Exploring 10 key issues entering start of Hurricanes camp and the latest buzz

New quarterback Carson Beck will be one of the focuses of attention when the Miami Hurricanes convene for practice this week and begin preparing for the Aug. 31 opener against Notre Dame. But there are plenty of non-quarterback issues worth monitoring.

Some buzz on 10 other subplots:

Who starts at receiver?

Jojo Trader is a clear front-runner for one boundary spot, but the other is wide open among Keelan Marion (24 receptions for 346 yards at BYU last season), CJ Daniels (LSU’s No. 4 receiver last season), freshman Joshua Moore (the early enrollee impressed this spring), Ny Carr and Cincinnati transfer Tony Johnson, who is best suited for the slot. Freshman Dylan Upshaw also can make a case with a strong camp.

It’s conceivable that three of UM’s top four or five receivers could end up being prototypical slot players: Johnson (who’s 5-11), explosive freshman Malachi Toney (5-11) and Ray-Ray Joseph (5-10). If the three slot players produce far more than the taller boundary receivers do, the Canes will need to accept being undersized at receiver.

Johnson, a key post-spring addition, had 48 catches for 449 yards and six touchdowns for Cincinnati last season. He played 77.4 percent of his snaps in the slot.

Don’t underestimate Moore’s talent; he has a chance to make a real impact as a freshman. Carr emerged this past spring. Toney was a menace in the spring game, looking like a player who very much needs to play.

Who’s the starting safety opposite Poyser?

Poyser, the FCS freshman All-American at Jacksonville State last season, excelled in the spring and likely will start. But Zaquan Patterson, who seemed like a future starter at one point, left for Oklahoma State and Miami failed to land coveted former Houston safety AJ Haulcy, who committed to LSU.

Jakobe Thomas, the Tennessee transfer, is the front-runner for the other starting safety position, but his body of work in the SEC (and at Middle Tennessee) wasn’t impressive enough to simply hand him the job.

Thomas had 22 tackles, a sack, three tackles for loss and two passes defended in just 263 defensive snaps for the Volunteers last season, allowing six completions in eight targets for 103 yards, which computes to a 116.7 passer rating against. Previously, he had 13 starts in three years at Middle Tennessee. He had four interceptions in 2022, his only picks in four college seasons.

Though the job is probably Thomas’ to lose, incumbents Markeith Williams and Dylan Day will get a fair look after flashing in the spring. Jadais Richard, coming off last November’s knee injury, can play safety or corner. And freshmen Amari Wallace and Bryce Fitzgerald are highly-regarded prospects; Fitzgerald was UM’s only freshman who wasn’t an early enrollee.

UM probably cannot expect much more than decent production at that second safety position.

Who emerges as the top nickel cornerback?

This will be a fascinating battle among Damari Brown and Charles Brantley (who also can play outside) and Auburn transfer Keionte Scott.

Scott, who was added in the May portal cycle, struggled playing boundary corner last season for Auburn (he allowed a 145.1 passer rating) but did his best work in the slot for the Tigers two years ago. This could be his job to lose.

Brantley was very good when healthy at Michigan State — posting one of the best passer ratings against in the nation last season (16.6) — but was beaten several times by Malachi Toney in the spring game.

Who emerges as the starting linebackers?

Mohamed Toure, the transfer from Rutgers, is a clear favorite to start opposite Wesley Bissainthe. Both can play weak side or middle linebacker.

Toure had 93 tackles (10 for loss) and five sacks in 2023, playing on a unit coached by new UM defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman. In Rutgers’ bowl win against UM that year, he had eight tackles (two for loss) and a sack. But Toure tore his ACL in an August 2024 practice, his second torn ACL in three years.

Before Toure’s late addition, North Carolina State transfer Kamal Bonner seemed the favorite to start opposite Bissainthe. Now, he will press both for playing time. Don’t discount Raul Aguirre, Chase Smith, Jaylin Alderman and Cam Pruitt, who all had good moments this spring.

Aside from cornerback and quarterback, UM did its best portal work at linebacker, though it remains to be seen whether Bonner is better than the players who were already on the roster.

