Miami football: Kamren Kinchens named PFF 2nd-team All-American

Miami safety Kamren Kinchens earned a pair of honors on Tuesday being named first-team All-ACC and second-team All-American by Pro Football Focus. Kinchens was also named first-team All-ACC by PFF on Wednesday. Kinchens was one of 10 Miami football players named by the media and on the PFF All-ACC teams.

During a breakout season, Kinchens set career highs with 59 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, six passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray and NC State kicker Christopher Dunn are the only other ACC second-team All-Americans.

Punter Lou Hedley earned first-team All-ACC from the media and PFF. Miami tight end Will Mallory was named first-team All-ACC by PFF and second-team by the media. Defensive linemen Akheem Mesidor and Leonard Taylor, safety James Williams and kicker Andres Borregales earned PFF second-team All-ACC.

Kinchens was the star of a Miami defense that was extremely inconsistent all season. Miami earned its first PFF All-American since kicker Jose Borregales earned first-team and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips third-team following the 2020 season. Entering the final week of 2022, Kinchens was the highest-ranked safety nationally.

Despite the disappointing season, Miami has a corps of players to build around for the future. Kinchens and Williams will provide Miami with one of the best-returning safety tandems in the country. Borregales, Mesidor and Taylor are all expected to return with the Miami football program for the 2023 season.

Mesidor was a solid presence on the Miami defensive line in 2022 and Taylor was a dominating tackle at times during this season. Miami will have a lot of new faces, particularly defensively. Expect the Miami secondary to have the most turnover. Miami has lost four defensive backs to the transfer portal.

Safety Al Blades and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson are expected to forego their remaining eligibility and D.J. Ivey completed his senior year. Kinchens should be considered among the 2023 preseason All-Americans. Mesidor, Taylor and Williams will be among the Miami preseason All-ACC candidates.