The addition of Rhett Lashlee as the new Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator is expected to transform the offense. Wide receiver should have more production under Lashlee. Former Lashlee pupil WR James Proche of SMU was a sixth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens.
James Proche was a transcendent wide receiver for SMU in two seasons playing in new Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee’s offense with the Mustangs in 2018 and 2019. Proche had 204 receptions for 2,424 receiving yards, and 27 receiving touchdowns in his last two seasons.
Proche was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Combined with the two first-round picks produced by new Miami Hurricanes WR Coach Rob Likens at Arizona State and the WR corps for Miami should begin to see more production in 2020.
Proche was one of the most productive WRs in college football the last two seasons. With 111 receptions in 2019, Proche tied with Justin Jefferson of LSU, who was a first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings, for the national lead. Proche finished fourth in TD receptions and 13th in receiving yards in 2019.
Proche was also in the top 15 in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs in 2018. Proche more than doubled his receptions and receiving TDs as a freshman and sophomore to his junior and senior seasons and had over 1,000 more receiving yards in his final two seasons of college football versus his first two years.
Part of the production Proche produced was because of the up-tempo offense that Lashlee runs. SMU ran 1,037 plays in 2019 to finish seventh in FBS. By comparison, Miami ran 844 plays on offense to rank 91st. The Mustangs averaged nearly 15 more plays per game than Miami. That is one or two more offensive possessions.
With Lashlee calling plays in 2019 and Likens who is a former offensive coordinator for Arizona State coaching the WRs, the Hurricanes should see more production from the position in 2020. Another potential breakout star is junior tight end Brevin Jordan.
Jordan produced his first two seasons with Miami but has the ability for much bigger numbers in the Lashlee offense. In his first two seasons with the Hurricanes, Jordan has 67 receptions for 782 receiving yards and six TDs. SMU TE Kylen Granson had 43 receptions for 721 yards and nine TDs in 2019, Jordan can exceed that.