ESPN names Elijah Arroyo Miami football breakout player

With little production at tight end in 2023, someone on the Miami football roster has a chance for a breakout 2024 season. Andrea Adleson of ESPN thinks that will be TE Elijah Arroyo. Arroyo was named the Miami representative in the ESPN article "Breakout players from the top 25 teams to watch in 2024."

Arroyo has 11 career receptions for 163 yards and one TD in three seasons with Miami. Most of the success for Arroyo came before suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2022. Arroyo has missed most of the past two seasons. Arroyo had one reception for 11 yards versus Boston College while playing in six games in 2023.

In his first two years, Arroyo showed promise as the backup to Will Mallory who now plays for the Indianapolis Colts. Miami returns Cameron McCormick as the starting TE, but he is not a threat as a receiver. With transfer Cam Ward at QB, Miami should have a more proficient pass offense in 2024.

Entering his fourth college season, Arroyo can significantly improve his 2025 NFL Draft stock with a productive 2024 season. Arroyo is currently projected as the 493rd-ranked prospect in 2025 by the NFL Mock Draft Database.

"Breakout players from the top 25 teams to watch in 2024
24. Miami Hurricanes
We have not seen TE Elijah Arroyo at his full potential because of a knee injury in 2022 that has limited his playing time with the Canes. But now healthy and participating in spring practice, Arroyo could have the type of season that adds his name to all the others who have come through Tight End U. Coaches believe he has had as good or better an offseason as anyone in the program. At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Arroyo has the type of size to be a matchup advantage for the Canes, who have made it a priority, with Arroyo healthy, to make sure the tight end is incorporated far more into the passing game. "

- Andrea Adelson, ESPN

Miami signed Arroyo in the 2021 class as the 201st-ranked prospect nationally, the sixth TE and 33rd recruit in Texas per the 247Sports composite rankings. The 247Sports scouting report by Gabe Brooks for Arroyo out of high said he had "promising hands-catching ability...High ceiling as red-zone ball-winner...Flashes good run-after-catch ability relative to size."

If Arroyo reaches his full potential, he would provide Miami with another receiving threat to go with Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George. Arroyo emerging would help Miami open the middle of the field with Restrepo. Grant Hughes of 247Sports included Arroyo in his "ACC spring football rising stars: The conference's top emerging talents as teams hit practice fields."

With multiple accolades this spring, Miami needs Arroyo to live up to the hype and have a productive season. The return of George and Restrepo as the top two receivers in 2024 allows Arroyo to be a complementary player in 2024.