Projecting Miami’s 2024 Two-Deep Depth Chart After The Spring (And A Look At Where Transfers Make Sense)

1. Cam Ward

2. Emory Williams

Outlook: We project Ward, who dazzled all spring with his natural passing ability, and Williams as the top two quarterbacks for the Hurricanes in 2024. Albany transfer Reese Poffenbarger is also in the mix as a back-up, but ultimately Williams is better. Ward threw for over 3,700 yards at Washington State in 2023 and he is poised to be the top signal caller in the ACC in 2024.

Spring Transfer Portal Outlook: This group does not need to be addressed in the portal. Dual-threat quarterback Jacurri Brown has elected to explore his options in the portal.  

1. Transfer Portal Addition

2. Mark Fletcher or Ajay Allen or Elija Lofton or Jordan Lyle 

Outlook: Miami’s running back group was limited in the spring as Fletcher and Allen recover from offseason procedures. Fletcher showed the ability to be a productive physical back as a true freshman in 2023 while Allen brings an element of agility to the backfield. Fletcher and Allen being sidelined allowed for the staff to experiment with Lofton, who arrived as an early enrollee tight end, at running back. Lofton showed the ability to be a playmaker as a power back. Lyle is a talented incoming freshman who arrives in the early part of summer. 

Spring Transfer Portal Outlook: Miami would like to land a RB1 type in the portal to pair with Fletcher in 2024. The Hurricanes have made Damien Martinez a top target, who has entered the portal after rushing for over 1,000 yards at Oregon State. 

Outside Receiver: Jacolby George, Ny Carr

Outside Receiver: Isaiah Horton or Transfer Portal Addition, JoJo Trader

Slot: Xavier Restrepo, Ray Ray Joseph

Outlook: Miami likes what they have here, but if the Hurricanes can add a veteran outside receiver with proven production, they will explore the option–which would give UM a potent top four at the position group. Slot receiver Xavier Restrepo already has a strong chemistry with quarterback Cam Ward and is poised to once again be a 1,000 yard receiver in 2024. Jacolby George brings an element of smooth playmaking ability because of his route running and how he can generate space. Horton proved to be a bit of a breakout player in the spring and his trajectory is exciting because of the speed he can bring on the outside. JoJo Trader, Ray Ray Joseph, and Ny Carr are all young receivers that flashed playmaking ability in the spring.

Spring Transfer Portal Outlook: As we stated above, if a productive receiver enters the portal, Miami will explore that option if it elevates the room. At this time, that type of player has not entered the portal.

1. Elijah Arroyo

2. Riley Williams 

Outlook: Miami’s tight end group didn’t have much of an impact in 2023. That will change in 2024 with Arroyo getting healthy and looking athletic once again. Williams continues to improve as an all-around tight end that can help in the passing game while having the size to be an impact blocker. Not listed here is versatile and athletic H-back Elija Lofton and blocking specialist Cam McCormick, who brings an element of physicality to the line of scrimmage. 

Spring Transfer Portal Outlook: This position group is in good shape.

Left Tackle: Jalen Rivers, Markel Bell

Left Guard: Francis Mauigoa or Samson Okunlola or Matthew McCoy, Lou Cristobal

Center: Zach Carpenter, Ryan Rodriguez

Right Guard: Anez Cooper, Tommy Kinsler

Right Tackle: Samson Okunlola or Francis Mauigoa, Matthew McCoy

Outlook: Miami once again will feature a big, physical, and athletic offensive line group in 2024. Carpenter had a solid performance in the spring game while Rivers continues to be a steady presence at left tackle. With Mauigoa held out of action as he recovers from an injury, Okunlola emerged as the top right tackle at the end of the spring. Cooper is emerging as the vocal leader of the group. In an effort to figure out the best five starters, Miami will likely do some tinkering between Mauigoa and Okunlola at left guard and right tackle to see what works best. Bell is a JUCO addition who is worth keeping an eye on because at 6-feet-8 and 340 pounds, he has immense physical gifts and if the technique consistency improves, he can push for a solid role.

Spring Transfer Portal Outlook: Miami is interested in landing a potential center of the future in USC transfer Jason Zandamela, who was the top center prospect in the country in the 2023 recruiting class. 

