Miami football roster full of key fifth and six year players

One of the themes in the postgame interview with head coach Mario Cristobal was the internal leadership the Miami football team needs in 2024. Miami has five fifth-year seniors and six sixth-years on their 2024 roster. Several of those players will play key roles in 2024.

Key 2024 fifth-year seniors for Miami are cornerback Darryl Porter Jr., defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor, left tackle Jalen Rivers, quarterback Cam Ward and wide receiver Xavier Restrepo. Defensive lineman Anthony Campbell is a sixth-year senior who could contribute as a backup in 2024.

Porter is in his third year with Miami. After being a key reserve in 2022 with one start in nine games, Porter started all 10 games he played during the 2023 season. Before transferring to Miami, Porter played six games, mostly on special teams at West Virginia in 2020 and 13 with the Mountaineers in 2021.

Mesidor returns after missing all but three games in 2023 with an injury. During his first season with Miami in 2022, Mesidor was a key player with 38 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, 1.0 forced fumble and 4,0 passes defended in 11 games with eight starts. Mesidor was also an impact player in 23 games at West Virginia in 2020 and 2021.

Rivers has played in 32 games with 23 starts in four seasons with Miami. Rivers spoke about the importance of helping to set the culture for Miami during ACC Kickoff in Charlotte last week. Center Zach Carpenter, right guard Anez Cooper and Rivers are all entering their third season as starting collegiate offensive linemen.

Restrepo's accomplishments have been well documented during the offseason. If he comes close to his 2023 numbers, Restrepo will the Miami career records in receptions and receiving yards. Restrepo has a bigger role for Miami as one of the likely captains and leaders for the Hurricanes in 2024.

Ward is entering his fifth season as a Division I starting QB and third in FBS. Before transferring to Miami in January, Ward was the starting QB in 2020 and 2021 at FCS Incarnate Word in San Antonio in the spring and fall of 2021 and for Washington State in 2022 and 2023. Ward has already taken a leadership role for Miami.

Campbell played in only one game for Miami in 2023 after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe after the 2022 season. At 6'7 and 300 pounds, Campbell provides Miami with exceptional size on the defensive line. Campbell should provide Miami with good leadership but doesn't project as part of the DL rotation in 2024.

Mario Cristobal is slowly setting up the culture he wants with Miami. The experienced players on the roster, particularly among the returnees will be critical for Miami achieving their goals in 2024. If Miami lives up to expectations, they will compete for ACC Championship Game and College Football Playoff berths.