Kamren Kinchens PFF best returning Miami football player

Safety Kamren Kinchens is the representative for the Miami football team by Pro Football Focus in their ranking of “College Football: The best player on every ACC team heading into the 2023 season.” Kinchens was named the second-best returning safety in college football by PFF in May.

The Miami football team has the top returning safety tandem entering the 2023 season with Kinchens and James Williams. Kinchens earned multiple All-American accolades following a breakout 2022 season. Kinchens had 59 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, 12 pass breakups and six interceptions in 2022.

The numbers from Kinchens were an improvement over an excellent true freshman season in 2021. Kinchens had 44 tackles, one TFL, one forced fumble and four pass breakups in 2021. The expectation for Kinchens in 2023 will be to challenge as an All-American again and compete for the Thorpe Award.

New defensive coordinator Lance Guidry can build the foundation of the 2023 Miami defense around Kinchens and Williams. Kinchens is one of the most experienced players on the Miami roster with 24 games and 17 starts in two seasons. Entering his third season as a starter, Kinchens is playing for his third defensive coordinator.

"MIAMI (FL) HURRICANES: S KAMREN KINCHENS“Kinchens broke out in a major way as a sophomore, leading all FBS safeties in both overall grade (90.0) and coverage grade (90.7). His six interceptions were also tied for the most in the Power Five. He’s easily a top-three safety in the country heading into this season.”"

NFL Draft Buzz gave Kinchens a 63 percent game performance-weighted rating in tackling which is the lowest part of his game. A 73 percent grade versus the run was the second weakest part of Kinchens’ game. Kinchens received exceptional grades in overall coverage, zone and man press from NFL Draft Buzz.

If Kinchens continues to ascend in 2023, there is no question he will challenge for the Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in the country. Kinchens is the first returning All-American for Miami since Antrel Rolle in 2006. With another elite season, Kinchens will be considered as a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.