For all the cheap people. I edited out everything but the quotes since who cares
1. D’Eriq King, quarterback (2020)
“He’s a much better thrower than I thought he was,” one ACC defensive coordinator said of King. “When you have that combination of a guy that can run and throw, it’s a great equalizer against a good defense. We thought we had guys that matched up well on the outside with them. The threat of him as a runner with that arm, creates space and makes them dangerous.”
2. Mike Harley, receiver (2017)
“I like Mike Harley, but you can go (anywhere) and find a 5-9, 175-pound guy that can run at least a 4.5,” a former Hurricanes player said, disagreeing with where we had Harley on this list. “You can’t find Zion Nelson anywhere. There’s an equation to this. Quarterback, left tackle, edge rusher, cornerback.”
3. Tyrique Stevenson, cornerback (2021)
“He was really good in the scrimmage,” the scout said. “He reminds me of a bigger version of Antrel Rolle. He’s a dynamic guy who could be a first-rounder because he’s big and physical and can play corner and safety.”
4. Charleston Rambo, receiver (2021)
“If they had him in the bowl game last year against Oklahoma State, they would’ve beat them,” the scout said. “He’s got the potential to be a top-flight receiver.”
Said the ACC analyst: “Rambo looked good. The ability to run after the catch, I think he’s gonna be really good this year. He and Harley form a nice combination.”
5. Jake Garcia, quarterback (2021)
“Jake’s the best quarterback they’ve signed in 15 years,” the scout said. “He’s elite. He would start at every ACC school except Clemson and North Carolina right now, probably most SEC schools and a bunch of Big Ten schools. He’s that good.”
Said a former Hurricane player: “He has the ‘it’ factor.”
Said the ACC analyst: “Tyler Van Dyke looked fine, looked very solid. But the way the ball comes out of Jake’s hands and just the confidence that he displayed yesterday, it was impressive. Very impressive.”
6. Deandre Johnson, defensive end (2021)
“He showed he has some explosiveness getting past (left tackle) Zion Nelson a couple of times there,” the scout said.
7. Jaylan Knighton, running back (2020)
Another former Canes player: “He’s way too high on this list. They’ll use Jaylan as a change-of-pace back and receiver. Cam’Ron Harris will be the bell cow because he runs between the tackles. At least until (Don) Chaney is healthy.”
8. Navaughn Donaldson, right guard (2017)
“We’re going to need him to run Inside Zone and he’s got a big, red, oak-sized tree chip on his shoulder,” a former Miami player said. “He should have a big year.”
9. Zion Nelson, left tackle (2019)
10. Don Chaney Jr., running back (2020)
11. Jalen Rivers, left guard (2020)
“He’s got the size and talent to be a first-rounder in a couple of years,” the scout said. “He’s humble, too.”
12. Nesta Silvera, defensive tackle (2018)
“He needs to be in the top 10,” a former UM player said. “He’s their best defensive tackle.”
13. Bubba Bolden, safety (2019)
“When we played him, he was just OK,” a rival ACC assistant said of Bolden.
“Had he left after last year, he probably would have been a third- or fourth-round pick,” the former player said. “He’s not an elite athlete, but he could actually cover at outside corner, slot corner. He’s a (lesser) version of Minkah Fitzpatrick.”
14. Jahfari Harvey, defensive end (2019)
“He’s OK. I’m not as high on him as some of the other ends they’ve had,” the scout said.
15. Will Mallory, tight end (2018)
“He’s got first-round talent and receiving skills,” the scout said. “But he’s probably a year or two away.”
16. Tyler Van Dyke, quarterback (2020)
“He would start at FSU and most ACC schools tomorrow,” the scout said. “Manny solved the quarterback room issues.”
17. Keyshawn Smith, wide receiver (2020)
“It’s hard to put him up further up the list because he hasn’t done **** yet, but he’s talented as ****,” a former Hurricanes player said.
Said the ACC analyst: “Seeing him make that move on his first TD catch (Saturday) justified to me why the coaches are high on him.”
18. Keontra Smith, weakside linebacker (2019)
19. Avantae Williams, safety (2020)
“He could become their best defensive player in a year,” a former UM player said. “He has natural instincts. At some point, they’ll have him out there covering a wideout, too.”
20. Te’Cory Couch, cornerback (2019)
“He’s a straight dog,” a former Canes player said. “But he’ll probably be the nickel corner when they go nickel. I expect them to have him in a lot of packages.”
21. Gilbert Frierson, striker (2018)
“He’s going to be valuable at the next level because at worst they’ll make him a nickel linebacker,” a former UM player said. “Maybe he didn’t cause a lot of fumbles or big plays, but you need to look at his tackles in the open field. Those are big plays, too.”
22. Corey Flagg Jr., middle linebacker (2020)
23. Cam’Ron Harris, running back (2018)
“He can catch the ball out of the backfield, and he does the most important thing — he picks up the blitz,” a former UM player said. “That might get him in the league.”
24. DJ Scaife, right tackle (2018)
“The fact he’s started games at tackle and guard helps his value in terms of getting drafted,” the scout said. “But his film wasn’t great last year.”
25. Jared Harrison-Hunte, defensive tackle (2019)
“He’ll still have an impact on third down,” the former UM player said. “They’ll have a solid four-man rotation with him, (Jon) Ford, Nesta and (Jordan) Miller.”
26. Lou Hedley, punter (2019)
27. Andres Borregales, kicker (2021)
28. Xavier Restrepo, receiver (2020)
“He showed some toughness, caught some balls over the middle and was sure-handed,” the ACC analyst said after watching Saturday’s spring game. “Garcia, Rambo and Restrepo really stood out most for me.”
29. DJ Ivey, cornerback (2018)
30. Jon Ford, defensive tackle (2017)
“I noticed him Saturday,” the ACC analyst said. “Physically looked good. Physically, he looks the part.”
31. Gurvan Hall, safety (2018)
32. Chantz Williams, defensive end (2020)
“He’s going to be a pass-rush specialist,” a former UM player said. “He’s still developing against the run, but he’s got natural pass-rushing moves.”
33. Jakai Clark, guard/center (2019)
34. Zach McCloud, defensive end (2016)
35. Avery Huff, linebacker (2019)
36. Cameron Williams, defensive end (2019)
37. Corey Gaynor, center (2017)
“He’s a good college center,” the former UM player said. “If I go value on offense, it’s the quarterback, left tackle, center, running back, outside receiver and tight end. Those people all got to be top 10 to me.”
38. Jordan Miller, defensive tackle (2018)
39. Jarrid Williams, right tackle (2020)
40. Amari Carter, safety (2017)
41. Al Blades Jr., cornerback (2018)
“I know his uncles and the family, they’ve accomplished a lot, been a lot of places,” the former Miami player said. “Softness will not be accepted in the Blades household. Not even from the mama.”
42. Sam Brooks Jr., linebacker (2019)
43. Isaiah Dunson, cornerback (2020)
44. Kamren Kinchens, safety (2021)
45. Chase Smith, striker (2021)
46. Elijah Roberts, defensive end (2020)
47. John Campbell, left tackle (2018)
48. Brian Balom, safety (2020)
49. Elijah Arroyo, tight end (2021)
50. Waynmon Steed, linebacker (2017)
theathletic.com
