Expectations were high when the Miami Hurricanes added Mario Cristobal as head coach. Fresh off a flurry of high-value transfer additions, is this the year that the Hurricanes will realize their potential and make noise on both the college football landscape and the 2024 NFL Draft stage?
Miami Hurricanes NFL Draft Prospects
The Hurricanes gained far more than they lost in the 2023 offseason from a roster standpoint.
The secondary saw the most turnover, with Tyrique Stevenson and D.J. Ivey both hitting the 2023 NFL Draft. Additionally, the team also lost one of its top receiving targets in Will Mallory, who was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts.
Nevertheless, Cristobal was able to re-infuse his unit with talent through the transfer portal. Additions such as Tyler Harrell, Javion Cohen, Matthew Lee, Branson Deen, Francisco Mauigoa, and Davonte Brown could all make a difference.
Add in some of the best retained talent, such as safeties Kamren Kinchens and James Williams, and Miami might have a shot to compete in the ACC if they get reliable QB play.
Tyler Van Dyke, QB
Tyler Van Dyke will get another opportunity to prove he belongs in the NFL Draft discussion — this time in an exceedingly deep 2024 group. Van Dyke has the size and arm talent at 6’4″, 224 pounds, but accuracy and overarching executional consistency have been issues. His new offensive coordinator, Shannon Dawson, helped coach up 2023 NFL Draft pick Clayton Tune at Houston, so there’s reason to believe Van Dyke can benefit as well.
Donald Chaney Jr., RB
After a promising freshman season in 2020, Donald Chaney Jr. has been largely out of commission for two years. He suffered a torn ACL in 2021 and missed most of 2022 while recovering from offseason surgery. It’s natural to question whether or not Chaney will have the same burst he had pre-injury, but regardless, he’s a dense, well-leveraged back with a degree of contact balance.
Xavier Restrepo, WR
Xavier Restrepo might not have the highest ceiling in Miami’s offensive cast, but he is perhaps the Hurricanes’ most established receiving threat. Over the past two seasons, he’s combined for 45 catches, 613 yards, and four touchdowns. At 5’10”, 195 pounds, he brings good pace up the seams and the boundary, and he’s proven himself to be somewhat reliable with his ball-tracking ability and coordination as a catcher.
Colbie Young, WR
A JUCO product, Colbie Young came to Miami and made an immediate impact, hauling in 32 passes for 367 yards and five touchdowns in his first Power Five action. Young is 6’5″, 215 pounds, but quietly has exceptional athleticism for his size. He gave former five-star recruit Tony Grimes fits in 2022, using his combined lateral and vertical burst to stack downfield. Add in his catching instincts and wingspan, and Young could be a riser in 2023.
Frank Ladson Jr., WR
After transferring from Clemson, Frank Ladson Jr. had his best year yet with the Hurricanes in 2022, racking up 27 catches for 298 yards and a score. He might not be more than an ancillary threat, but Ladson is worth keeping an eye on in 2023. At 6’3″, 205 pounds, he has good size and length but also flashes above-average fluidity and route running building blocks, and he’s a respectable contested-catch weapon with his hand strength.
Tyler Harrell, WR
Tyler Harrell is the wild card for the Hurricanes, especially if Van Dyke and his new OC can click. A lingering foot injury prevented Harrell from producing at Alabama, but at Louisville in 2021, he averaged almost 30 yards per catch and found the end zone six times on just 18 catches. He’s an elite speed threat with a rumored 4.2 pace, and provided that he’s healthy, that speed could be an accelerant for his late NFL Draft ascent.
Cam McCormick, TE
Amazingly, Cam McCormick is an eighth-year senior who’s just now entering his final act as a college TE. He’s had several seasons cut short due to injuries, but in 2022, the 6’5″, 251-pound veteran was able to make an impact for Oregon, registering 10 catches for 66 yards and three touchdowns. McCormick can, at the very least, provide depth and value as a red-zone target, but his injuries and advanced age may cloud any NFL evaluation.
Zion Nelson, OT
There was a time when Zion Nelson was receiving some early first-round hype in the 2023 NFL Draft cycle. In hindsight, that might’ve always been too rich for the 6’5″, 316-pound blocker, but he does still have upside entering the 2024 NFL Draft cycle. Nelson needs to keep growing technically, and despite his athleticism, he struggles mightily with speed rushers. But now that he’s healthy, 2023 could be an opportunity to put things together.
Javion Cohen, G
Early on in the 2024 NFL Draft cycle, Javion Cohen is one of several offensive guard prospects perceived to have early-round potential. At 6’4″, 305 pounds, he lacks elite mass, but he has a compact, well-proportioned frame and carries all of the necessary physical tools. Those tools landed him in Alabama initially, and on tape, he displays the explosiveness, hip flexibility, power, and tenacity to make an impact for Miami.
Matthew Lee, C
An all-conference performer a year ago for UCF, Matthew Lee now takes his talents to the gulf coast. At 6’4″, 295 pounds, Lee is a bit leaner than your average NFL center. Nevertheless, he holds up surprisingly well in contact situations. He’s a quick athlete off the line whose competitive urgency matches said quickness, and he also has the proportional length and intentional hands to drive power and disrupt opposing moves.
Leonard Taylor III, DT
Leonard Taylor III is one of the Hurricanes’ most highly regarded prospects early on in the 2024 NFL Draft cycle. At 6’3″, 305 pounds, he has an extremely compact frame, wearing his weight without issue.
