Draft prospects from the University of Miami are certainly no stranger to national fame. Now, as we head into the Miami scouting reports, this group of future NFL players is no different. Take, for instance, QB D’Eriq King or S Bubba Bolden. This group has taken their fair share of headlines in their careers. Here are the full scouting reports from Miami with eyes toward the 2022 NFL Draft.
Miami 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
Bolden, a former USC safety, had his moments during his college career. So did King, one of the more dynamic college quarterbacks we’ve seen in some time. And this is without mentioning WR Charleston Rambo, WR Mike Harley, or RB Cam’Ron Harris. The Hurricanes could once again be well represented in the NFL Draft.
Amari Carter, S
Positives: Aggressive safety who effectively diagnoses plays, fluidly flips his hips in transition, and shows ability lined up over the slot receiver. Fires upfield defending the run and wraps up tackling.
Negatives: Possesses average quickness and speed. Consistently a half-step late getting to the action. Not a secure tackler.
Analysis: After two successful seasons at safety, Carter was moved to the “Striker” position as a senior and seemingly struggled. He’s an instinctive safety who gets the most from his ability, yet he lacks great upside and will have to earn his wage on special teams.
Bubba Bolden, S
Positives: Tough, run-defending safety who is best making plays downhill. Effectively diagnoses the action, remains disciplined with assignments, and takes proper angles to the play. Fires upfield and gives effort to defend running plays or screen passes. Squares into ball handlers and wraps up tackling. Effective open-field tackler. Keeps plays in front of him and shows a solid burst to the ball out of his plant.
Negatives: Slow getting to the spot laterally. Struggles covering tight ends. Stiff and isn’t quick or fluid redirecting to ball handlers.
Analysis: Bolden is an aggressive run-defending safety who acts like a quarterback in the secondary with his leadership. He has speed and quickness imitations and is a liability in coverage, yet his tenacity and wherewithal will be an asset in the secondary.
Want more information on Bolden? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Bubba Bolden, Miami (FL) S | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Cam’Ron Harris, RB
Positives: Patient back with good instincts who is best running between the tackles. Waits for blocks to develop, displays good footwork in a small area, and moves fluidly. Finds the running lanes, effectively uses blocks, and works runs. Effective pass catcher when he extends to make the reception away from his frame.
Negatives: Primarily a downhill ball carrier who cannot turn the corner. Not creative and doesn’t make defenders miss or improvise. Unnecessarily lets the pass get inside him too often and isn’t a natural receiver out of the backfield.
Analysis: Harris is a well-built running back with the ability to pick up the tough yardage, but he’s coming off injury. He was never overly productive for Miami and does not project all that well to the next level.
Want more information on Harris? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Cam’Ron Harris, Miami (FL) RB | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Charleston Rambo, WR
Positives: Underrated receiver with next-level skills and a consistent game. Tracks the pass in the air, shows terrific focus as well as concentration, and looks passes into his hands. Makes the difficult catch in contorted positions when battling defenders. Possesses quick, strong hands and snatches the ball out of the air.
Consistently comes back to the football to make himself an available target, displays outstanding awareness, and keeps the play in bounds after the catch. Agile, displays good route discipline, and possesses solid eye/hand coordination. Quickly gets off the snap, immediately gets to top speed, and shows great timing on receptions. Plays with terrific balance as well as body control.
Negatives: Not a strong receiver and struggles battling physical bump-and-run cornerbacks. Lacks a second gear and vertical speed.
Analysis: Rambo looked like a star in the making at Oklahoma during the 2019 season before taking a major step back the following year. He stepped to the forefront this year after transferring to Miami and stood out during three days of Shrine Bowl practices. Rambo is a long wideout with outstanding pass-catching skill and enough ability to make a roster as a third receiver.
Want more information on Rambo? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Charleston Rambo, Miami (FL) WR | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Deandre Johnson, EDGE
Positives: Athletic pass rusher with an underrated game. Tremendously quick, moves well about the field, and rarely gets knocked off his feet. Plays with terrific pad level, possesses good change-of-direction skills, and easily gets out laterally to pursue plays. Fast up the field and off the edge and shows a closing burst. Covers a lot of area on the field.
Negatives: Lacks strength at the point of attack and is easily blocked from the action or disrupted from his angle of attack. Pass-rushing production throughout his college career was barely average.
