Thanks to a commitment to recruiting at a high level, Miami's 2025 roster will feature plenty of talent too.
David Lake
The Miami Hurricanes roster is poised to potentially win big in 2024.
UM returns plenty of proven production on both sides of the ball, led by plenty of firepower on offense that will be spearheaded by quarterback Cam Ward while the defense is led by arguably the best line in the ACC thanks to Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor and transfer additions like Tyler Baron, Elijah Alston, Simeon Barrow, C.J. Clark, and Marley Cook.
Miami is 'all in' with making a push to win big in year three of the Mario Cristobal era and the Hurricanes are viewed as a Top 25 team going into the season by many publications and advanced analytics.
How does Miami's 2025 team look on paper? This article attempts to project the two-deep depth chart for next year's team, based on the players who are expected to be on the team.
With a strong showing, this 2024 Hurricanes team is poised to generate some momentum for the program.
UM returns both coordinators year-over-year, with offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and defensive coordinator Lance Guidry having the opportunity to build on what they established in 2023.
The Hurricanes' attack made a big leap year-over-year, with the offense averaging 31 points per game, which marked an eight point per game improvement from 2022. From a yards per play perspective, the Hurricanes also improved, averaging 6.1 yards per play in 2023 compared to 4.8 yards per play in 2022.
On paper, the Hurricanes will feature the top offense in the ACC with UM adding talented quarterback Cam Ward from Washington State, workhorse running back Damien Martinez from Oregon State, returning productive receivers like Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George and adding a productive player like Sam Brown from Houston to the group, getting athletic tight end Elijah Arroyo fully healthy and back into the mix, and returning three starting offensive linemen from 2023.
Guidry also led a unit that made year-over-year improvements on defense with the Hurricanes allowing 22.8 points per game in 2023 compared to 26.8 points per game in 2022.
On paper, Miami's defense likely features the best front seven in the ACC with the Hurricanes featuring productive defensive linemen like Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor, Tyler Baron, and Elijah Alston and linebackers like Francisco Mauigoa and Wesley Bissainthe.
Is Miami's 2025 roster in good shape too? Read on for a look.
QUARTERBACK
1. Emory Williams or Reese Poffenbarger
2. Judd Anderson
Outlook: Cam Ward is the unquestioned starter this season and thus Williams and Poffenbarger project as the back-ups. From a roster management standpoint, it makes sense for Williams to receive a redshirt in 2024, but if the Hurricanes have to turn to a back-up to start some games, Williams would be in the mix and likely win that job.
Are Williams or Poffenbarger good enough to help Miami compete for an ACC Championship? That question remains to be seen as both players have plenty of areas to improve and develop this fall. Would Miami be wise to pull another proven quarterback in the portal in December? We'd argue yes, but a lot of that depends on development and what is available in the portal.
RUNNING BACK
1. Mark Fletcher
2. Jordan Lyle or Ajay Allen
Outlook: This room is in good shape if Fletcher makes a full recovery from his lower extremity injury. Lyle also has the talent to emerge as UM's lead back in 2025 and Allen is a talented change of pace running back. If Miami's running back room looks like this in 2025, the Hurricanes won't need to address the position in the portal.
WIDE RECEIVER
Outside Receiver: JoJo Trader, Ny Carr
Outside Receiver: Isaiah Horton, Chance Robinson
Slot: Ray Ray Joseph, Robby Washington
Outlook: This is a totally different group compared to the 2024 bunch, but this projected group is a talented one with Trader, Horton, and Joseph bringing plenty of juice to the passing attack with their collective speed and athleticism. Horton will be ready for a bigger role in 2025. Will the rest of the receiving corps be ready for a significant role? That question will be answered during the course of the fall.
If Miami's young receiving corps isn't quite ready to carry a heavy workload in 2025, the Hurricanes would probably benefit from adding a proven commodity in the transfer portal.
