Where Miami Hurricanes roster stands after massive turnover. Who’s here, who’s gone
After parting ways with more than two dozen players, adding four transfers (Alabama guard Javion Cohen, UCF cornerback Davonte Brown, Georgia State defensive end Thomas Gore and Washington State linebacker Francisco Mauigoa) and securing a loaded top-five-in-the-nation recruiting class, the Miami Hurricanes’ roster looks a lot different.
And more departures and additions are expected in the weeks ahead. For now, here’s where things stand:
QUARTERBACK
Who’s still here: Tyler Van Dyke, Jacurri Brown, Jake Garcia.
Who’s new: Freshman Emory Williams.
Who’s gone: Reportedly Payton Matocha, though he hasn’t confirmed that.
Where things stand: Van Dyke will return to school, according to UM NIL benefactor John Ruiz. With the addition of Cohen and two elite freshman tackles, he should have better protection after being rushed on too many throws this past season. Garcia and Brown will compete for the No. 2 job unless Garcia decides to transfer. Williams is a developmental prospect.
RUNNING BACK
Who’s still here: Don Chaney Jr., TreVonte’ Citizen, Henry Parrish.
Who’s new: Plantation American Heritage’s Mark Fletcher and Fort Lauderdale Dillard’s Christopher Johnson.
Who’s gone: Jaylan Knighton (to SMU) and Thad Franklin.
Where things stand: The room has been upgraded; Fletcher is “powerful, elusive, strong, fast,” Cristobal said. If Citizen hadn’t been injured, he likely would have received steady carries as a freshman... Johnson “has borderline world class speed,” Cristobal said. That’s a dimension this backfield needed... With Chaney’s injury history and Citizen coming off knee surgery, UM might consider adding a sixth back.
WIDE RECEIVER
Who’s still here: Xavier Restrepo, Brashard Smith, Jacolby George, Frank Ladson, Colbie Young, Isaiah Horton, Michael Redding.
Who’s new: Freshmen Robby Washington and Nathaniel Joseph, two speedy four-star freshmen who are particularly dangerous in the slot.
Who’s gone: Key’Shawn Smith (SMU) and Romello Brinson.
Where things stand: The Canes haven’t found a clear-cut No. 1 receiver in the portal, but Cristobal said UM wants to find two more boundary receivers. He has said he believes Smith can become one of the top receivers in the country; he’s not yet close to that. Washington and Joseph are considered most dangerous in the slot, and UM’s best receiver (Restrepo) also is at his best in the slot. This group still has too many players who are No. 3, No. 4 and 5 receivers on a top team, not 1s and 2s.
TIGHT END
Who’s still here: Elijah Arroyo, Jaleel Skinner, Kahlil Brantley, Dom Mammarelli.
Who’s new: Two freshmen: Riley Williams, Jackson Carver.
Who’s gone: Will Mallory.
Where things stand: Arroyo is the front-runner to start next season; his receiving skills and physicality as a blocker give him a chance to become a difference-maker. Skinner must put on weight and improve his blocking; though he’s a skilled pass catcher, he dropped two of the 16 passes thrown to him this past season.
Williams could play early; he’s a complete tight end. Mammarelli must decide whether to stick around in a blocking role.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Who’s still here: Zion Nelson, Jalen Rivers, Jakai Clark, Anez Cooper, Matthew McCoy, Laurance Seymore, Ryan Rodriguez, Michael McLaughlin, Logan Sagapulo, Chris Washington and Ousman Traore.
Who’s new: Alabama transfer Cohen and freshmen Samson Okunlola, Francis Mauigoa, Frankie Tinilau, Antonio Tripp, Tommy Kinsler.
Who’s gone: Senior D.J. Scaife and Justice Olawaseun and portal-bound John Campbell.
Where things stand: UM landed two of the top three offensive tackles in the 2023 class (Okunlola and Mauigoa), and both have a chance to compete to start immediately, with Nelson also a factor at tackle after a knee injury limited him to 61 snaps last season.
