National writer names Miami football biggest training camp concern
Grant Hughes of 247Sports wrote as part of a "College football roundtable: The biggest concern for every top 25 team during fall camp." The departures of starting safeties Kam Kinchens and James Williams and the lack of depth at cornerback have the secondary for Miami as the biggest area of concern entering 2024.
Miami added safeties Mishael Powell from Washington and Isaiah Taylor from Arizona and CB Dyoni Hill from Marshall as transfers in the secondary for 2024. Powell is a projected starter. Hill and Taylor will compete for snaps in 2024. Miami returns starting CBs Damari Brown and Darryl Porter Jr. in 2024.
Taylor is competing with freshman Zaquan Patterson and redshirt sophomores Jaden Harris and Markeith Williams to start with Powell at safety in 2024. Harris, Taylor and Williams have four combined starts during their collegiate careers. Powell has 25 career starts.
Powell had 92 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 3.0 interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, 9.0 pass breakups and a forced fumble in the last three seasons with Washington. Powell played in 34 games in the last three seasons with the Huskies. After redshirting in 2019, Powell did not play in 2020
"16. MIAMI HURRICANES
- Grant Hughes, 247Sports
Biggest Area of Concern: Secondary
Miami had the No. 55 pass defense in the nation last season and had to replace three starters from that secondary this offseason. There's concern over the lack of depth and experience from the secondary at fall camp."
Harris had seven tackles in 2023 and started two games in place of Kinchens who was out with an injury. Williams had 15 tackles and a pass breakup in 2023. In the Pinstripe Bowl loss to Rutgers, Williams started at safety with Kinchens and James Williams opting out and had eight tackles and his lone pass breakup.
Two Miami football players ranked 31-50 among PFF best nationally. dark. Next. Two Miami football players ranked 31-50 among PFF best nationally
Porter was fourth on Miami with a 78.9 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2023. David Lake of Inside the U stated "According to PFF, Porter missed only one tackle on the year and he allowed only 11 receptions for 108 yards on 22 targets." Brown, Harris and Taylor all earned sub 65.0 grades in 2023 per PFF.