final three games.
Beyond the announcement that Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Cam Ward will be playing on Saturday at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, there has been little news regarding if any other draft-bound players are opting out of Miami’s season finale.
Regardless, the bowl game could provide an opportunity for UM to get a glimpse of its next wave of players already on the roster who can help the program next season. Among some notable ones to watch:
▪ Young wide receivers: With Isaiah Horton in the transfer portal and reportedly heading to Alabama plus the departures of Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George and Elijah Arroyo (and potentially Sam Brown), Miami’s crop of pass catchers next season is going to be virtually brand new.
Should Brown declare for the NFL Draft (he has not announced a decision yet), the Hurricanes would lose all four of their players who had at least 500 receiving yards this season.
This opens the doors for several in-house players to get extended playing time. Elija Lofton is poised for significant reps at tight end, while Joshisa Trader, Ray Ray Joseph and Ny Carr are the up-and-coming in-house wide receiver. Miami also has a pledge from wide receiver CJ Daniels in the transfer portal and has three wide receivers and two tight ends signed in its recruiting class.
▪ Defensive lineman Ahmad Moten Sr.: Moten, a redshirt sophomore, moved his way up the depth chart throughout the season and even found himself starting in Miami’s 42-38 loss to Syracuse on Nov. 30. Moten has 16 tackles, including three for loss and a sack, this season and appears in line for more playing time next season with several of UM’s key interior defensive linemen — Simeon Barrow, C.J. Clark and Marley Cook among them — out of eligibility after this season.
▪ Offensive lineman Markel Bell: With Jalen Rivers bound for the NFL, Bell should be the frontrunner to anchor Miami’s offensive line at left tackle next season. It’s a natural move, considering he started five games while Rivers was injured during the season and continued rotating there even when Rivers was healthy. The Hurricanes’ offensive line at minimum is losing two players between Rivers and center Zach Carpenter.
▪ Cornerback OJ Frederique: One of the few bright spots on Miami’s defense this season, Frederique burst onto the scene as a true freshman, starting each of the Hurricanes’ final seven games and generally being a lockdown corner. His growth will be integral for Miami down the road.
Portal news
Another pair of Hurricanes offensive linemen have reportedly entered the transfer portal, including one who had medically retired ahead of the season.
The duo departing Miami: Zion Nelson and Frankie Tinilau.
Nelson played in 36 games for the Hurricanes but hadn’t seen the field since a brief appearance on Sept. 17, 2022, in Miami’s win over Texas A&M while dealing with multiple knee injuries that led to him medically retiring this summer. Prior to the setbacks, he was an anchor on Miami’s offensive line, starting 32 games at left tackle over his first three seasons and earning All-ACC honorable mention recognition in 2021.
Tinilau, meanwhile, appeared in just two games over two seasons with Miami after being recruited as a three-star prospect out of Miami LaSalle High. He has three years of eligibility left.
This makes three Hurricanes offensive linemen in the transfer portal after redshirt freshman Antonio Tripp entered the portal earlier this month.
Elsewhere, former Hurricanes walk-on defensive back Myles Mooyoung has signed with Coastal Carolina, according to on3.
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