Miami football releases depth chart with some surprises

The Miami football team finally released a depth chart on Saturday afternoon ahead of the season opener versus Bethune-Cookman. Several Miami beat writers tweeted the initial depth chart under Mario Cristobal. The depth chart has several surprises and multiple positions with a few players listed as starters.

Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, center Jakai Clark, right guard Justice Oluwaseun, right tackle D.J. Scaife, wide receivers Xavier Restrepo, Michael Redding III and Key’Shawn Smith and tight end Will Mallory are the offensive players who are listed as the sole starters at their positions. Six defensive players are listed as sole starters.

Akheem Mesidor at one defensive end, Corey Flagg and Waynmon Steed at linebacker, Te’Cory Couch at star, and D.J. Ivey and Tyrique Stevenson at cornerback are the defensive players listed as the sole starters at their positions. Flagg, Steed and Stevenson were starters for most of the 2021 season.

Van Dyke, Clark, Scaife, Smith and Mallory are the returning starters listed on the top of the depth chart at their positions for the season opener. New Miami offensive coordinator Josh Gattis told Hurricanes’ radio analyst Don Bailey Jr. on the pregame show that Henry Parrish will start for Miami at running back.

Jaylan Knighton who led Miami in rushing in 2021 is listed as the co-starter with Parrish on the depth chart. Zion Nelson is expected to miss the first game recovering from knee surgery in July. John Campbell who is returning from a torn ACL that cost him the 2021 season is listed as the co-starter with Nelson at left tackle.

Campbell and Jalen Rivers are listed as the co-starters at left guard. With Nelson likely out expect Rivers to start. The defense is deeper and less settled with starters. Leonard Taylor and Jared Harrison-Hunte are listed as the co-starters at one defensive tackle and Darrel Jackson and Taylor at the other.

Mitchell Agude and Jahfari Harvey are the co-starters at DE opposite Mesidor. Miami is expected to use a 10-man rotation this season on the defensive line. Expect that to be more expensive versus Bethune-Cookman. Al Blades Jr., Kamren Kinchens, Avantae Williams and James Williams are listed as the co-starting safeties.

Kinchens and Avantae Williams are listed together with Blades and James Williams at the other safety. The defensive line and safety are the two deepest positions on the Miami football roster. Miami should be able to give the entire roster snaps in the 2022 season opener. Miami released the depth chart as late as possible.