Miami football depth chart: Safety strongest position
The return of All-American Kamren Kinchens and James Williams at safety is the best position unit for the Miami football team entering the 2023 season. Without much depth behind Kinchens and Williams, Miami needs the tandem to stay healthy in 2023. Brian Balom, Jaden Harris and Markeith Williams are the backup safeties.
Kinchens is one of the most experienced players on the Miami football roster. In two seasons, Kinchens has played in all 24 games with 17 starts. As a true freshman in 2021, Kinchens had 44 tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and four passes defended. That set the stage for a breakout 2023 season.
Kinchens led Miami with 59 tackles, had 1.5 TFLs, one forced fumble, 12 passes defended and six interceptions with one touchdown in 2023. Entering the season, Kinchens was named to the watch lists for the Bednarik Award, the Nagurski Trophy and the Thorpe Award and was also named an AP. Preseason All-American.
James Williams has the talent to be an All-American. Under new defensive coordinator Lance Guidry, Williams will be utilized at linebacker and safety. Listed 6’5 and 215 pounds, Williams has the ideal size to be a hybrid player. There has been some speculation that Williams could be used as an edge rusher.
Balom is by far the most experienced of the Miami backup safeties. Balom has played in 21 games with one start during his Miami career. After missing the 2021 season with an injury, Balom primarily played in special teams in 2022. Balom has 11 career tackles with five of those at Clemson in 2020.
Harris played in two games as a true freshman without any stats. Entering the 2022 season, Harris is a redshirt freshman. Markeith Williams had four tackles and one TFL playing in four games as a true freshman in 2022. Williams will also be a redshirt freshman in the 2023 season.
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Miami needs Kinchens and James Williams to stay healthy in 2023, with Balom, Harris and Markeith Williams continuing to develop. Kinchens and Williams provide Miami with the highest-graded returning safety tandem in the country per Pro Football Focus. They should be improved in 2023.