Miami non-Power 4 opponents with preseason all-conference players

Florida A&M, Ball State and South Florida each have several preseason All-Conference players the Miami football team will have to game plan for in 2024. FAMU will be one of the better FCS teams Miami has played, Ball State is from the MAC who Miami has frequently played in non-conference and USF reignites an in-state rivalry.

Seven FAMU players are preseason All-Southwestern Athletic Conference players. Offensive Lineman Ashton Grable, Defensive Back: Kendall Bohler and Deco Wilson and kicker Cameron Gillis, were named first-team preseason All-SWAC. Three FAMU players earned second-team preseason All-SWAC.

Running back Kelvin Dean, kick returner and wide receiver Jamari Gassett and defensive Lineman Allen Smith were named second-team preseason All-SWAC. Bohler was first-team All-SWAC and Grable was second-team in 2023. Bohler had 39 tackles and 14 pass breakups in 2023.

For Ball State and South Florida a consensus from Athlon Sports, the College Football News and the College Football Network will be used here to determine their preseason all-conference performers from the Mid-American Conference and the American Athletic Conference in 2024.

Linebacker Keionte Newson is the only unanimous selection for preseason All-MAC on the three lists. All three sites list Newsom as preseason All-MAC, Newsom is the only played named to the 2024 College Football News Preseason All-MAC from Ball State.

Offensive lineman Ethan Crowe was named first-team preseason All-MAC by Athlon but isn't mentioned by the College Football News or College Football Network. Offensive lineman Jon Mucciolo is second-team preseason All-MAC from Athlon and the College Football Network.

Offensive lineman Taran Tyo is third-team preseason All-MAC from Athlon and the College Football Network. Wide receiver Quan Magwood is named four-team preseason All-MAC by Athlon and honorable mention by the College Football Network.

Wide receiver Ty Robinson, defensive lineman/linebacker Brandon Berger and safety Jordan Coleman were named fourth-team preseason All-MAC by Athlon. Flex Tanner Koziol was named third-team preseason All-MAC by the College Football Network.

Wide receiver Sean Atkins is the sole unanimous selection for first-team preseason All-AAC by Athlon, the College Football News and College Football Network. Quarterback Byrum Brown and running back Nay'Quan Wright were unanimous second-team All-ACC selections.

Guard Zane Herring was named preseason All-AAC by the College Football News and College Football Network and third-team by Athlon. Flex Ta'ron Keith was named third-team preseason All-AAC by Athlon. Linebacker Jhalyn Shuler Sr. was named second-team All-AAC by Athlon and the College Football News.

Cornerback Aamaris Brown-Bunkley was named honorable mention All-AAC by Athlon and second team by the College Football News. CB Tavin Ward was named third-team All-AAC by Athlon. Defensive tackle Rashad Cheney was named second-team All-AAC by Athlon.

Kicker John Cannon was second-team by Athlon and third-team by the College Football Network. Punter Andrew Stokes earned third-team preseason All-AAC from the from the College Football Network. Center Mike Lofton and OL Derek Bowman earned fourth-team All-AAC from the College Football News.

Atkins who is a former walk-on had 92 receptions for 1,054 yards and seven touchdowns in a breakout 2023 season. Byrum Brown is arguably the most dynamic player on South Florida. Brown is on multiple preseason award watch lists. Brown ran for 809 yards and 11 TDs and threw for 3,292 yards and 26 TDs in 2023.

Miami will be challenged by elite players in their conferences by Ball State, FAMU and South Florida. The players from non-power conferences have to be respected. If Miami is going to make a serious run at the College Football Playoff, the non-conference schedule should set the tone for the remainder of the 2024 season.