Miami football staffer expects intense CB competition
In a Miami Herald column last week Barry Jackson quoted a Miami football staffer who said that the competition for one of the boundary cornerback starters will be intense. Miami added transfers Davonte Brown from Central Florida, Jaden Davis from Oklahoma and Jaidus Richard from Vanderbilt to the 2023 roster.
The staffer expects Central Brown to be one starter with the other open for competition. Brown has been very solid and is a pressman, cover guy according to the Miami football staffer. Prior to transferring to Miami, Brown was a two-year starter at UCF. Brown was third-team All-ACC from Pro Football Focus.
Brown had 86 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, three interceptions, 17 pass breakups and one forced fumble in his collegiate career. At 6’2, 185 pounds, Brown gives Miami more length. Adding length at CB has been intentional by Miami entering 2023. Four of the six newcomers at CB for Miami are 6’1 or taller.
Jackson stated that the other staffer said “Jaden is quick, extremely competitive, has good length.” and the projected inside track to becoming the starter as a boundary CB opposite Brown. In four seasons at Oklahoma, Davis had 103 tackles, one TFL and 10 pass breakups. Davis played in 47 games with 22 starts for Oklahoma.
Miami has added seven DBs to the roster this off-season:
— Frank Tucker (@TheCribSouthFLA) May 9, 2023
UCF transfer CB Davonte Brown
Oklahoma transfer CB Jaden Davis
Iowa transfer CB/S Terry Roberts
Vanderbilt transfer CB Ja’Dais Richard
Four-star CB Damari Brown
Four-star CB Robert Stafford
Three-star S Kaleb Spencer…
At 6’1, 185 pounds junior college transfer Demetrius Freeney is another CB on the 2023 Miami roster that provides more length. The staffer told Jackson that Freeney is “Really fast, athletic, bright kid…There’s more risk with JC guys, but we liked the package. And he’s got three years left.”
At 6’2 Richard is the tallest CB on the 2023 Miami roster with Brown. The staffer said “Good size [6-2] and length and you’re going to have him a while.” Richard has three years of eligibility remaining. Jackson stated that Richard brings versatility with the potential to play the boundary and back up Te’Cory Couch at star.
In addition to Brown, Davis, Freeney and Richard, Miami also signed freshmen Damari Brown (Davonte’s brother) and Robert Stafford. Damari is 6’1 and the fourth CB new to the Miami roster who brings length. Miami will have far more depth at CB in 2023 than they had in 2022 even without D.J. Ivey and Tyrique Stevenson.