Hot 11: Ranking the top impact freshmen that can help the Miami Hurricanes in 2024
Teams don’t like to rely on true freshmen to have much of an impact. But at Miami last year seven first-year players got 130 or more reps including five that started games (RB Mark Fletcher, OL Francis Mauigoa, QB Emory Williams, DE Rueben Bain and CB Damari Brown).
The rep counts for those freshmen, per Pro Football Focus: On offense Mauigoa (866 reps played), TE Riley Williams (316), Fletcher (254) and Williams (181), and on defense Bain (627), Brown (331) and Jayden Wayne (135, since transferred out).
PFF also noted that the Canes were No. 3 in the nation in reps played by freshmen in 2023 with 2,710. That trailed only South Carolina (3,147) and Clemson (3,991).
Which brings us to this year’s team.
Expect more freshmen to make an impact. Today we break down our Hot 11 fresh faces in order of how we see them stacking up helping out the 2024 Miami Hurricanes:
11. RB Chris Wheatley-Humphrey
No, Wheatley-Humphrey won’t start with the portal addition of Damien Martinez and perhaps won’t even be the second-teamer with Ajay Allen, Chris Johnson and fellow freshman Jordan Lyle competing for reps. But don’t be surprised if Wheatley-Humphrey gets reps simply because the injury bug tends to hit the running backs room (we are assuming Mark Fletcher won’t be full go for the start of the season … if he is then it’s a different situation). As you saw last year Shannon Dawson likes to share the ball as five different players had over 100 rush yards. So don’t rule out Wheatley-Humphrey getting reps, and he also should get plenty of opportunities to help on multiple special teams units.
10. DE Armondo Blount
It’s going to be hard to keep Blount from having some sort of role up front. At 6-4 and 260 pounds he has college-ready strength and size, and you saw last year how a true freshman like Rueben Bain was able to dominate. As a five-star prospect at an end spot that doesn’t have a tremendous amount of depth (Bain, Akheem Mesidor coming off injury and Marshall transfer Elijah Alston are the main ones), we think Blount finds a role.
8. S Zaquan Patterson
Patterson competed this spring and flashed, and while the safety position under Lance Guidry takes at least a year to master, given the depth issues there we would not be surprised if Patterson gets more and more reps as the year goes along. Nickel Mishael Powell may move back to safety in the fall, where he played last year at Washington, but otherwise it’s a lot of question marks at the position with limited experience and Savion Riley gone. Patterson also can have an impact on multiple special teams units.
7. WR Ny Carr
Carr had some bright moments this spring, and the 6-0, 175-pounder can line up at multiple spots and provide depth. He came in as a 4-star prospect and has a very bright future. With his speed and shiftiness he presents matchup problems for a defense and will compete to be on the two deep at an outside receiver spot that also has talent in transfer arrival Sam Brown, Isaiah Horton and fellow freshman Jojo Trader.
6. RB Jordan Lyle
We are listing Lyle ahead of fellow freshman RB Chris Wheatley-Humphrey even though Lyle wasn’t on campus for spring ball and Wheatley-Humphrey is. The reason? At 6-0 and 190 pounds Lyle is a solidly built back in a power mold who runs with a lot of physicality. That’s something Mario Cristobal covets in a back, and Lyle also has good explosiveness given his size. Don’t sleep on him getting reps behind Damien Martinez this fall.
5. WR JoJo Trader
We don’t see any way you keep Trader off the field this season, regardless of the team adding Sam Brown in the portal. He made a habit of making really difficult catches look easy this spring, and his ability is off the charts. While the Canes have some more experienced talent ahead of him, this is a team that wants to play its best players. And good luck convincing us he’s not one of the three or four most talented receivers on this team. He has future star written all over him.
4. DE Cole McConathy
McConathy really impressed coaches this spring and was working with the second team. His emergence is one of the reasons fans shouldn’t sweat Nyjalik Kelly leaving. McConathy will be in the mix to be in the rotation this fall along with the more experienced guys. A 6-5, 225-pounder, he has the length and quickness to get after the QB and could fit particularly well as a third down pass rusher. Also don’t rule out fellow highly touted DE freshman Armondo Blount earning some significant backup reps as well.
3. DT Justin Scott
Scott wasn’t on campus this spring, but his presence will be felt in a big way when he starts competing. A 5-star signee, at 6-4 and 310 pounds he’s got the strength and size to stop the run and also the quickness to beat interior offensive linemen off the snap. Miami doesn’t have great defensive tackle depth regardless of the older portal guys on the roster including recent addition Simeon Barrow, and there’s no reason Scott can’t wind up on the two-deep.
2. LB Cam Pruitt
Pruitt was one of the biggest surprises for Miami this spring, really understanding the defense and playing fast. He always seemed to be around the ball and was a consistently good tackler. With not much experienced depth at outside linebacker aside from Louisville transfer arrival Jaylin Alderman we fully expect Pruitt to get his fair share of reps. Last year’s primary backup linebackers, for reference, played 393 and 392 reps apiece (KJ Cloyd and Corey Flagg).
1. TE/RB Elija Lofton
Lofton, like Pruitt, was one of the biggest surprises this spring. Sure, coaches knew he’s be good… but he perhaps surpassed all expectations to the point he was lining up at running back, split out wide and at traditional tight end. While Miami has back Elijah Arroyo healthy, Lofton is a different type of tight end and we see him starting at H-back from the get-go. He’s too good a receiving tight end to keep on the bench. We project he could push past 500 receiving yards and some rushing yards, so the expectations are ratcheted up here.
The post Hot 11: Ranking the top impact freshmen that can help the Miami Hurricanes in 2024 appeared first on On3.
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