STATE OF THE U 2020: 2018 class analysis
STATE OF THE U: 2017 class analysis
STATE OF THE U: 2016 class analysis
STATE OF THE U: Where does program stand in college football landscape?
CaneSport is taking a closer look class by class at UM’s haul since 2016. Today’s focus? The Class of 2018. Our analysis:
NO LONGER WITH PROGRAM (9)
Bubba Baxa transferred to Houston after struggling mightily in 2019, leaving after the team brought in Jose Borregales as a grad transfer from FIU to replace him.
Nigel Bethel transferred to Colorado, entering the transfer portal before the 2019 season. He was simply a miss in recruiting.
Venzell Boulware transferred in and left for the NFL with 1 year of eligibility left. He went undrafted. Boulware, who came in as a graduate from Tennessee, started six games at guard in his one sesaon.
Marquez Ezzard transferred two years ago. The former 4-star played in 3 games and had two catches, then transferred back to in-state Georgia Tech (he's from Georgia).
Realus George left the program and enrolled at Independence Community College after his redshirt freshman season. He wasn't getting used in the offense and was passed on the depth chart by walkons.
Brian Hightower transferred to Illinois, leaving the program during the 2019 season when he simply wasn't being used. It was a bitter end at UM for the former four-star recruit.
Lorenzo Lingard was a five-star recruit out of a high school and a gem in his recruiting class. But coming off a knee injury he didn't play in 2019 and then opted to leave the program for Florida.
Tito Odenigbo came in as senior graduate transfer from Illinois. The former 3-star recruit had 25 tackles, 6.5 for losses, in his one year as a Cane. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings.
Jarren Williams got his opportunity to start last season, and, despite some bright moments, he was inconsistent and it became a merry-go-round with N'Kosi Perry also getting a lot of reps. Williams left the program days after D'Eriq King announced he was transferring to Miami, and Williams is expected to enroll at Western Kentucky.
ANTICIPATED STARTERS (8)
Al Blades is expected to start at CB. He was beaten out by DJ Ivey last fall, with Trajan Bandy the other starter. But with Ivey struggling, it was Blades entering the starting lineup and playing decently. Blades finished with 36 tackles and two interceptions. Blades will be a full-time starter and is arguably the best cornerback on the team.
Gilbert Frierson moved to Striker in the spring of 2019 and worked in behind starter Romeo Finley. Frierson got some meaningful reps and had ups-and-downs, but he's slated to be the first teamer this year with Finley gone. He ended last year with 15 tackles, an interception and three pass breakups.
Gurvan Hall started every game last season and had 66 tackles, second most on the team, with two sacks and an interception. He's got good size and speed and with the year of experience under his belt will be even better.
Cam'ron Harris worked behind Travis Homer two years ago and Deejay Dallas last season - he got meaningful reps both years when the top backs went down with injury. Harris isn't going to wow you with any one aspect of his game, but he's very solid in all areas and is coming off a season in which he had 576 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and five TDs. He'll be pushed for reps by talented freshmen Jaylan Knighton and Don Chaney.
Brevin Jordan is one of the nation's top returning tight ends, and he had 287 receiving yards as a freshman and then 495 yards last season despite missing three games with injury. In Rhett Lashlee's new offense, Jordan could push 1,000 yards, if he stays healthy. He's a major mismatch for safeties and linebackers with his combination of size, speed and athleticism.
Gregory Rousseau is on his way to becoming a high first round NFL draft pick. He is coming off a freshman All-American season in which he had 54 tackles (34 solo), 19.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks - and that was despite starting the year coming off the bench. He's got tremendous length, strength and quickness, posing major problems for offensive linemen. He has to be considered a favorite to lead the nation in sacks after coming in No. 2 last season to Chase Young.
Delone Scaife is a reliable starter, but he fits best as an offensive guard given his skills and body type and has been playing out of position at tackle. He could be inside this year, as that's where he worked in the spring. He has started 20 games in his two-year career.
