Miami football would gain huge boost by Tyrique Stevenson return

The Miami football program would gain a huge boost if cornerback Tyrique Stevenson returns in 2022. Stevenson posted on his CaneSport blog Wednesday that he has not made a decision if he will enter the 2022 NFL Draft or return to Miami. All of the Miami CBs currently on the roster have eligibility remaining.

Second-year freshman Marcus Clarke currently starts with Stevenson. Clarke passed former stated Te’Cory Couch on the depth chart. D.J. Ivey lost his starting role with the addition of Stevenson as a transfer from Georgia during the 2021 offseason. Miami lost Al Blades Jr. to a season-ending injury.

True freshman Malik Curtis who has had minimal playing time in 2021 is the other CB on the Miami football roster. Miami also has commitments for 2022 from four-star CBs Khamauri Rogers and Chris Graves to add to the future depth for the Hurricanes. Stevenson would be a key foundation at CB in 2022.

Blades and Ivey could be potential transfers during the 2022 offseason. Ivey seems the more likely of the two to search for better opportunities elsewhere. Blades is a legacy player that would likely want to finish his career with Miami. The transfer portal is also a possibility to add depth at CB. Stevenson discussed his decision.

"“That decision, it’s starting to get real difficult. The beginning of the season you put it off, just talk about it – you have time, weeks. Now it’s two or three weeks, maybe a month away before I make a decision.It’s just a real hard decision. Just make sure I make the best decision and put all my thinking into making this one decision that can change my life…I’m still not convinced my future is at corner, though. Once I get to the league I’m an anywhere-you-need-me type of player. But I wanted to prove myself at one position.I can play any position, just need an opportunity (in the NFL)…As for me maybe coming back, if I do it’ll be just about improving every game. In this game you can improve every day because things change up every day.Just with me coming back, I feel like I’d be a much better leader than I was this year, make sure the secondary is on point, that we’d be one of the best secondaries in the nation. I’m familiar with the defense we run, younger guys understand it more too. It’d be better.”"

Stevenson would team with the return of safeties Kamren Kinchens, Avantae Williams and James Williams to provide Miami with a potentially elite secondary in 2022. Clarke should be improved in his second season as a starter. If Blades returns, he and Curtis would provide Miami with good depth at experience at CB.

Graves and Rogers are extremely talented and have bright futures. It would be a lot to rely on them to make major contributions as freshmen. Stevenson returning to the Miami football program in 2022 would provide the Hurricanes with one of their most talented defensive players and leaders.