TIGHT END
1. Riley Williams
2. Elija Lofton
Outlook: Williams and Lofton project as the top two tight ends for the 2025 team. The two players complement each other well. At 6-feet-6 and 260 pounds, Williams can play inline or flexed out to be a threat as a pass catcher. Lofton is a H-back type of tight end who can be flexed out into the slot or even line up at running back. This position group is in good shape and does not need to be addressed via the portal.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Left Tackle: Markel Bell, Samson Okunlola
Left Guard: Tommy Kinsler, Juan Minaya
Center: Ryan Rodriguez or Nino Francavilla
Right Guard: Anez Cooper, Deryc Plazz
Right Tackle: Francis Mauigoa, Matthew McCoy
Outlook: This projected line would be massive from a physicality standpoint and athleticism at that size standpoint. Bell goes 6-feet-9 and 340 pounds, Kinsler is 6-feet-7 and 340 pounds, Cooper is 6-feet-6 and 330 pounds, and Mauigoa is 6-feet-6 and 325 pounds. Players like Okunlola and McCoy also have the length and athleticism to push for a job in the starting five.
The center position is one to watch when projecting the 2025 offensive line. Rodriguez and Francavilla project as a competition for the starting job next season, but if they don't develop and improve enough during the course of the fall, the Hurricanes might want to explore that position in the portal.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Defensive End: Rueben Bain, Armondo Blount
Defensive Tackle: Justin Scott, Ahmad Moten
Defensive Tackle: Joshua Horton, Artavius Jones
Defensive End: Marquise Lightfoot, Cole McConathy or Malik Bryant
Outlook: On paper, this looks like a talented bunch, but it is fair to recognize that this is largely an inexperienced group at this stage. Bain, who will be entering year three in 2025, will be expected to be one of the best defensive linemen in the country. The development of this group during the fall will be important for the staff to have an evaluation of where they each stand. Will this group be ready for significant roles in 2025 or 2026? Development at the line of scrimmage can take some time, so it might make sense for the Hurricanes to sprinkle in experienced transfers on the defensive line.
LINEBACKER
Strong-side: Bobby Washington or Bobby Pruitt
Middle: Jaylin Alderman, Popo Aguirre or Adarius Hayes
Weak-side: Wesley Bissainthe, Bobby Pruitt or Booker Pickett
Outlook: This group has plenty of speed, athleticism, and prototypical body types.
We project Alderman and Bissainthe to return in 2025 as veteran starters at linebacker and they will be backed up by plenty of talent and speed. Washington is one of the fastest players on the team. Pruitt has a lot of natural playmaking instincts at linebacker and just needs to add strength and weight to his frame. Hayes is a good middle linebacker who can play downhill and take away the interior run game. Pickett has made a strong first impression at linebacker with his movement skills and versatility.
SECONDARY
Cornerback: Damari Brown, Dyoni Hill
Safety: Zaquan Patterson, Isaiah Thomas
Safety: Jaden Harris, Markeith Williams
Cornerback: Jadais Richard, Robert Stafford
Nickel: Dylan Day or Ryan Mack
Outlook: This group is difficult to project in some ways. Miami returns Brown and Richard at corner and we'd project Patterson and Harris to be the starters in 2025. At the nickel corner spot, we'd project Day and Mack to compete for that job.
This group would likely benefit from an infusion of talent, whether that be via the transfer portal or via high school recruits who are talented enough to earn a role right away.
FINAL THOUGHTS
In this modern transfer portal era, it is difficult to project what a two-deep roster will look like because players can always defect in the offseason as well.
With that being said, however, the bones are there for the 2025 Miami Hurricanes to be strong.
The size, strength, and athleticism of the projected offensive line is intriguing. The running back room looks strong. The receiver group is inexperienced, but will be talented. The tight end group will be strong and the linebacker room has intriguing depth.
Stack talent over three to five classes and let the cream rise to the top. This is the formula for competing at a high level.
Quarterback will be an interesting position to watch. Wide receiver is talented, but could probably use an infusion of an experienced veteran. The defensive line will be very talented too, but could also use a veteran or two. Safety will be a position to watch throughout the course of the 2024 season as well.
Going into this 2024 season, Miami's roster is at the point to where ten wins should be expected. With some portal help, that expectation can be maintained in 2025 because the Hurricanes have recruited well over the past two cycles.
When can a championship level roster be expected? Likely two more top ten recruiting classes is necessary to establish the necessary depth and competition for playing time across all positions.
Miami's roster is much improved since the arrival of Mario Cristobal. The 2024 roster is poised to win and this article was a valuable exercise to show how the 2025 roster is in good shape if some holes are addressed via the portal.
Talent acquisition is the most important phase of building a championship team. Stacking talent in high school recruiting provides the baseline for the team and the portal can be used to address immediate needs. Going into year three of the Cristobal era, Miami is on track in this regard.
