Where Canes roster stands for 2022 on offense by position: Who’s returning and who can’t
Predicting what personnel will be on your favorite college football team nine months from now — especially after a coaching change — is a thankless and somewhat fruitless task, because of the loosened NCAA transfer rules.
But with that caveat, an early look at what University of Miami coach Mario Cristobal should have at each position next season and what needs must be filled:
QUARTERBACK
The hope, of course, is that Jake Garcia will stick around knowing that Tyler Van Dyke will assuredly be the starter. Cristobal has said “there’s not a better quarterback in the country” than Van Dyke.
Garcia’s father has been quoted as saying that his son is definitely sticking around. And there’s nothing to suggest he’s leaving.
Cristobal must convince Garcia that he will have his time at UM, and that it could come as early as 2023 if Van Dyke turns pro after 2022.
The No. 3 quarterback next year could be freshman Jacurri Brown, Peyton Matocha or Ryan Rizk.
Van Dyke, incidentally, finished the regular season 15th in the country in college passer rating, with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions and 10th in average yards per pass attempt (an exceptional 9.0).
His NFL passer rating of 109 is higher than any NFL quarterback this season except Aaron Rodgers.
Per ESPN’s Chris Fallica, Van Dyke is one of two quarterbacks in the College Football Playoff era to end a season with six consecutive games of 300-plus passing yards and three or more TD passes.
The only other quarterback to have a streak of at least six consecutive such games in a season is 2019 Heisman winner Joe Burrow, who did it for seven games in a row.
RUNNING BACK
Cam’Ron Harris’ departure leaves only four on scholarship: Jaylon Knighton, Don Chaney Jr., Thad Franklin and Cody Brown.
With Chaney coming off major knee surgery, UM likely needs to add at least one running back, either from the transfer portal or the prep ranks.
Knighton and Chaney will compete to start.
Knighton, incidentally, closed with 561 yards rushing (but just 3.9 per carry) and 280 yards receiving on 20 catches, a fabulous 14-yard average. On an elite team, he’s more of a third-down back — and change-of-pace back — than an every-down back.
Chaney had 11 carries for 44 yards in two games before his injury and seems better suited for the starting job, if he can stay healthy.
The two freshmen backs showed flashes. Franklin averaged 7.5 yards on 23 carries; Brown averaged 4.1 on 34 carries.
Brown initially was ahead of Franklin, but Franklin closed the season ahead of Brown.
WIDE RECEIVER
Mike Harley Jr. — out of college eligibility — and NFL-bound Charleston Rambo are leaving.
That leaves a top six-receiver group of Key’Shawn Smith, Xavier Restrepo, Michael Redding and impressive freshmen Romello Brinson, Jacolby George and Brashard Smith.
But at least one potential addition remains a possibility: Clemson’s Frank Ladson, who reportedly is considering a transfer to Miami. If Ladson doesn’t materialize, UM could add another receiver in the portal.
UM has two other receivers on scholarship: Daz Worsham (who appeared in just one game) and Tennessee-based three-star freshman Isaiah Horton.
Smith — who started every game — looks like a solid No. 1 or No. 2; he finished his second season with 33 catches for 405 yards (12.3 average) and three touchdowns.
Restrepo (24 for 373, 15.5 average) should see a significant increase in playing time and UM people believe he could blossom into another Braxton Berrios. He figures to be the top slot receiver with Harley’s departure.
Smith — who had six rushes for 23 yards and caught 14 passes for 199 — should continue to evolve as a Percy Harvin-type multiposition threat.
One local prep coach predicts George will be a star. And Redding and Brinson are solid rotation pieces.
TIGHT END
Will Mallory already announced he will return for a final year in college; he had 30 catches for 347 yards (11.6 average) and four touchdowns and came on very strong after a slow start.
Ballyhooed four-star recruit Jaleel Skinner, who signed with UM after flipping from Alabama, will enroll in January and challenge Elijah Arroyo (five catches, 86 yards as a freshman) for the No. 2 job.
The change in the offensive coaching staff will somewhat negate Arroyo’s edge in experience over Skinner. Both are excellent prospects.
Kahlil Brantley, who was sidelined part of his freshman season and had one catch for 7 yards in a very limited role, also will compete.
Larry Hodges seldom played (no catches) and could move on. Dominic Mammarelli was injured but probably wouldn’t have had a significant role even if he had been healthy.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Two starters — Navaughn Donaldson and Jarrid Williams — have no more college eligibility and definitely will move on. Corey Gaynor transferred to North Carolina.
Left tackle Zion Nelson announced this week that he’s bypassing the NFL Draft and returning to UM.
Jalen Rivers, Jakai Clark and DJ Scaife also figure to return, and part-time starter Justice Olawaseun might too, even though Garin Justice — his position coach at UM and UNLV — is now at SMU, working for former UM offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee.
Nelson, Rivers, Clark and Scaife project as starters, and Olawaseun could compete for a starting job.
But it wouldn’t be surprising if UM adds an established starter from the transfer portal, with former Virginia starting right tackle Ryan Swoboda among those being targeted.
John Campbell, an occasional starter who missed the season with a knee injury, also could compete to start.
So from left to right, you could be looking at a line of Nelson, Rivers, Clark, Scaife and either Olawasuen or Campbell or perhaps Michael McLaughlin or a freshman or a veteran transfer at right tackle.
Beyond that, the roster on the offensive line is full of young, unproved players and question marks.
It’s unclear whether Cleveland Reed will opt to return or explore the portal for a second time in his career. Same with Ousman Traore, whose role diminished this past season.
Decisions also await Chris Washington (who hasn’t cracked the lineup in two years) and Zalon’tae Hilley (who hasn’t been a factor in four years here).
Three highly regarded UM freshmen should get a chance to compete for roles next season: tackle McLaughlin, center/guard Laurance Seymore and center/guard Ryan Rodriguez.
The wild card is former four-star recruit Issiah Walker, the former Miami Norland standout tackle and Gator transfer who hasn’t been a factor in two years here. Justice said he has been dealing with personal issues.
UM hoped he would become a multiyear starter. But it’s unclear if he can even crack the rotation.
In recruiting, UM is targeting a handful of players, including St. John’s, Florida-based tackle Matthew McCoy; Seattle-based tackle Josh Conerly Jr., rated by Rivals as the 58th best player in this class and the seventh best tackle; and four-star Washington-based guard Dave Iuli, an Oregon commitment who has a good relationship with Cristobal and new UM offensive line coach Alex Mirabal.
Iuli is visiting UM this weekend.
UM added no offensive linemen in the early signing period.
We’ll address the defense in a piece later this week.
This story was originally published January 12, 2022 at 4:10 PM.
