30 key Miami Hurricanes for 2025 season: Keelan Marion can help UM in multiple ways
The Miami Hurricanes kick off the 2025 season on Aug. 31 with a marquee matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium (7:30 p.m., ABC).
With the calendar officially flipped to August, the Miami Herald is counting down 30 of the most important players on the Hurricanes’ roster, one per day leading up to the season opener, to provide a closer look at the team heading into coach Mario Cristobal’s fourth season.
Today: The No. 20 player on our list, Keelan Marion.
What to know
Position: Wide receiver
Hometown: Atlanta
Year: Redshirt senior
How he got to Miami: 2025 transfer (BYU)
Key stats: 76 catches, 1,125 receiving yards, 7 receiving touchdowns, 5 rushing touchdowns, 2 kickoff return touchdowns in 42 career games.
In summary: Keelan Marion, who is now playing at his third school after previous stops at UConn and BYU, is poised to be a multidimensional threat for the Hurricanes. He has the speed to be a deep threat on the outside on offense and is a proven kickoff returner, something UM has sorely lacked (the Hurricanes have just three kickoff return touchdowns in the past 10 seasons).
Since 2000, Marion is one of just 23 total players — and one of just 13 wide receivers — to amass at least 1,000 career receiving yards, seven receiving touchdowns, five rushing touchdowns and two kickoff return touchdowns.
What they’re saying
“I’m a playmaker. I know a lot of people think I’m just a return guy, but a few years ago as a freshman, I was just taking the top off defenses at Connecticut. ... I know I can still bring that to the table, but I just haven’t been in the right system to showcase that skill set. I think Miami is the best place to showcase that skill set in [Shannon Dawson’s] offense with Carson [Beck] throwing the ball.” - wide receiver Keelan Marion
“With the ball in his hands, he’s explosive. When you see it in person, the head is turning like, ‘did you see that?’ He can play inside and outside. He’s going to be a big asset to us. He gives us a lot of ability in the return game. He’s one of the top returners in the country. Quick and dynamic.” — Hurricanes wide receivers coach Kevin Beard
The rest of the series
No. 21: Defensive back Jakobe Thomas
No. 23: Defensive back Keionte Scott
No. 24: Running back Jordan Lyle
No. 25: Defensive back Damari Brown
No. 26: Defensive lineman Armondo Blount
No. 27: Wide receiver Malachi Toney
No. 28: Defensive back Ethan O’Connor
No. 29: Linebacker Kamal Bonner
No. 30: Running back CharMar Brown
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