Where UM’s roster stands, by position, after a flurry of acquisitions and some departures
The Miami Hurricanes have filled big holes by adding the top quarterback in the portal (Carson Beck), three cornerbacks with stellar passer ratings against (Xavier Lucas, Charles Brantley and Ethan O’Connor), a veteran LSU receiver (CJ Daniels), a starting center (James Brockermeyer) and an impact defensive tackle (David Blay Jr.)
They also have a young pipeline of talent ready for increased roles.
Where the roster stands, and what’s still needed during and beyond the second portal cycle beginning in mid April:
QUARTERBACK
▪ Starter: Beck.
▪ Backup: Emory Williams is the front-runner, but Judd Anderson and Luke Nickel will get a look this spring. All will get significant work this spring, with Beck recovering from elbow surgery.
▪ Comment: Landing the No. 1 quarterback in the portal made the Canes’ handling of this position a rousing success.
UM still has high regard for Williams, who played well at times against Clemson and FSU in 2023 but struggled badly against Iowa State in the bowl game.
If Williams emerges from spring ball believing he’s still valued by UM, he figures to stick around. But if another program sends back-channel messages that it wants Williams, then this could get interesting.
RUNNING BACK
▪ Starter: Mark Fletcher Jr.
▪ Backup: Jordan Lyle.
▪ Also competing: Chris Wheatley-Humphrey and freshman Gerard Pringle Jr.
▪ Comment: A veteran running back or two likely needs to be added in the portal to add depth and compensate for the loss of NFL-bound Damien Martinez, Ajay Allen (who transferred to FIU) and Chris Johnson (who transferred to SMU).
Pringle is well-regarded, and there’s optimism he can contribute immediately. Fletcher, a very good starter, averaged 5.4 yards on 112 carries. Lyle averaged a supreme 7.4 yards on 54 attempts.
WIDE RECEIVER
▪ Starters: Daniels and JoJo Trader are the front-runners for two slots. The No. 3 — who figures to play in the slot — could be a portal addition, with Ray Ray Joseph also in the mix here.
▪ Backups: Joseph, Chance Robinson, Ny Carr, freshmen Malachi Toney, Daylyn Upshaw and Joshua Moore. Several of those can compete for a starting-type role in the slot when UM opens with three receivers.
▪ Comment: At least two portal receivers likely need to be added, including a proven slot receiver. But there’s high upside with the seven young players, particularly Trader.
And the 6-1 Daniels, who transferred after one year at LSU, gives UM a somewhat taller target with five years of experience (four at Liberty) and a history of production: 148 receptions, 16.5 average per catch and 21 touchdowns.
TIGHT END
▪ Starter: Elija Lofton.
▪ Backup: Alex Bauman, the Temple transfer who’s a skilled pass-catcher.
▪ Also competing: UAB transfer Jack Nickel (who had one catch last season but is a skilled blocker), seldom-used Jackson Carver and freshmen Brock Schott and Luka Gilbert.
▪ Comment: Bauman will help; he caught 63 passes for 610 yards and 13 touchdowns in three years at Tulane. And Schott is very well regarded; he was rated by 247 Sports as the No. 10 tight end in the 2025 class.
But one more backup addition would be helpful to fully compensate for the departures of Elijah Arroyo, Riley Williams and Cam McCormick and preserve UM’s ability to use Lofton as a Swiss Army knife at times.
OFFENSIVE LINE
▪ Starters: Three are set: TCU transfer Brockermeyer at center, Anez Cooper at right guard and Francis Mauigoa, likely at right tackle.
Markel Bell is the front-runner at left tackle and Matthew McCoy the front-runner at left guard, though Ryan Rodriguez will compete.
▪ Top backups: Samson Okunlola (the former five-star recruit will challenge Bell at left tackle), likely Rodriguez (who can back up at guard and center) and Tommy Kinsler (could be the No. 3 or No. 4 tackle).
Highly regarded freshman SJ Alofaituli could back up Brockermeyer if Rodriguez doesn’t. The backup guards are Rodriguez, Nino Francavilla and Deryk Plazz.
