Several Miami football freshmen challenging two-deep depth chart

The Miami football program signed the seventh-ranked 2023 recruiting class per 247 Sports. Several of those signees have a chance to make the two-deep depth chart. David Lake of Inside the U had his own take on “Projecting Miami’s two-deep depth chart for the fall after spring football.”

Multiple true freshmen made an impact this spring. The expectation for the Miami football program is that numerous freshmen will break the two-deep depth chart with the potential of being first team. Discussion of freshmen standouts this spring began with the offensive line and defensive lineman Rueben Bain.

In addition to the 15 early enrollees, nine signees in the 2023 Miami class will enroll this summer. Four-star running back Mark Fletcher will be the player to watch among the enrollees this summer. Don Chaney Jr. looked good in the spring game on Friday night. Tre’Vonte Citizen is still recovering from a knee injury.

Wide receiver Nathaniel Joseph showed off his explosiveness in the spring game with five receptions for 110 yards that included a 79-yard touchdown catch. Joseph will compete with junior Brashard Smith to be the second-team slot receiver behind Xavier Restrepo. Expect Joseph and Smith to receive significant snaps in 2023.

Five-star freshmen offensive linemen Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola have made an impact this spring. Lake projects Mauigoa as the first-team right tackle and Okunlola as the second-team left tackle behind Zion Nelson. Nelson has not played this spring. Okunlola could compete to be the first-team LT.

On the defensive line, Bain will somehow find his way onto the two-team depth chart. Bain has made an impact throughout the spring. In the spring game, Bain finished with 3.5 tackles and three sacks. Bain provides Miami with the versatility to play defensive tackle or edge rusher. Expect Bain in the DL rotation.

Linebackers Raul Aguirre and Malik Bryant will help the Miami football program upgrade the talent on the roster at linebacker. Lake lists veterans Corey Flagg and Keontra Smith as the backups to projected starters Wesley Bissainthe and Francisco Mauigoa at LB. Aguirre and Bryant could compete for snaps as true freshmen in 2023.

The Miami cornerback rotation will continue to play out during August training camp. Lake projects Damari Brown to be the backup to his brother Davante as one of the outside CBs. Damari Brown is the 18th CB in the 2023 Class as a four-star signee. At 6’1 and 180 pounds, Brown provides Miami with excellent length in coverage.

Running back Chris Johnson who has elite speed could contribute as a kick returner. The explosiveness Joseph has could be utilized as a punt returner. Miami needs more explosiveness on kickoff and punt returns in 2023. Lake list Smith as potentially contributing on kickoff returns and Restrepo on punt returns.