What are the most fascinating backup jobs?

Aside from sorting out the order at receiver and linebacker, UM is positioned to have a fascinating battle at backup defensive end and backup cornerback.

OJ Frederique and Wisconsin transfer Xavier Lucas enter camp as the likely starting corners, but there’s not separation among the backups – Brown and Brantley (if they don’t play in the slot), Washington State transfer Ethan O’Connor and Richard, who was a rotation player before his injury.

And don’t discount Chris Ewald or Jaboree Antoine, considering what Frederique did as a freshman. Frederique was 247 Sports’ No. 66 cornerback in the 2024 class and proceeded to produce one of the nation’s best passer ratings against last season. Ewald was the No. 37 corner in the 2025 class and Antoine was No. 35.

There will be an intense competition for edge snaps behind Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. Armando Blount or Malik Bryant figures to be No. 3, but nobody should be surprised if impressive freshman Hayden Lowe or second-year players Marquise Lightfoot, Booker Pickett and Cole McConathy enter the rotation.

Besides the offensive line, the defense line is where you see the fruits of this staff’s recruiting skills. Assistant coach Jason Taylor remains an asset in that area.

Does UM have enough at defensive tackle?

Debatable. The Canes preferred to add another veteran tackle in the portal but pursued only a couple and didn’t land either: Braxton Fely stayed at Boise State, and UCF’s Bernard Gooden opted for LSU.

Justin Scott emerged this spring and will play a lot. The other starter is expected to be Louisiana Tech transfer David Blay or Ahmad Moten. Blay, who came with high expectations, had a quiet spring. All three are expected to play a lot.

Here’s what impressive freshman Donta Simpson and second-year players Artavius Jones and Daylen Russell must do in August: Show enough to convince coaches that they should get No. 4 defensive tackle snaps instead of moving Bain or Mesidor inside and giving those snaps to edge players Blount, Bryant, Pickett, Lightfoot, Lowe or McConathy. That’s a tall task.

Who blossoms into UM’s next standout?

Trader, Justin Scott, Lucas, Toney and Moore can all make a case. So can running back Jordan Lyle. And running back CharMar Brown, the North Dakota State transfer, turned heads in the offseason program.

But I’m going with Elija Lofton, who should morph from a freshman “jack-of-all-trades” revelation to a standout all-around tight end in the post-Elijah Arroyo era.

Who’s the kicker?

Bert Auburn, a transfer from Texas, is the front-runner over Carter Davis, who could end up handling kickoffs.

Auburn was excellent in 2023 (29 for 35 on field goals, including 9 of 12 from 40 to 49 and 2 for 4 from 50 plus) but less so last season, when he went 16 for 25 on field goals, including 6 for 12 from 40 to 49 yards and 0 for 2 from 50 or longer.

Any changes on the offensive line, aside from new center/former TCU starter James Brockermeyer?

The left guard spot is the one open position: UM thinks a lot of Michael McCoy (who was injured during the spring) and Ryan Rodriguez. McCoy is the front-runner, but the Canes should be fine with either alongside Markel Bell.

What about return jobs on special teams?

Marion and Scott give UM accomplished returners who once led their conferences in kickoff and punt return averages, respectively.

Marion last year was a second-team All-Big 12 pick as a kick returner after taking back 18 kicks for 472 yards (a conference-leading 26.2 yard average) and two touchdowns.

In 2023, Scott led the SEC in punt return average (14.8), with 15 returns for 222 yards and a touchdown.

So Marion and Scott enter as the front-runners for those jobs, with Toney among others competing.

What else is worth monitoring?

Brown has impressed everyone, and it will be interesting to see how big a package coaches carve out for him, knowing that Mark Fletcher Jr. and Lyle should receive the bulk of the carries.

And freshman tight ends Brock Schott and Luka Gilbert turned heads this spring. Both have a chance to earn immediate playing time, as they compete with skilled in-line blocker/UAB transfer Jack Nickel, behind Lofton and Tulane transfer Alex Bauman. Jackson Carver has a long-term injury.

This story was originally published July 29, 2025 at 2:15 PM.