The Miami Hurricanes received one of its highest 2021 preseason Top 25 rankings from the Pro Football Network. Miami is 14th in the preseason Top 25 released by PFN last week. The Hurricanes return 19 starters. Miami has 10 starters back on offense and nine on defense. Quarterback D’Eriq King leads Miami.
The Hurricanes only lost defensive ends Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche, tight end Brevin Jordan and kicker Jose Borregales. Miami has to prove it can win big games before being ranked higher. The Hurricanes open with Alabama at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Opening with Alabama will be the biggest challenge in 2021.
Will Mallory will be ready to replace Jordan on offense entering his fourth season. DeAndre Johnson and Zach McCloud are projected to be the starting DEs in place of Phillips and Roche. Borregales will be replaced by his brother Andres. This is the most experienced Miami Hurricanes team in recent memory.
In addition to King and McCloud who are entering their sixth seasons of college football, offensive tackle Jarrid Williams will be in his seventh with two redshirt years and several other Miami Hurricanes players will be in their fifth year. Wide receiver Mike Harley is the best of the fifth-year seniors.
"14) MiamiUnlike most teams in our early 2021 college football top 25 rankings, Miami is set on offense heading into the season. Rhett Lashlee had the Hurricanes blowing downfield in rapid speed last season, and aside from Brevin Jordan, they return much of their talent on that side of the ball.Actually, D’Eriq King has even more weaponry in the form of Oklahoma transfer Charleston Rambo. Miami also has an intriguing backfield rotation with Cam’Ron Harris, Don Chaney Jr., and Jaylan Knighton. Add in the most experienced offensive line that the Hurricanes have generated in recent years, and they’re primed to succeed.However, the biggest issue will be how they replace their lost pass-rush production. Even though Gregory Rousseau didn’t play last year, Miami has lost their three best pass rushers from the previous two seasons."
The Miami offense should continue to evolve in the 2021 season. Lashlee and King significantly improved the Hurricanes offense in 2020. Rambo adds a much-needed downfield threat in the passing game. The addition of Rambo takes pressure off Harley who returns for a fifth season after leading Miami in receiving in 2020.
Johnson and McCloud have the biggest tasks on the Miami defense replacing Phillips and Roche. The other nine starters return for Miami on defense. Johnson and McCloud have to continue to generate a pass rush for Miami. The Hurricanes need the linebacker play to improve in 2021 to be more consistent stopping the run than 2020.