Miami football needs more WR production in 2020
The production among the returning WRs for the Miami football program in 2020 produced lower than average grades from Pro Football Focus in 2019.
The wide receivers who return for the Miami football program in 2020 lacked consistency in 2019. For the Hurricanes’ new up-tempo, spread offense to reach the achievements that new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee led at SMU more consistency is needed from the WRs in 2020.
Senior Mike Harley led the returning Miami WRs in 2019 with 38 receptions for 485 receiving yards. Junior Dee Wiggins led the Hurricanes returning WRs in 2019 with four touchdown receptions. In the new Lashlee led offense, Miami needs more production from their WRs in 2020.
Wiggins was ranked the 464th best WR in 2019, the highest-ranked among the returning Miami WRs according to Pro Football Focus. Harley is 564th, with none of the other WRs returning for the Hurricanes in 2020 among the top 658 at the position in 2020. One of the other returning WRs needs to step up for Miami in 2020.
Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Payton has been praised since last season as being a standout on the scout team in 2019. Payton was the 54th ranked signee in 2019 and a WR to watch. PFF is skeptical about the Hurricanes WRs in 2020 and cautions the unit could hinder the Miami success on offense.
"The Hurricanes current set of wide receivers, however, might hinder the offense’s success. They have something in Jeremiah Payton, who was the 54th ranked recruit nationally in 2019, but the returners with significant experience–Mike Harley, Dee Wiggins and Mark Pope–all produced receiving grades lower than 61.0 in 2019."
I have no context for you as far as the design of this play, but clearly, Jeremiah Payton is gaining a lot of yards and DJ Scaife is keeping up with him down the field.
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) August 17, 2020
(📸 Tim Brogdon / Miami Athletics) pic.twitter.com/PdZZUi6xr1
Wiggins had 20 receptions for 335 yards and four TDs in 2019. Seven of those receptions for 159 yards and three of Wiggins four TDs came in a two-game stretch against Florida State and Louisville last season. Miami needs to see more of Wiggins’ big-play ability consistently in 2020.
Junior Mark Pope improved greatly over his 2018 freshman season with 18 receptions for 266 yards and two TDs. Pope should benefit the most from an easier to learn playbook after struggling with that during his first two seasons. Pope has big-play ability and complements Wiggins well.
Next. Miami 2020 projected WR depth chart. dark
Miami has too much talent at WR for the lack of production they have had at the position in the last two seasons. The Hurricanes have yet to recover from the career-ending injury of Ahmmon Richards in 2018. Someone needs to step up at WR in 2020 or as PFF said it might hinder the offense.