The first two 2022 Miami football games should clarify the rotations at several positions. Miami enters the 2022 season with no clear rotations at running back, wide receiver, on the offensive and defensive lines, linebacker and cornerback. Quarterback, tight end and safety are more clarified entering the 2022 season.
Miami will be prohibitive favorites to begin the 2022 season at home versus Bethune-Cookman on Saturday and Southern Mississippi on September 10. Those games should provide Mario Cristobal and his staff will a chance to be able to clarify the rotations ahead of the September 17 Miami game at Texas A&M.
The Miami football team is down to Thad Franklin, Jaylan Knighton and Henry Parrish at running back with Tre’Vonte Citizen out for the season and Don Chaney Jr. sidelined for a few weeks with an injury. Miami added UAB transfer, Lucious Stanley, on Monday for depth at RB. Stanley gives Miami experience at RB.
Key’shawn Smith has received positive reports in training camp as the only returning starting WR for Miami in 2022. Xavier Restrepo will be the starting slot receiver in 2022. Clemson transfer Frank Ladson and sophomore Jacolby George are the front runners for Miami to be the other starting WR.
The Miami offensive line should feature a seven or eight-man rotation. Left tackle Zion Nelson is expected to miss at least the season opener following July knee surgery. John Campbell is the favorite to open the season at LT. The Miami offensive line is more of a question of who is where than who will play.
Jalen Rivers is expected to be the left guard with Jakai Clark at center, Justice Olwaseun at right guard and D.J. Scaife at right tackle. Rivers and Scaife are versatile OL who can play tackle or guard. Logan Sagapolu who followed Cristobal from Oregon and Ousman Traore are expected to contribute to the OL.
Miami OC Josh Gattis said he’ll be calling Saturday’s game in the press box. He’s done that the last two years at Michigan, he said. “It’s amazing what you see up top. One it allows you to see what the opposing defense is doing to you.” It also cuts down on emotional decisions pic.twitter.com/QyKwzMny4E
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) August 29, 2022
The Miami DL is extremely deep. Expect Miami to play about 10 DL per game. Transfers Mitchell Agude and Akheem Mesidor are expected to be the starting edge rushers. Tackle will likely wait until the depth charts are released later this week. Sophomore Maryland transfer Darrell Jackson was the best DT in training camp.
Corey Flagg who led Miami in tackles in 2021 has been praised throughout training camp. Flagg, 2021 second leading tackle Waynmon Steed and UCLA transfer Corey Johnson are competing for snaps at LB in 2021. Miami will continue to use a hybrid LB/defensive back position that will be known as star in 2022.
Gilbert Frierson and Keontra Smith return in 2022 to compete for time at star with sophomore Chase Smith. Co-defensive coordinators Kevin Steele and Charlie Strong could potentially use one of their top three safeties, Kamron Kinchens, Avantae Williams, or James Williams in the star position this season.
West Virginia transfer Darryl Porter Jr. and the Miami football team’s top 2021 CB Tyrique Stevenson are the expected starters in the season opener. Te’Cory Couch and D.J. Ivey are the primary backups adding depth. Expect the depth chart for Bethune-Cookman to be released no later than Wednesday.