Defensive End: Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor

Defensive Tackle: C.J. Clark, Transfer Portal Addition 

Defensive Tackle: Jared Harrison-Hunte, Marley Cook

Defensive End: Elijah Alston, Transfer Portal Addition

Outlook: The top five defensive linemen are strong with Bain, Mesidor, Clark, Harrison-Hunte, and Alston representing productive experience at the college level. Bain projects as one of the best defensive linemen in the country in 2024 while Mesidor has the talent to crack an All-ACC team if he makes a full recovery from a foot injury that ended his 2023 season. Alston is a Marshal transfer who generated 35 pressures for the Thundering Herd in 2023 and arrives as a pass rushing specialist with a strong motor. Clark arrives at UM as a big-bodied transfer from N.C. State while Harrison-Hunte is a veteran Hurricane with intriguing athletic traits to develop. Cook is a pass rushing specialist at defensive tackle who is looking to make the jump from Group of Five to Power Four. 

Spring Transfer Portal Outlook: Miami would like to bolster its depth in the portal by bringing in a veteran player on the edge and a veteran defensive tackle. UM played host to USC defensive end transfer Romello Height in early April and remain in the thick of that pursuit. Another veteran defensive tackle that can give 20-25 snaps per game would also bring value to the defense. Miami signed the best defensive line class in the country in 2024, but those players will likely need at least one year of development before they see the field in a significant way.

Weak-side: Wesley Bissainthe, Bobby Pruitt

Middle: Kiko Mauigoa, Popo Aguirre

Strong-side: Transfer Portal Addition, Bobby Pruitt

Outlook: After productive seasons in 2023, Bissainthe and Mauigoa represent potentially the best linebacker duo in the ACC. After Bissainthe and Mauigoa, however, the Hurricanes feature plenty of talented yet inexperienced linebackers looking to earn bigger roles. Pruitt is an early enrollee freshman who has impressed with his speed, physicality, and approach during the spring. Aguirre looks poised to earn a bigger role in 2024 as a rotational middle linebacker who can potentially be a starter in future years. 

Spring Transfer Portal Outlook: Miami played four linebackers close to 400 defensive snaps in 2023 and the Hurricanes could use an experienced addition to the room to give the defense more versatility if it wants to go to some 3-3-5 looks in some spots. Last season the Hurricanes added K.J. Cloyd as a veteran transfer from Louisville and he finished the year with over 40 tackles. 

Cornerback: Damari Brown, Jadais Richard

Safety: Jaden Harris, Markeith Williams or Transfer Portal Addition

Safety: Savion Riley, Zaquan Patterson

Nickel: Mishael Powell, Transfer Portal Addition

Cornerback: Daryl Porter, Robert Stafford or Transfer Portal Addition

Outlook: This is a new-look group year-over-year for the Hurricanes with Porter returning as the only full-time starter from the 2023 season. Porter is a steady corner who executes at a consistent level. Brown played significant snaps over the last month of the season and has continued to add strength to his frame this offseason. Richard is poised for a bigger role and needs to put all his physical traits together and play with consistency. Mishael Powell is an experienced nickel/safety addition from Washington who brings consistency to the room while Harris and Riley are looking to show they can handle the duties at safety. Early enrollee freshman Zaquan Patterson is talented, but might be a year away. 

Spring Transfer Portal Outlook: This group could use some competitive depth at both safety and cornerback to push those two position groups and help navigate potential injuries that can pop up during the course of a season. 

So by our count, this article features eight transfer portal additions: one starting caliber running back, one starting caliber wide receiver, one back-up offensive lineman, two rotational defensive linemen, one rotational linebacker, and two rotational defensive backs. 

These potential additions would raise the ceiling at some spots like running back and wide receiver, making what should already be a strong attack even more potent, while the potential additions on defense would address some depth concerns to help navigate the totality of a physical college football season. 

Miami is poised to have a ‘go-for-it’ year in 2024 with Cam Ward at quarterback. The Hurricanes have positioned themselves to win relatively big this season and addressing some of these roster spots would help ensure success.