Analysis: Johnson flashed explosion as a pass rusher at both Tennessee and Miami and was a force to be reckoned with hitting on all cylinders. He was a bit inconsistent but has shown enough ability to warrant space on a practice squad for future development.
D’Eriq King, QB
Positives: Small, super-quick college quarterback who projects to running back or receiver at the next level. Patient in the pocket, buys time for receivers, and senses the rush. Possesses a live arm, puts speed on throws, and makes a lot of difficult passes thanks in large part due to his arm strength. Quick-footed carrying the ball and shows the ability to pick up yardage with his feet.
Negatives: Lacks stature in the pocket. Not a strong ball carrier. Must learn to take something off his throws. All over the place with passes. Showed a lot of inconsistency throwing the ball during Shrine Bowl practices.
Analysis: King flashed ability at quarterback for the Hurricanes yet lacks the size, stature, and passing mechanics to play the position on Sundays. He did take reps at receiver during Shrine Bowl practices and projects as either a wideout or third-down back at the next level.
Jarrid Williams, OT
Positives: Once-promising offensive tackle who bends his knees, blocks with leverage, and gets the most from his ability. Makes good use of angles in pass protection, effectively uses his hands, and consistently gets leverage on opponents. Explosive at the point and fires off the snap into blocks.
Negatives: Lacks smooth and quick footwork off the edge. Overextends into blocks. Shows himself to be a liability in pass protection on occasion. Not a great athlete. Played uninspired football the past few seasons.
Analysis: I projected Williams as a legitimate next-level tackle early in his college career at Houston, but his game never progressed. He possesses excellent size and long arms and comes with growth potential. He needs to polish his game but has enough tools to be kept on a practice squad as a developmental right tackle or even interior offensive lineman.
Jonathan Ford, DT
Positives: Large interior defensive lineman who flashes ability as well as athleticism. Fires off the snap with a quick first step, plays with proper pad level, and gets leverage on opponents. Keeps his feet moving, shows power in his base, and gives effort defending the run. Quick and tough to handle in the middle of the line.
Negatives: Easily out-positioned from the action for such a big defender. Must develop more moves with his hands. More of a gap occupier than a playmaker and was marginally productive the past three seasons.
Analysis: Ford looks the part and occasionally plays to it, yet he has never been a consistent playmaker at Miami. He possesses the size and athleticism to line up at defensive tackle in the NFL, though he must elevate every aspect of his game.
Mike Harley, WR
Positives: Small, explosive receiver with a burst. Very quick, nicely adjusts to errant throws, and displays a sense of timing on receptions. Fearless wideout who gets up in a crowd, exposes himself to the big hit, and comes away with the difficult reception. Displays terrific focus as well as concentration and possesses good eye/hand coordination. Makes the difficult catch with defenders draped on him. Uses the sidelines well, comes back to the ball out of breaks, and always works to make himself an available target.
Negatives: Lacks deep speed and a true second gear. Small and easily brought down at the point.
Analysis: Harley was a reliable and productive wideout for Miami the past three seasons. He possesses the quickness to separate at the next level and offers possibilities as a slot receiver who can return punts.
Navaughn Donaldson, OL
Positives: Massive interior blocker who is strong, stays square, and easily anchors in pass protection. Explosive at the point, knocks defenders back off the line, and works blocks. Keeps his head on a swivel.
Negatives: Stiff, not a natural knee bender, and lumbers around the field. Gets upright and isn’t a leverage blocker. Strictly confined to a small area.
Analysis: Donaldson is a size prospect who comes with limited athleticism and agility. He is only effective in confined quarters. Donaldson offers possibilities as a backup in a power-gap scheme, but he must improve his technique.
Zach McCloud, EDGE
Positives: Smart, tough linebacker who does the little things well. Quickly diagnoses the action, flows well to the play, and gets depth on pass drops. Stays with assignments, plays disciplined football, and breaks down well. Resilient, uses his hands to protect himself, and works hard. Primarily came out of a three-point stance last season and displayed a closing burst rushing the passer.
Negatives: Lacks speed in pursuit and cannot cut off the corners from ball handlers. Easily out-positioned from the action by a single blocker.
Analysis: McCloud was a hard-working team player at Miami who selflessly lined up at multiple positions when asked. He looked like a legitimate middle linebacker prospect early in his career, though his play has recently slipped. McCloud possesses the ability to make a roster if he plays well on special teams.