The Miami Hurricanes enter the 2022 season with a wide receiver corps that has to replace the production from departed leading receivers Mike Harley and Charleston Rambo. Key’Shawn Smith is the only returning starter for Miami at WR in 2022. Xavier Restrepo is likely to replace Harley as the starter in the slot.
Sophomore Jacolby George and Clemson transfer Frank Ladson are the likely leaders atop the Miami Hurricanes WR rotation with Restrepo and Smith. Brashard Smith is a near lock to back up Restrepo as the slot receiver. The other WRs on the Miami roster battling for their place on the depth chart.
Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis spoke to reporters earlier this week and discussed Romello Brinson and junior college transfer Colbie Young. Gattis praised Brinson for his ability to play “all over the field.” Gattis said that Brinson has a lot of catching up to do after he didn’t play this spring.
Brinson has done a good job learning the offense according to Gattis. Gattis wants Brinson to be comfortable performing at a high level. The 6’4, 220-pound Young provides Miami with the needed size at WR. Gattis stated that Young is getting adjusted to multiple things as a Miami football player.
Arriving in Miami in the middle of the summer Young has not had as much time to adjust as his teammates. True freshman Isaiah Horton and third-year freshman Michael Redding III are the other WRs who will compete to be a part of the rotation at WR. George, Ladson, Restrepo and the Smiths seem to be separated themselves.
The projection with just over three weeks remaining until the season opener is that either George or Ladson, Restrepo and Key’Shawn Smith will be the starting WRs. With Miami playing against FCS Bethune-Cookman in the season opener, all of the Hurricanes’ WRs should have an opportunity to play versus the Wildcats.