When Kennedy signed with Miami in December 2018 he was projected to be the starting left tackle. After the offensive regime staff changes following Mark Richt’s sudden retirement shortly after Kennedy signed it became apparent that Kennedy was not an ACC caliber offensive lineman. He played in only one game in 2019.
Miami Hurricanes Football
On an offensive line that was one of the worst in the country in 2019, Kennedy might have been a bigger bust than Martell. Kennedy’s only appearance in 2019 was in a 52-27 win over Louisville in the Hurricanes’ best performance of the season. Kennedy was also recruited by Oklahoma, Texas, Boston College, Arizona State and Arizona.
In 2020 the Miami football program addition of QB D’Eriq King is quantity over quality. King put up Heisman Trophy numbers at Houston in 2018. After the Cougars started 1-3 in 2019, King chose to take a redshirt season. King should be the most dynamic QB in Miami history. The Hurricanes have never had a dual-threat QB like King.
On the defensive side of the ball, only one of the four Miami signees received significant playing time. Trevon Hill finished the 2019 season with 27 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Hill showed well at the NFL combine but never made the impact at Miami as he was expected to after transferring from Virginia Tech.
Defensive tackle Chigozie Nnoruka joined the Miami football program from UCLA with former Bruins teammate Jaelan Phillips. The graduate transfer defensive tackle was in the rotation on the interior of the defensive line and finished 2019 with 12 tackles and one TFL. Phillips redshirted and should be a key player in 2020.