After a lot of turnover, taking a look at UM’s strengths, weaknesses by position
The Miami Hurricanes enter the 2025 season with a lot of roster turnover from a year ago.
Most of the key playmakers on offense are gone, although the offensive line returns nearly fully intact and should be a major strength.
The defense went through a massive (and needed) overhaul, particularly in the secondary.
How will that impact the team as it tries to build on a 10-3 season in 2024?
Here’s a position-by-position look at the Hurricanes.
Quarterback: A-
Cam Ward is gone after a record-breaking season that saw him become a Heisman Trophy finalist and eventually the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Replacing him is Carson Beck, who hopes to follow in Ward’s footsteps by parlaying a one-year stint at Miami into a successful season both individually and for the Hurricanes as a whole. He has the experience and pedigree to be successful after starting at Georgia for two years.
Emory Williams, Luke Nickel and Judd Anderson the backups.
Running Back: B+
Miami has gone with a running-back-by-committee approach in the backfield the past few years and that will likely continue this season. Mark Fletcher Jr., who ran for 607 yards and nine touchdowns last season, should assume the role as lead back in his junior year. Sophomore Jordan Lyle (400 rushing yards, four touchdowns in 2024) is due for an increased role. And CharMar Brown, who transferred in from North Dakota State and was the Jerry Rice Award Winner as the top freshman at the FCS level, adds a third established running back into the mix.
True freshman Girard Pringle Jr. and redshirt freshman Chris Wheatley-Humphrey follow on the depth chart.
Wide Receiver: B-
Gone are a quartet of talented receivers in Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George, Sam Brown and Isaiah Horton who combined for 3,004 yards and 26 touchdowns last season.
Their replacements come in three groups. There are the returnees looking to take the next step in Josisha Trader, Ny Carr and Ray Ray Joseph. There are the transfers in CJ Daniels (LSU), Tony Johnson (Cincinnati) and Keelan Marion (BYU). And then there are the incoming freshmen in Malachi Toney, Joshua Moore and Daylyn Upshaw.
There’s more than enough talent. But will that talent turn into production? That needs to be seen.
Tight End: C+
Elija Lofton is expected to go from jack-of-all-trades offensive threat as a freshman to top of the tight end depth chart as a sophomore. His skill set makes him uber versatile, but will he be able to live up to the increased role?
Beyond Lofton, Miami’s other main tight ends are transfers Alex Bauman and Jack Nickel as well as freshmen Brock Schott and Luka Gilbert.
Offensive line: A+
This is easily the strength of the 2025 Hurricanes and possibly one of the top offensive line units in the country. Right tackle Francis Mauigoa, a projected first-round pick, leads the group. Markel Bell, at 6-9, is a towering presence at left tackle. Left guard Matthew McCoy, center James Brockermeyer (a TCU transfer) and right guard Anez Cooper fill out the interior of the line. Fifth-year senior Ryan Rodriguez, redshirt sophomore Samson Okunlola and a freshman class led by SJ Alofaituli give Miami a solid core of backups.
Defensive line: B+
The Hurricanes are stacked up top on the edge. It starts with Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor as the veterans followed by sophomores Armondo Blount and Marquise Lightfoot plus standout true freshman Hayden Lowe. Miami needs its inexperienced yet talented defensive tackles — led by redshirt junior Ahmad Moten, transfer David Blay and sophomore Justin Scott anchoring the rotation, with redshirt freshman Artavius Jones and true freshman Donta Simpson looking like the next in line — to step up to round out the group.
Linebacker: B-
This group’s depth looked shaky following spring ball with Wesley Bissainthe, Jaylin Alderman and Raul “Popo” Aguirre the primary trio to get significant reps and little behind them. And then Miami added Mohamed Toure and Kamal Bonner when the spring transfer window opened, and things are starting to look better. How much better? We’ll see.
Defensive backs: B
What a difference an offseason of transfer portaling did for the Hurricanes. In a span of a few months, Miami’s secondary went from its 2024 weakness to an area of the team that has noticeable depth. UM added six defensive backs via transfer this offseason: Cornerbacks Xavier Lucas, Keionte Scott, Charles Brantley and Ethan O’Connor as well as safeties Zechariah Poyer and Jakobe Thomas. Add in returnees in cornerbacks OJ Frederique Jr. and Damari Brown plus safety Markieth Williams, and Miami suddenly has a secondary that, on paper, looks like it can contend.
Special teams: C+
The Hurricanes have the potential for a notably improved return game with the addition of Keelan Marion and Keionte Scott. Marion was one of five players with multiple kickoff return touchdowns last season and Scott has a solid track record for returning punts. Kicker will be interesting, with Andres Borregales gone and replaced by transfer Bert Auburn, who was inconsistent last year at Texas. Dylan Joyce, who has landed 26 of his 68 career punts inside the 20-yard line, returns at punter.
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