STATE OF THE U 2020: 2019 class analysis
STATE OF THE U: 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 2015. Today’s focus? The Class of 2019. Our analysis:
NO LONGER WITH PROGRAM INCLUDING TRANSFERS IN THE CLASS (6)
Trevon Hill had 9.5 TFL and 4.5 sacks last season working behind Gregory Rousseau and Jon Garvin, and the Virginia Tech grad transfer was an undrafted free agent who was signed by the Patriots. He didn't have a big impact in his one year at Miami but had some bright moments.
Tommy Kennedy was a big disappointment;. The Butler transfer who chose Miami over offers from Oklahoma, Texas, Boston College, Arizona State and Arizona, among others, couldn't crack the two deep. It was quickly apparent when he arrived that he just didn't have the strength you need at the ACC level of play. When he arrived he was supposed to be an answer at a weak tackle spot;. Instead he just took up a scholarship spot.
Asa Martin came to UM after Auburn, and UM blew his redshirt freshman year by unnecessarily playing him in six games in the 2018 season. But the 4-star out of high school - he was Alabama's Gatorade Player of the Year - barely had a cup of coffee at Miami before entering the transfer portal and landing at Memphis.
Chigozie Nnoruka had 12 tackles and a sack not making a big impact as a backup after transferring as a graduate to Miami from UCLA. So this could probably be chalked up to a transfer miss since he does take a spot in a recruiting class that could have been used for a four to five year guy. He was not taken in the NFL Draft and has not been signed.
KJ Osborn was a grad transfer from Buffalo, and he turned into Miami's top receiver with 50 catches for 547 yards. Both led the team. He was a fifth round NFL Draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings.
ANTICIPATED STARTERS (4)
Bubba Bolden transferred from USC and once he was eligible, he wound up starting one game ... but then suffered a freak injury during a celebration following an interception. Bolden missed spring work while rehabbing, but will be back full go in the fall and we expect him to start opposite Gurvan Hall. Bolden had 11 tackles in five games last season.
Jakai Clark started 12 games at right guard and fared okay considering he was just a freshman. While the line was shuffled this spring he was working in as a backup center along with guard, we think once things shake out he'll be in the starting group as Navaughn Donaldson might redshirt.
Louis Hedley is a tattooed Australian fan favorite, and he had a strong opening season after arriving from junior college - he averaged 43.9 yards per punt. With a strong leg and last year's experience, he should be one of the ACC's top punters this season.
Zion Nelson packed on weight after arriving at Miami last spring and wound up starting every game at left tackle. But he struggled, and perhaps it was unfair to put him in that role as a true freshman. This spring he was working as the first team right tackle, and he should be a lot better after last year's experience and with another year of development. With Houston transfer Jarrid Williams coming in, Nelson will be in a three-way competition for the two starting spots at tackle.
BATTLING TO START (4)
Sam Brooks will get a long look at WLB as the Canes try to find an answer at starter next to Zach McCloud (who could play WLB or MLB). Brooks shined in the bowl game last season (started for first time, had 12 tackles), which could help give him a leg up.
Avery Huff redshirted last season, not getting into a game, so he is somewhat of an unknown. But he has the size and speed to be an outstanding linebacker and is battling with Sam Brooks to start opposite Zach McCloud. If Huff grasps the mental side of the game, he could grow into a future star.
Jeremiah Payton saw action off the bench in four games last season, redshirting, and had one catch. With Jeff Thomas and KJ Osborn gone ... and a new wide receivers coach ... there are battles for the starting spots and Payton is in the mix. Our guess is that he winds up a heavily used backup behind Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins. But you can't rule him out as a potential starter given his high ceiling.
Christian Williams didn't make much of a splash as a freshman, working on special teams and getting reps here and there at cornerback when games were out of hand. But this spring he showed he's made big strides and was working in as a first-teamer. Miami needs someone to step up and help fill the loss of Trajan Bandy, and if Al Blades, DJ Ivey and Williams step up that could be a solid three (with Te'Cory Couch and freshmen also pushing).
ANTICIPATED BACKUP (11)
Jason Blissett played in one game last season, redshirting, and he should get more work this year ,but is not expected to start with Jon Ford, Nesta Silvera and Jordan Miller ahead of him on the depth chart.
Te'Cory Couch helped out on special teams last season with limited reps at corner, and we project him behind Al Blades, DJ Ivey and Christian Williams based on what we saw in the spring. He's undersized and has to prove he can help out against the run as well as in coverage.
Adam Elgammal redshirted last season as he picked up technique and worked hard in the weight room. He's expected to be a backup and was buried down the depth chart in the spring.
Jahfari Harvey played in four games last season, redshirting, and he's a talented pass rusher who probably is the No. 4 end on the roster. He's not at the level of Gregory Rousseau, Quincy Roche or Jaelan Phillips, but as he gets bigger and stronger he can be an outstanding playmaker.
