Miami Hurricanes offensive depth greatly improved in 2018

Richards played in only seven games last season. That was after setting the Miami Freshmen record for receiving yards in a season in 2016. His absence for nearly half of the season impacted the Miami passing game. With Richards in the lineup, Miami averaged 262.86 passing yards per game. Without him 218.33.

Rising Sophomore Jeff Thomas had his moments last season. The majority of his success came in three games. He finished 2017 with 17 receptions for 374 yards and two touchdowns. In a three-game stretch in October against Georgia Tech, Syracuse and North Carolina Thomas had seven receptions for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

Miami is going to need more consistency from Thomas, rising Sophomore Mike Harley who was a four-star recruit, Senior Darrell Langham and Rising Junior Lawrence Cager. The Hurricanes bring in four highly recruited receivers.

There is a lot of buzz surrounding four-star Freshmen Brian Hightower and Mark Pope. Hightower was the leading receiver in the Miami Hurricanes Spring Game. He finished with four receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Miami also adds four-star receiver Marquez Ezzard out of Georgia and three-star Dee Wiggins.

Next: Miami football eyes bigger prize than worrying about FSU revenge

The hope is to obviously stay healthy. During the course of any football season, there are going to be injuries. Whatever those happen to be this year, the Miami offense should be able to survive better than they did last season.