Miami Hurricanes projected depth chart analysis: Some explosive potential with a few question marks that will be answered starting Saturday

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The Miami Hurricanes’ season-opener at Florida is just 5 days away, and fall camp has seen players battling to solidify their spots on the two-deep.

So now it’s time for our analysis of how we see the depth chart, which has not been released.

QUARTERBACK

First team: Cam Ward

Second team: Emory Williams or Reese Poffenbarger

The undisputed starter here, of course, is star transfer Cam Ward, who led the nation’s No. 4 passing offense at Washington State last year and has a very high bar set for him this season. If ACC Preseason Player of the Year wasn’t enough, there’s talk he could lead Miami to 35 plus points per game for the first time since … gasp … 2002. With him the real deal and solified as the alpha dude on this offense, the question depth chart-wise is his backup. We are listing Emory Williams and Reese Poffenbarger as co-No. 2’s, but if push came to shove Williams might be the next guy up as he can play in four games and still redshirt. He’s been really impressive in fall camp.

RUNNING BACK

First team: Damien Martinez

Second team: Mark Fletcher or Jordan Lyle

Damien Martinez is the guy here, a top national back that Miami brought in from Oregon State. He’s a workhorse with great power and plus speed. If Mark Fletcher is fully healthy it makes sense for him to be the No. 2 back after he started and fared well as a true freshman. But his foot injury from the bowl has limited him in the fall and we think Jordan Lyle looks like a future star even as a true freshman. Plus speedster Chris Johnson can work in as a change-of-pace back. This running backs room is as good as we can remember in a long while talent-wise top to bottom.

WIDE RECEIVER

1st team: Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George, Sam Brown

2nd team: Ray Ray Joseph, Isaiah Horton, Ny Carr or Jo Jo Trader

Do we need to say more than the fact that the three starters here are all on the Biletnikoff Watch List? Restrepo is looking for a second straight 1,000-yard season, and George was right there pushing up against that number last year. Brown comes in as a speedster who was Houston’s top threat. All three passed 800 yards a year ago. And the best part here is as you look at the second team those three guys could probably start and fare really well also. So just a really deep, talented room here.

TIGHT END

1st team: Elijah Arroyo

2nd team: Elija Lofton / Riley Williams

This is a position that didn’t have a 100-yard receiver last year, but guys named Arroyo and Lofton weren’t available – Arroyo was injured and Lofton is a true freshman. The duo should provide some really explosive plays as the year goes along given their skillset, and they can work together with Arroyo more in the traditional tight end mold and Lofton an H-back who could also play running back. Riley Williams could also get some opportunities, as he’s also looked good this fall. We expect this will be a much different-looking tight ends room than the one that was invisible most of last season.

OFFENSIVE LINE

First team (L to R): Jalen Rivers, Matthew McCoy or Ryan Rodriguez, Zach Carpenter, Anez Cooper, Francis Mauigoa

Second team (L to R): Markel Bell, McCoy or Rodriguez,  Rodriguez (cross trains at guard and center), Tommy Kinsler, Samson Okunlola

The big battle this fall was for the left guard spot, and Ryan Rodriguez has really stepped up there and could wind up starting against Florida depending on how things go this week with Matthew McCoy. With three returning starters and Indiana transfer center Zach Carpenter on board, this is a really good front five. And we think Markel Bell, Tommy Kinsler and Samson Okunlola give the Canes a really strong nine guys that can play and that have cross-trained at different spots in case injuries pop up.

DEFENSIVE LINE

First team DEs: Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor

Second team DEs: Tyler Baron, Elijah Alston

First team DTs: CJ Clark, Simeon Barrow

Second team DTs: Ahmad Moten, Marley Cook, Anthony Campbell

The defensive line position really is a strong one for Miami, in large part thanks to portal additions Tyler Baron, Elijah Alston, CJ Clark, Simeon Barrow and Marley Cook. They are five of the eight names you see above. Bain is back off a freshman All-American season, and Mesidor looks even better than he did two years ago when he led the team in sacks (he was injured last year). Some think Tyler Baron can emerge as a coveted NFL pick, and Elijah Alston is an excellent rush end. Plus Bain, Mesidor and Baron can work inside in passing situations. With CJ Clark and Simeon Barrow arriving as proven starters from NC State and Michigan State, respectively, the inside is also well manned. So this is a really, really solid line.

LINEBACKER

First team MLB: Francisco Mauigoa

Second team MLB: Raul Aguirre

First team WLB: Wesley Bissainthe

Second team WLB: Jaylin Alderman

Mauigoa and Bissainthe are both back, and Mauigoa was the heart of the defense last year – he led the team in tackles for loss and tied for the lead in sacks with Rueben Bain. Wesley Bissainthe was hit or miss last season but enjoyed a really strong fall. Plus Jaylin Alderman started at Louisville last year and provides great depth at MLB and OLB. He will get plenty of reps. Then there are young, inexperienced guys like second-year Raul Aguirre and true freshman Cam Pruitt who we think will be the next guys up. Both have a lot of potential.

DEFENSIVE BACK

CB starters: Daryl Porter, Jr., OJ Frederique or D’yoni Hill

Nickel starter: Damari Brown

Safety starters: Mishael Powell, Jaden Harris

CB backups: Jadais Richard, D’yoni Hill

Nickel backup: Richard

Safety backups: Zaquan Patterson, Markeith Williams

This is the area with the most question marks on defense, as only Daryl Porter is a full-time returning starter. True freshman OJ Frederique is a guy we are going out on a limb and projecting as the starter after he wowed in fall camp, and Marshall transfer D’yoni Hill is probably the next guy up there. At nickel we like Richard working in with Brown, who can also play corner as needed. And at safety Mishael Powell is as solid as you want after arriving from Washington, but Jaden Harris is very much unproven. He’s one of the fastest Canes, though, so perhaps he can be in store for a breakout season. The projected second team depth aside from Hill doesn’t have many reps under their belt (Patterson is a true freshman and Williams was primarily a backup last year).