How much talent is UM losing from its 2024 roster? A position-by-position look
The Miami Hurricanes are slated to lose a lot of talent from their 2024 team. That’s the nature of the business when you have a senior-laden team.
But the departures could be beyond those who have exhausted their eligibility. Upperclassmen could depart for the NFL Draft. Underclassmen could enter the transfer portal. There is still time for movement both in and out.
Here’s a position-by-position look at where things stand for Miami’s roster at this point heading into 2025.
Quarterback
The loss of Cam Ward can not be understated.
Ward, in his lone season at UM, played the biggest role in Miami getting to 10 wins this season and having a chance to reach all of its goals before the team flamed out down the stretch. He rewrote the school’s record book, setting the single-season records for completions (305), passing yards (4,313), passing touchdowns (39) and completion percentage (67.2 percent).
With Ward gone, the Hurricanes’ internal quarterback options are Emory Williams, Judd Anderson and incoming freshman Luke Nickel unless they nab a veteran from the transfer portal.
“Quarterback-wise, you always assess every position on your team and do everything you can to make it better,” Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said after the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday. “As it relates to personnel and personnel moves, and what we do in that, it’s something I never discuss publicly out of respect for our program and the players involved. But, we are always looking for ways to develop the guys within the program, and we are always bringing the best possible talent we can.”
Running back
Ajay Allen and Chris Johnson are both gone, having already entered the transfer portal. Junior Damien Martinez is gone too, as he declared for draft on Monday after rushing for 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns in his lone season at Miami after two strong seasons at Oregon State prior to transferring to UM.
Even with those three gone, the Hurricanes’ backfield should be in good hands with Mark Fletcher Jr. and Jordan Lyle leading the way. Chris Wheatley-Humphrey and incoming freshman Girard Pringle provide depth beyond the main two.
Wide receiver
The Hurricanes are losing all four of their primary receivers from last season. Xavier Restrepo, who set UM’s career marks for receptions and receiving yards, and Jacolby George are out of eligibility. Sam Brown on Saturday declared for the NFL Draft. And Isaiah Horton transferred out.
The quartet combined for 3,004 of Miami’s 4,527 receiving yards — or 66.4% — in 2024 and 26 of 41 touchdown catches.
With that, Miami will be young at receiver in 2025. The cast is slated to include returnees Joshisa Trader, Ray Ray Joseph, Shemar Kirk and Ny Carr, a quartet that combined for just 195 receiving yards this season (100 of which came in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday with Restrepo, Brown and Horton not playing); CJ Daniels from the transfer portal; and incoming freshmen Joshua Moore, Malachi Toney and Daylyn Upshaw.
Tight end
Just like at receiver, the Hurricanes are losing their top producer in Elijah Arroyo, who caught 35 passes for 590 yards and seven touchdowns. Ninth-year senior Cam McCormick is out of eligibility and Riley Williams has transferred.
That leaves the versatile Elija Lofton as the top returnee. Miami also signed two tight ends in its 2025 recruiting class in Brock Schott and Luka Gilbert.
Offensive line
The Hurricanes are losing a pair of starting offensive linemen in left tackle/left guard Jalen Rivers and center Zach Carpenter.
The team does have a lot slated to return here, though. Markel Bell would be the front-runner to replace Rivers at left tackle. The team’s guards are set with Matt McCoy, Ryan Rodriguez and Anez Cooper all projected back. And Francis Mauigoa will be at right tackle for a third year.
The team does need to figure out the center position, although they are looking in the portal for that.
Meanwhile, SJ Aloffaituli headlines four offensive linemen in Miami’s recruiting class, which also includes Max Buchanan, Jaden Wilkerson and Demetrius Campbell.
Defensive line
Tyler Baron, Simeon Barrow, Elijah Alston, CJ Clark and Marley Cook — all of whom transferred to Miami for their final season — are gone. The group combined for 14 of Miami’s 36 sacks and 24.5 of Miami’s 84 tackles for loss.
Akheem Mesidor, who has one year of eligibility left, could go pro after a redshirt junior season in which he tied for the team lead in sacks (5.5) and had nine tackles for loss.
That leaves Rueben Bain Jr. and Ahmad Moten as Miami’s main returnees (Mesidor, too, if he opts to return for a final season).
The Hurricanes have added David Blay in the transfer portal to bolster the interior of their defensive line and will have to hope that some combination of players from their 2024 recruiting class (Marquise Lightfoot, Justin Scott, Armondo Blount, Cole McConathy, Booker Pickett among them) make the jump next season and can produce. Hayden Lowe, Herbert Scroggins and Donta Simpson are the three defensive linemen in their recruiting class.
Linebacker
Francisco Mauigoa, who has been the Hurricanes’ starting middle linebacker for two seasons after transferring in from Washington State, is the only senior among the linebackers. He led Miami in tackles during the past two seasons, totaling 178 combined during the two campaigns to go along with 29 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.
Assuming no one else departs, the Hurricanes will have Wesley Bissainthe, Jaylin Alderman, Raul “Popo” Aguirre as their main returnees. Cam Pruitt showed flashes of potential at times as a true freshman. Miami also signed a pair of linebackers in their recruiting class in Kellen Wiley and Ezekiel Marcelin.
Defensive back
Mishael Powell, whose five interceptions were tied for fourth nationally this season, is gone after his one season at Miami after starting his career at Washington State. Daryl Porter Jr., who started all 12 regular-season games this season, is also gone after wrapping up his five-year college football career.
As UM retools its secondary, it will have OJ Frederique (who excelled most of his freshman year), Damari Brown (who played just two games due to injury) and Dyoni Hill returning at cornerback along with Charles Brantley and Emmanuel Karnley coming in via the transfer portal. At safety, Zaquan Patterson, Jaden Harris, Markieth Williams and Jacksonville State transfer Zechariah Poyser lead the group.
Special teams
The Hurricanes will have a new kicker in 2025 after four steady years with Andres Borregales at the position. The Miami native finished his career with the school record for career points scored (405), extra-point attempts made (183) and consecutive field goals made (17) while finishing second in total field goals (74, three shy of Michael Badgley’s record of 77).
Miami has Abram Murray on the roster and also added Carter Davis from FAU in the transfer portal.
Dylan Joyce will return as Miami’s punter.
This story was originally published December 30, 2024 at 10:09 AM.
.JPG)