Larry Hodges saw action in four games last season, redshirting, and had two TD catches. He'll again have a backup role with Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory handling the brunt of the tight end load.
Jalar Holley has a bright future and will battle to be in the two -deep along with Jon Ford, Nesta Silvera and Jordan Miller. His well-known dance moves aside, Holley and Harrison-Hunte are the ones we see battling to be in the DT rotation along with the aforementioned three.
Jared Harrison-Hunte, like Holley, is battling to be on the two-deep at tackle. He's got good size and strength but has more experienced players ahead of him on the depth chart (Jon Ford, Nesta Silvera, Jordan Miller).
Tate Martell is a popular topic among fans as he is a former highly touted recruit with explosive ability. But last year he worked between QB and WR and never found a meaningful role, and this year he's trying his luck at QB again. He won't start (D'Eriq King) and he probably won't be No. 2, with both N'Kosi Perry and Tyler Van Dyke getting reps ahead of him in the spring.
Peyton Matocha had some nice moments this spring after redshirting last year, but he's not the biggest, fastest or most accurate QB on the roster. Matocha does have plus ability, and he'll battle to start next season. But he has a tall task ahead.
Jaelan Phillips is a former five-star who redshirted last year while rehabbing injury. He hasn't played in almost two years, and this spring he worked off some of the rust and displayed the athleticism and quickness that had him rated so highly. The UCLA transfer will get in games behind Gregory Rousseau and Quincy Roche and there shouldn't be a huge drop-off given his talent level.
Keontra Smith had a role on special teams last season (working into seven games) and this spring moved from safety to Striker, where he's working behind Gilbert Frierson. Smith is a physical defender with decent coverage skills, and if Frierson falters or needs a break, Smith will get opportunities.
Cameron Williams sat out last season and is likely going to have a bit role this year given the end talent that includes Gregory Rousseau, Quincy Roche and Jaelan Phillips.
RIVALS100 S. FLORIDA PLAYERS THAT GOT AWAY (9)
National Rank; Name
25. Akeem Dent. 5 star signed with FSU. Played in all 13 games with five starts at safety, recording 35 tackles, 1.5 for loss, and seven pass breakups.
35. Tyrique Stevenson. 4 star signed with Georgia. Co-winner of Defensive Newcomer of the Year, given at team’s post-season awards gala. Stevenson played in all 14 games and had 13 total stops.. He also had five pass breakups, second-best on the team, and four QB pressures.
37. Jordan Battle. 4 star signed with Alabama. Played in all 13 games with four starts, recorded 30 tackles with an interception.
56. Frank Ladson. 4 star signed with Clemson. Posted 128 yards and three touchdowns on nine catches in 254 snaps in 15 games.
63. Kaiir Elam. 4 star signed with Florida. Appeared in all 13 games and made five starts; totaled 11 tackles, three interceptions and four passes defended.
66. Khris Bogle. 4 star signed with Florida. Appeared in all 13 games as a reserve at linebacker/BUCK. Had 18 tackles, four for losses, with 2.5 sacks.
67. Dontae Lucas. 4 star signed with FSU. Made seven starts, five at right guard and two at left guard, and was named second-team Freshman All-American by The Athletic.
92. John Dunmore. 4 star signed with Penn State. Only played in one game and redshirted.
99. Mark-Antony Richards. Ahmmon Richards' brother was a 4-star who signed with Auburn. He dealt with injuries and did not get into a game.
ANALYSIS
It's still too early to make a determination on this class, but there are some good signs.
On the O line both Jakai Clark and Zion Nelson should be solid as time goes on after up-and-down freshmen seasons. And Louis Hedley was a JUCO transfer who really made a difference for UM field position-wise with his booming punts.
We see a lot of future potential in Sam Brooks, Avery Huff, Jeremiah Payton, Christian Williams, Jahfari Hodges and Jalar Holley, and the others are still relatively young and have time to develop.
The biggest issue we have with what happened in 2020 is the non-JUCO transfers. Fans were quick to say that Manny Diaz won the transfer portal, but in truth there were four guys taken that didn't put up big production and Miami probably didn't need (Trevon Hill, Tommy Kennedy, Asa Martin and Chigozie Nnoruka). Remember, these aren't just free takes for Miami, each of them costs a recruiting spot for a potential freshman that can be developed and be a three year or more aid to the team. Even Tate Martell could wind up fitting in that category, and a handful of extra spots for freshmen might have been the better way to go. Of course, it also turned out well with KJ Osborn, and Bubba Bolden and Jaelan Phillips were worth taking, so maybe it's just a matter of making better evaluations and hitting more on the older guys.
Three out of eight transfers taken contributing isn't a percentage that's sustainable for a good team.
The volume of South Florida elite prospects choosing not to play for the Hurricanes also continued to be a massive problem in this cycle.