Dee Wiggins has the size and speed to catch the ball over and run by defensive backs. He began to scratch the surface of his ability last season with 335 yards and four touchdowns. While it's not set in stone, Wiggins will likely start this year. We find it hard to believe he will be coming off the bench.
BATTLING TO START (5)
John Campbell started the opener at Florida last season and was burned too often, with coaches sending him to the bench. He got more opportunities late in the season and was improved, and this spring he worked as the first team left tackle. He's not quick on his feet, which is a problem, and with Jarrid Williams transfering in from Houston, Zion Nelson could go back to the left side and Campbell could be the odd man out. It is his job to make sure that doesn't happen.
D.J. Ivey began last season as the starter, but was burned one too many times and was replaced in the lineup by Al Blades. Ivey never got his starting job back, and this spring it was Christian Williams working in ahead of him. Ivey had three interceptions last season.
Jordan Miller was a backup last season and didn't get many opportunities - he had 12 tackles, 2.5 for losses. But with Pat Bethel and Chigozie Nnoruka gone, it's Jordan that's battling Nesta Silvera and a trio of redshirt freshmen to start opposite Jon Ford. We give the slight edge to Silvera right now, but anything can happen.
Mark Pope is a former five star receiver who considered transferring after a freshman season in which he struggled to pick up the offense and didn't get meaningful playing time. Last season he got more opportunities, but was held back by injury - he had 266 yards and two TDs. This season we think he will be one of the starters along with Dee Wiggins and Mike Harley ... but he'll have to earn it.
Nesta Silvera has not lived up to his four-star billing yet, but that could change if he wins the starting job over Jordan Miller and a trio of redshirt freshman. He doesn't have much size, but he's got good quickness and can penetrate into the backfield at times. Last year , Silvera was slowed by injury and had 19 tackles and a sack in nine games.
ANTICIPATED BACKUPS (3)
Patrick Joyner has battled injuries and has a lot to prove once he gets back on the practice field.
Will Mallory isn't your typical backup in the sense that he could probably start at most programs around the nation. He's got good size, speed and physicality ,but is working behind one of the nation's best in Brevin Jordan. There will be plenty of chances for Mallory to play, though, and last season he had 293 yards and two TDs.
Cleveland Reed
left the program last season, but returned in the spring. He's battling to get in the two deep at guard and has a fresh start under new OL coach Garin Justice.
RIVALS100 SOUTH FLORIDA PLAYERS THAT GOT AWAY (5)
National Rank; Name
8. Patrick Surtain, 5 star signed with Alabama. As an honorable mention All-America selection at CB by Pro Football Focus in 2019 after totaling 42 tackles and two interceptions.
22. James Cook, 5 star signed with Georgia. Played in all 14 games for Georgia, starting in three, and finished with 188 yards on just 31 carries (6.1 avg.) with two TDs.
25. Tyson Campbell, 5 star signed with Georgia. Started at corner in 11 games as a freshman in 2018, then last season missed five games due to injury and had three starts. He finished with 15 total tackles and four pass breakups.
46. Asante Samuel, 4 star signed with Florida State. Started all 12 games in which he appeared for FSU and recorded 48 tackles with an interception and 14 pass breakups. he was a third-team All-ACC pick.
88. Kevin Austin, 4 star signed with Notre Dame. Has not panned out at Notre Dame, with five catches in his two seasons.
ANALYSIS
Six players left the program from this class in the last nine months, bringing the total to nine that have defected. That's a staggering number, representing 41 percent of the signing class. It also is the third year in a row with that problem, thus the overall state of the program.
The good news?
Thirteen of the players in the class are either slated to start or are battling to be in the starting lineup. We will find out what that means through the results this season and then how they eventually fare in the NFL Draft. So the takeaway is that while there were numerous swings and misses, the team also hit on a bunch of players that will try to take this team where Manny Diaz & Co. want it to go.