He’s quick and nimble on the attack and has the prying strength and power to flex through blocks and disrupt. He still wins off of his traits predominantly at the moment, so further growth could truly unlock early-round upside in 2024.
Branson Deen, DT
Taylor is the Hurricanes’ most translatable interior defensive line prospect, but Miami also got another quality contributor from Purdue in Branson Deen.
Deen has been quietly productive over the past three seasons, with 6.5 sacks and 15.5 TFLs over that span. At 6’2″, 280 pounds, he’s noticeably undersized, but his natural leverage and proportional length combination is valuable, along with his reliable motor in both phases.
Akheem Mesidor, DL
Formerly of West Virginia, Akheem Mesidor could bear some similarity to Mountaineers product Dante Stills as a prospect. Stills was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2024 NFL Draft, and the vision is similar for Mesidor. At 6’3″, 280 pounds, Mesidor is a high-motor defensive lineman with inside/outside versatility. His leverage is a mismatch on the interior, but he also has the foot speed and flexibility to go against tackles outside.
Jahfari Harvey, EDGE
Jahfari Harvey is now a fifth-year senior, and the storyline is the same. He was a breakout candidate in 2021 and 2022, and while there have been flashes, he’s still trying to put it all together. Harvey has all of the necessary talent, and it’s clear. At 6’4″, 252 pounds, he’s quick off the line, bendy and flexible, and has force in his hands. The building blocks are there. All that’s left to attain is overarching consistency.
Chantz Williams, EDGE
Like Harvey, Chantz Williams is another edge rusher with tenure in Miami’s rotation who’s seen extensive defensive action for multiple seasons but hasn’t quite made the leap to being a productive starter. He passes the eye test at 6’4″, 255 pounds, and reportedly had a strong spring this offseason. An athletic, powerful defender, Williams will also seek to build on his physical foundation, much like his teammate.
Corey Flagg Jr., LB
Corey Flagg Jr. will be an interesting evaluation in a deep LB class. At 5’11”, 230 pounds, Flagg won’t hit every NFL team’s size threshold, but he’s an incredibly dense player at his height who can pack a punch at contact. He’s an explosive closer when pursuing to the boundary, shoots through gaps to make plays behind the line (10.5 TFLs in 2022), and shows glimpses of exceptional fluidity and coverage mobility.
Francisco Mauigoa, LB
The Hurricanes’ defense has been re-envisioned after a productive transfer season, and linebacker Francisco Mauigoa might be one of the team’s more underrated additions. Mauigoa flashed alongside Day 2 pick Daiyan Henley for Washington State in 2022, showing off stellar short-area quickness, energy, and range through the second level at 6’3″, 230 pounds. With more growth, Mauigoa could earn a selection in 2024.
Davonte Brown, CB
Losing Tyrique Stevenson in the secondary will hurt, but there’s hope the Hurricanes can fill the void on the boundary with UCF transfer Davonte Brown. Brown is a long, lanky CB at 6’2″, 185 pounds, who’s proven he can make plays on the ball before. His 12 deflections in 2021 are proof of his disruptive ability. Brown regressed a bit in 2022 and still needs to improve his break reaction skills and balance, but he can be a pest for smaller receivers.
Te’Cory Couch, CB
For three years, Te’Cory Couch has been a staple within Miami’s secondary. Over the most recent three-season span, he has 17 pass deflections and a pick and has seen consistent playing time. Couch may be lighter than preferred at 5’10”, 170 pounds, but he’s extremely explosive closing downhill and can play the boundary or the slot. His versatility and experience could earn him favor in the 2024 NFL Draft next April.
Kamren Kinchens, S
Two of Miami’s highest-rated 2024 NFL Draft prospects reside in their safety room. Both Kamren Kinchens and James Williams have fielded fringe first-round consideration already, but Kinchens is the more well-rounded and projectable prospect. At 5’11”, 201 pounds, Kinchens is an explosive, rangy ball hawk, but he’s more than a mere playmaker. He can patrol zones and manage spacing with ease, and he can set the tone in run support as well.
James Williams, S
If Kinchens is the center fielder, then James Williams is the sledgehammer. Williams’ 2024 NFL Draft projection is a bit more complicated, in large part because he’s so unique. You don’t often see 6’5″, 215-pound safeties. Williams brings bristling explosiveness at that size, and he also has able coverage mobility in the short and intermediate ranges. He’s at his best when he can enforce, however. That’s the role that will pique evaluators’ interest.
Miami Hurricanes Schedule
- Week 1
BYE - Week 2
Sept. 1: vs. Miami (OH) RedHawks - Week 3
Sept. 9: vs. Texas A&M Aggies - Week 4
Sept. 16: vs. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats - Week 5
Sept. 23: at Temple Owls - Week 6
BYE - Week 7
Oct. 7: vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - Week 8
Oct. 14: at North Carolina Tar Heels - Week 9
Oct. 21: vs. Clemson Tigers - Week 10
Oct. 28: vs. Virginia Cavaliers - Week 11
Nov. 4: at NC State Wolfpack - Week 12
Nov. 11: at Florida State Seminoles - Week 13
Nov. 18: vs. Louisville Cardinals - Week 14
Nov. 24: at Boston College Eagles - Week 15
BYE