A position-by-position Hurricanes spring practice progress report
Miami is two weeks into its spring practice. The Hurricanes have practiced in full pads and done some live tackling, and observers are starting to get an idea of what the 2024 team will look like.
UM has three weeks of practice left before its April 13 spring game, but today we’ll take a position-by-position look at how each position group looks early in camp.
This analysis is based on interviews with Hurricanes players and coaches, as well as personal observations during limited media viewing during practice.
Quarterback
The Hurricanes landed their guy in transfer Cam Ward. The former Washington State quarterback quickly went to work building a bond with his teammates, inviting skill position players to his home to watch the Super Bowl and taking the offensive linemen out for dinner. Ward has looked good in practice, frequently completing quality passes in drills.
“I remember the first day, I wanted to test him out,” defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. said. “He was throwing the ball on the field, and I was near the exit. I told him to throw me the ball, and it was like 60 yards away. He threw it on a dot. That was the thing that stuck out to me.”
Behind Ward, Albany transfer Reese Poffenbarger has also performed well in drills. Rising third-year player Jacurri Brown, who is Miami’s most recent starting quarterback, has made some good throws in drills. Second-year quarterback Emory Williams has returned to the field after suffering an arm injury in a loss to Florida State last year and has not lost a step. Freshman Judd Anderson has not received as many reps, but he has the size to project at quarterback.
Running back
The Hurricanes’ running back room is depleted this spring. Mark Fletcher Jr. and Ajay Allen are out for the spring with injuries, and leading rusher Henry Parrish Jr. is entering the transfer portal. The Hurricanes have just three healthy, scholarship running backs on the roster right now: TreVonte’ Citizen, Chris Johnson and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey.
Citizen, who is returning from a severe knee injury that has kept him off the field the past two seasons, has shown competitiveness in drills, and Johnson has shown off his track-star speed. But this group is hard to judge without being complete.
Wide receivers
It was not long ago that Miami’s wide receivers were one of the team’s biggest question marks. Now it could be a position of strength.
Xavier Restrepo, the sixth 1,000-yard receiver in UM history, returns and looks sharper than ever, routinely making impressive catches.
“I go against him every day,” defensive back Meesh Powell said. “That’s the best slot in the country,”
Returning starter Jacolby George has looked solid through the first two weeks of practice. Isaiah Horton, entering his third season at Miami, is perhaps the favorite to replace Colbie Young (who transferred to Georgia) at outside receiver. Horton, who flashed his ability last year, looks like he has improved his body entering the spring.
Young wide receivers like second-year Ray Ray Joseph and freshmen Joshisa “JoJo” Trader and Ny Carr have also made some impressive catches early in camp.
Tight ends
Miami’s tight ends are a candidate for the most-improved position group. Last year, the Hurricanes hardly targeted their tight ends in the passing game. That could change dramatically this year.
“That tight end room is a lot like we talked about,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “It’s a lot of competition in that room. … That room’s pretty talented, so we’re excited about that room, for sure.”
The biggest change is Elijah Arroyo’s health. The veteran tight end has missed large parts of the last two seasons due to a torn ACL. But Arroyo is healthy now, and Dawson said Arroyo is “a dude” when healthy.
Behind Arroyo, Miami returns nine-year veteran Cam McCormick (NCAA petition) and second-year Riley Williams. Williams was UM’s top-receiving tight end last year, and he has made good catches in one-on-one drills, indicating a big leap in ability from his freshman year to now.
Freshman Elija Lofton, a four-star prospect out of Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman, has also turned heads early in practice.
Offensive line
UM has to replace two starters from last year’s offensive line: left guard Javion Cohen and center Matt Lee. Miami has a ready-made replacement for Lee, bringing in Indiana transfer Zach Carpenter in the offseason.
Although Carpenter does not have Lee’s brash personality, he did put up a solid season for the Hoosiers last year and should improve under Mario Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal’s tutelage.
The left guard spot is more competitive, as the Hurricanes should have several options to replace Cohen. Second-year Samson Okunlola was recruited as a tackle but could slide inside and enter the starting lineup.
“He can play guard,” Lee said. “Body type, I think, is always an objective because Samson’s 6-5, 6-6, 320, 325, whatever he is now, which is perfectly fine to play tackle, perfectly fine to play guard. He can probably play center.”
Miami also has players such as Lou Cristobal Jr., who has received reps in the spring, Matt McCoy, Tommy Kinsler and Logan Sagapolu who could fill the void.
Defensive line
The defensive line was one of the Hurricanes’ strongest groups last year, and this year looks no different.
Bain broke out as a star last year and is poised to improve his performance after being named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year last year. Bain has missed some time in practice due to a minor injury, but Cristobal said it was not anything significant.
New additions on the defensive line, transfers Elijah Alston, C.J. Clark and Marley Cook, are all expected to play large roles in their first seasons at UM. Alston already knows defensive coordinator Lance Guidry’s system, having played for him at Marshall. Clark was a solid performer at N.C. State, and Cook, a Middle Tennessee State transfer, has impressed teammates.
Linebacker
The Hurricanes are missing their key linebacker, veteran Francisco Mauigoa. The second-year Miami linebacker and all-conference second-team selection is out for the spring due to injury. But UM’s young linebackers are getting the chance to shine this spring and prove their abilities to their coaches.
Rising third-year linebacker Wesley Bissainthe is expected to play an even bigger role this year, as are rising second-year players like Raul “Popo” Aguire, Marcellius Pulliam and Bobby Washington.
With two of UM’s top linebackers from last year, K.J. Cloyd (NFL draft) and Corey Flagg (transfer), there are opportunities available for the talented group.
“It’s opportunities for everybody, continuing to get better and better,” linebackers coach Derek Nicholson said. “When that happens, there’s competition. When there’s competition, that brings the best out of each and every individual, and that’s what you want.”
Cornerbacks
This is a position to keep an eye on for the rest of spring and into fall. Miami lost starting outside cornerback Jaden Davis and starting nickelback Te’Cory Couch to graduation, and rotational cornerback Davonte Brown transferred to Florida State.
With those departures and with two of Miami’s defensive back signees not enrolled yet and likely starter Damari Brown missing the first week of camp, the Hurricanes were a little short-handed at cornerback. They have even experimented with wide receiver Robby Washington, who played defensive back in high school, playing some cornerback.
The Hurricanes did add Powell, a transfer from Washington, who will likely take over for Couch at nickelback. Returning starter Daryl Porter Jr. continues at his spot, and Brown is promising. But behind them, the Hurricanes are spread a little thin for now.
Safety
The Hurricanes need to replace both starting safeties this season as Kam Kinchens and James Williams try their luck in the professional ranks.
Vanderbilt transfer Savion Riley and rising third-year defensive back Jaden Harris could be the primary candidates to take over for Kinchens and Williams. Young players such as Markeith Williams, Kaleb Spencer and freshman Zaquan Patterson are also in the mix.
