Miami football projected 19th in AP Preseason Top 25

The Miami football program is projected to be ranked 19th by the Associated Press in the preseason rankings according to Brad Crawford of 247 Sports. Entering the first season under Mario Cristobal, Miami signed the ninth-best transfer class and 16th best incoming freshmen class for the 2022 season.

Crawford is the latest national college football analyst to praise Cristobal for the staff he hired. Miami enters the 2022 season with the ACC the most wide-open it has been since Clemson began their run in 2015. Clemson missed the College Football Playoff last season for the first time since the 2014 season.

Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is the foundation for the 2022 Miami football team. Van Dyke had a breakout season in 2021 after beginning the year backing up D’Eriq King. In the last six games of 2021, Van Dyke threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns in each of them. Miami has enhanced their roster with transfers.

Cristobal has made it a priority to improve play at the line of scrimmage since he was hired in December. Seven of the 11 transfers to Miami are on the defensive or offensive line. Miami signed five transfer defensive linemen. Edge rushers Mitchell Agude and Ahkeem Mesidor project to be starters.

"19. MIAMI HURRICANES“College football fans plead for Miami to be “back,” much like USC and Texas. The sport is more enjoyable when those programs are contenders, right? Not only did Mario Cristobal hire, arguably, the most-impressive staff of assistants upon arrival from Oregon, but there’s also enough talent on the roster to be able to win an unpredictable ACC Coastal right now.It definitely feels like the Hurricanes are getting the benefit of the doubt heading into summer, and that usually means a national ranking to kick things off.”"

Running back Henry Parrish and wide receiver Frank Ladson will challenge to be first team when Miami reconvenes for August training camp. Among the elite hires on the coaching staff, Cristobal was able to lure Josh Gattis as offensive coordinator from Michigan. Gattis was the Broyles Assistant coach of the Year nationally.

Kevin Steele and Charlie Strong will be the co-defensive coordinators. Strong will also coach linebackers. Miami should compete with defending ACC Champion Pittsburgh in the Coastal Division. Pittsburgh is one spot ahead of Miami ranked 18th in Crawford’s projections. Crawford ranks Clemson fifth.