Cohen - a 25-game starter for Alabama the past two years - is the likely starter at left guard. Rivers (who can play any offensive line position) and center Jakai Clark also have a good chance to keep starting jobs, but don’t discount Cooper, who impressed the staff late in the season. With 17 linemen on scholarship, some linemen added during the Manny Diaz years could still leave this offseason.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Who’s still here: Ends Akheem Mesidor, Jahfari Harvey, Nyjalik Kelly, Cyrus Moss, Chantz Williams, Thomas Davis and Jabari Ishmael and defensive tackles Leonard Taylor, Jared Harrison Hunte, Jacob Lichtenstein and Ahmad Moton.
Who’s new: Georgia State transfer Gore; freshmen defensive ends Rueben Bain (ESPN’s No. 73 player in the class), Collins Acheampong and Jayden Wayne; and defensive tackle Joshua Horton.
Who’s gone: Defensive tackles Jordan Miller and Elijah Roberts (both to SMU), Allan Haye (Temple), Antonio Moultrie, Darrell Jackson (transferred to FSU to be closer to his ailing mother) and defensive end Mitchell Agude.
Where things stand: The Canes badly need help in the defensive interior and have pursued several transfers but lost out on Texas A&M’s Tunmise Adele and FSU’s Jarrett Jackson, who both picked Michigan State. But they added the 270-pound Gore, who had 38 tackles and five sacks and was first team All Sun Belt, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s expected to be a tackle here.
It remains to be seen if Davis and Ishmael - two Diaz recruits who played sparingly for Cristobal - will stick around. UM should be fine on the edge with Mesidor, Harvey, Kelly and Moss.
LINEBACKER
Who’s still here: Corey Flagg Jr., Wesley Bissainthe, Chase Smith.
Who’s new: Washington State’s Francisco Mauigoa (61 tackles, 3.5 sacks last season) and freshmen Bobby Washington, Raul Aguirre, Malik Bryant, Marcellius Pulliam.
Who’s gone: Keontra Smith, Gil Frierson, Avery Huff (all to the portal) and two seniors: Caleb Johnson and Waynmon Steed.
Where things stand: Bissainthe will be a starter moving forward, and Flagg and Mauigoa likely will be the other linebackers in the top three, at least initially. Flagg and Mauigoa likely will compete to start at middle linebacker. Of the freshmen, keep an eye on Bryant; Cristobal said he’s skilled enough to play inside linebacker or on the edge.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Who’s still here: Safeties Kamren Kinchens, James Williams and Markeith Williams and cornerbacks Te’Cory Couch, Daryl Porter Jr. and young corners Malik Curtis, Jaden Harris and Chris Graves. Brian Balom removed his name from the portal, but he might graduate first and then leave.
Who’s new: UCF transfer cornerback Davonte Brown and freshman cornerbacks Damari Brown (his brother), Antione Jackson and Robert Stafford and safety/linebacker Kaleb Spencer.
This group also could include five star safety Cormani McClain, who remains orally committed to UM but opted not sign anywhere on Wednesday. He hasn’t commented since his mother announced on Wednesday morning that her son wouldn’t be signing anywhere on the first day of the early signing period.
Who’s gone: Cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson (hit the portal), Khamauri Rogers (Mississippi State-bound), Isaiah Dunson and senior DJ Ivey and safeties Avantae Williams (Maryland-bound), Keshawn Washington, Al Blades Jr. (Duke-bound) and Jalen Harrell (Massachusetts-bound).
Where things stand: Williams who played last season with a torn labrum in his left shoulder, should be fine for the start of the season. Safety depth behind Williams and Kinchens is a concern, with several young players leaving.
The 6-2 Davonte Brown had an interception and did not allow a touchdown as a UCF starter last season; he has picked of three passes in three years. Brown will compete with veterans Porter and Couch and freshmen McClain (if he signs with UM) and Stafford to start at corner.
SPECIALISTS
Who’s still here: Andres Borregales.
Who’s new: Australian punter Dylan Joyce.
Who’s gone: punter Lou Hedley.
