None of Miami football eighth ranked 2018 class drafted in 2022
None of the 23 players the Miami football program signed with the eighth-ranked 2018 class were selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. Defensive end Greg Rousseau was selected in the first round by the Buffalo Bills and tight end Brevin Jordan in the fifth round by the Houston Texans of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Seven of the 2018 signees are returning to the Miami football program for their fifth season in 2022. Twelve of the signees have transferred to other programs. Running back Cam’Ron Harris who entered his name into the 2022 NFL Draft but was undrafted is the lone player who never transferred and is not on the Miami roster.
The class signed with Mark Richt as their head coach. Richt would retire following the 2018 season. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was hired after less than three weeks as the head coach at Temple. Diaz led Miami to a 23-15 record in three seasons. Too many of the 2018 signees did not develop.
Jordan and Rousseau were the most productive players for Miami among the 2018 signees. Jordan finished with 105 receptions for 1,358 yards and 13 touchdowns in 27 games over three seasons. Too often Jordan was injured during his Miami career. Rousseau had one breakout season for Miami in 2019.
After sitting out as a medical redshirt in 2018, Rousseau had 54 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks while earning second-team All-American in 2019. The remainder of the 2018 Miami signees have been contributors, but no one has become a breakthrough player. The returnees will have a chance to break out in 2022.
Cornerbacks Al Blades Jr. and D.J. Ivey, defensive back/linebacker Gilbert Frierson, defensive tackle Jordan Miller, offensive linemen John Campbell, Cleveland Reed and D.J. Scaife and tight end Will Mallory return to Miami for their fifth seasons in 2022. Mallory and Scaife are returning starters.
Blades and Ivey are past starters who will face a tough challenge to start from returning starter Marcus Clarke and West Virginia transfer Darryl Porter Jr. Frierson, Miller and Campbell add depth. Reed has not challenged to earn much playing time after being a four-star 2018 signee as the 12th-ranked guard in the class.
Next. Miami hindered by 2018 class underdevelopment. dark
Defensive tackle Jon Ford who signed with Miami in 2017 was the lone Hurricanes player who was drafted in 2022. The majority of Miami players who have transferred to other programs have had limited success at best or will play their first seasons with their new teams this fall. Miami needs to develop players at a higher level.