▪ Also competing: Juan Minaya and freshmen Max Buchanan, Jaden Wilkerson and Demetrius Campbell.
▪ Comment: Even with the loss of Jalen Rivers and Zach Carpenter and Cam Ward, the offensive line and quarterback look like the strengths of the team at this point, along with cornerback.
DEFENSIVE LINE/EDGE RUSHERS
▪ Starters: Reuben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor at defensive end, and Louisiana Tech transfer Blay at one defensive tackle spot.
The other starting tackle spot likely will come down to Ahmad Moten and former five-star freshman Justin Scott.
▪ Backups: The No. 3 tackle seems likely to be the loser of the Moten/Scott starting battle. There’s depth beyond those three, with Artavius Jones, Josh Horton, Daylen Russell and freshmen Donta Simpson.
Among edge rushers, Malik Bryant — the former linebacker who impressed in his transition to defensive end last season — looks like the front-runner for the No. 3 job, but he will receive heavy competition from Armondo Blount, Booker Pickett, Cole McConathy, Marquise Lightfoot, Elias Rudolph and freshmen Hayden Lowe, Herbert Scroggins and Mykah Newton.
▪ Comment: There’s less experience than a year ago, with Simeon Barrow Jr., CJ Clark and Tyler Baron having left for the NFL. But there’s immense upside among the freshmen and second-year players.
Bain, who missed four games due to injury last season, must return to his elite freshmen form; his sacks dropped from 7.5 in 2023 to 3.5 in 2024 and his tackles for loss slipped from 13 to 6.
LINEBACKERS
▪ Starters: Likely Raul Aguirre in the middle (replacing NFL-bound Francisco Mauigoa) and Wesley Bissainthe. New defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman often uses only two linebackers.
▪ Backups: Bobby Pruitt could start when UM uses a STAR, though a defensive back also would be in the mix there. Jaylin Alderman likely will get reps behind Bissainthe.
Adarius Hayes will be in the mix for playing time, as will freshmen Kellen Wiley and Ezekiel Marcelin and third-year player Bobby Washington (who’s coming off an injury).
▪ Comment: Aguirre has the potential to develop into a more-than-competent starter. But another veteran who can play middle linebacker and compete with Aguirre also should be, and likely will be, added.
SAFETY
▪ Starters: Jacksonville State transfer Zachariah Poyser and either Zaquan Patterson, Dylan Day, Markeith Williams or a transfer. Patterson would appear to be the front-runner, but he must earn the job.
▪ Backups: The losers of the battle for the other safety job, plus Isaiah Taylor and freshmen Bryce Fitzgerald and Amari Wallace.
▪ Comment: Mishael Powell and Jaden Harris moved on, and UM is investing in youth, hoping for better results. Poyser was named a freshman All-American after producing three interceptions and 75 tackles. The Canes must not only get better at the position, but faster.
CORNERBACK
▪ Starters: Two among OJ Frederique Jr., Lucas, Brantley and O’Connor. Damari Brown is the top nickel option at the moment.
▪ Backups: That battle for two starting boundary jobs will be the most fascinating of the offseason, with all four having the credentials and the talent to be Power 5 starters. All four cornerbacks allowed a passer rating of less than 66 in his coverage area last season.
Frederique is a front-runner to keep his starting job, but all four — and Brown — figure to play a significant amount of snaps. Arizona transfer Emmanuel Karnley also shouldn’t be discounted, though his metrics and performance last season weren’t as good as the other four.
Also competing: Jadais Richard (coming off a major knee injury), Ryan Mack and freshmen Jaboree Antoine and Chris Ewald.
▪ Comment: This appears to be UM’s most improved position and has gone from a weakness to arguably the strength of the defense.
Brantley had a late-season knee injury that could keep him sidelined past spring practice. Though Wisconsin is contesting Lucas’ move to UM, history suggests the NCAA likely won’t intervene.
This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 3:29 PM.
