National website names Miami football biggest weakness

Carter Bahns of 247Sports named the Miami defensive backfield in his article "Every top-25 college football team's biggest weakness ahead of 2024 season." Miami returns starting cornerbacks Damari Brown and Darryl Porter Jr. in 2024. Miami has to replace both safeties.

Washington transfer Mishael Powell is expected to be one starting safety for Miami. August training camp will determine who will start opposite Powell. Redshirt sophomores Jaden Harris and Markeith Williams, redshirt junior Arizona transfer Isaiah Taylor and true freshman Zaquan Patterson are all candidates to start with Powell.

In four seasons at Washington, Powell had 92 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, three interceptions, one returning for a touchdown, 9.0 pass breakups and one forced fumble. Powell's experience entering his sixth season of college football will be critical for Miami this season in the secondary.

Brown and Porter stabilize cornerback entering their second year under defensive coordinator Lance Guidry. In 2024, Brown played in 10 games with three starts and recorded 14 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. He is expected to start as a slot cornerback for Miami in 2024 and move outside on passing downs.

"14. Miami Hurricanes: Defensive Backfield — Kamren Kinchens headlines the multiple starters from the back end of the Miami defense that left for the draft, and while Washington transfer Mishael Powell is a key pickup, replacing experience across the secondary is always frightening."

- Carter Bahns, 247Sports

Porter has played in 19 games with one start in two seasons with Miami after transferring from West Virginia. Porter has 34 tackles, 2.0 TFLs and five PBUs with Miami. As a fifth-year senior, Porter will be a critical leader in the secondary for Miami in 2024 with Powell.

Williams has 18 tackles, one TFL and one PBU in two years with Miami. Williams played in four games and redshirted in 2023. With Kinchens and James Williams opting out of the Pinstripe Bowl, Markeith Williams had his best game for Miami with eight tackles. a 0.5 TFL and one pass breakup.

After playing in only two games to redshirt in 2022, Harris had 10 tackles and a 0.5 TFL in 2024. There are some projections that Harris is the leader to be the second starting safety for Miami in 2024. Harris played in 10 games in 2023 and had two starts when Kinchens was out with an injury in September.

Taylor accumulated 56 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 2.0 PBUs in three seasons with Arizona. Taylor's most productive season was in 2022, with 40 tackles, 1 TFL, and 2 PBUs. Miami expects Taylor to bring valuable experience as he enters his fourth college season in 2023. Taylor should be part of the safety rotation if he is not a starter.

Patterson was the 93rd prospect, sixth safety and 14th player in Florida in the 2024 class. Patterson is the most talented defensive back on the Miami roster. How much Patterson has developed and will continue to progress throughout training camp will determine how much he plays early in the season.

Miami added depth at CB with Marshall transfer Dyoni Hill. Hill should challenge to be the third CB for Miami behind Brown and Porter Jr. Behind Brown, Hill and Porter, Miami is extremely Young at CB. How well Miami plays in the secondary could determine the trajectory of the 2024 season.