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What's our fall depth chart look like?

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Miami04 said:
I actually don’t think OJ will start. I think he had a good freshman year but he was the tallest midget. The Syracuse game showed he’s got some improving to do and the transfers are all proven.
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Doubtful. No one in the know has indicated that he's falling behind. Dude was a Freshman All-American, one game doesn't define a player. We already struggle recruiting DBs, imagine the amount of extra negative recruiting we'd get.
 
CanesFan93 said:
Doubtful. No one in the know has indicated that he's falling behind. Dude was a Freshman All-American, one game doesn't define a player. We already struggle recruiting DBs, imagine the amount of extra negative recruiting we'd get.
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Point to the last Miami Hurricane that was a Freshman AA and then followed it up with an equal or better sophomore season.
 
flips said:
Looking at these depth charts, I'm really excited about the potential of the defense, especially if Heatherman is good+/elite DC.

I expect us to be very aggressive with our outside corners (Lucas, O'Connor, OJ). Assuming we get Scott at Nickelback. Scott/Brantley at Nickel (Brantley on obvious passing downs). Single high with Poyser and Jakobe in the box on early downs, sliding Scott to safety on passing downs.

If Bain & Mesisor are our ends on early downs we should be elite at setting the edge. Bain/Mesisor/Scott/Blay is a really good sized college DL. While I'd love to have a big fat guy NT to stuff the run, those 4 have good size and none of them are plodding. They can all rush the passer. We can rotate freely on the edges, especially on passing downs with: Blount, Lightfoot, Lowe, Cole, Pickett, Bryant. Hopefully Blount/Lowe/Cole/Bryant can also provide some edge setting and stout run defense on early downs.

MLBer obviously the biggest question mark, but if we're able to put our corners on islands outside we can bring another body from the secondary into the box.

Second biggest question mark is whether Scott can make leap to DT1, and whether late transfer/Jones/Simpson/Russell can give us 15-20 quality snaps a game on early downs as DT4.

If we can be even average against the run between the tackles, I really like our chances to have a good defense. Our pass rush should be hellacious, and that should delay backs and tight ends from the opposition from going out into patterns. Get to obvious passing downs and distances consistently, and I expect us to create a lot of havoc and turnovers.
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with a average run defense we lose ND and Uf, we need to be solid in the middle, if not the pass rush won’t be that effective. But I do see being solid against the run, Bain and Mesodor will move to the middle at times as well.
 
Hurricane23 said:
with a average run defense we lose ND and Uf, we need to be solid in the middle, if not the pass rush won’t be that effective. But I do see being solid against the run, Bain and Mesodor will move to the middle at times as well.
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Thanks. Against ND I think we're going to stack the box, trust our outside corners against BleakHouse and Fields, and make a QB who's never thrown a pass beat us on the road in his first start. ND was elite running inside and outside last year, but they also had a QB who was a running threat. Carr really isn't that. If Mesidor & Bain can control the edges in that game I like our chances to be good enough on early downs up the middle to force them to pass more than they want. The nickel we just got gonna be huge in that game, if he can hold his own against their slot.

I think Bain & Mesidor (& Blount according to @DMoney latest bank) will slide inside on passing downs, which will be great but if they're playing inside on early downs we might up Schitt's Creek.
 
flips said:
Thanks. Against ND I think we're going to stack the box, trust our outside corners against BleakHouse and Fields, and make a QB who's never thrown a pass beat us on the road in his first start. ND was elite running inside and outside last year, but they also had a QB who was a running threat. Carr really isn't that. If Mesidor & Bain can control the edges in that game I like our chances to be good enough on early downs up the middle to force them to pass more than they want. The nickel we just got gonna be huge in that game, if he can hold his own against their slot.

I think Bain & Mesidor (& Blount according to @DMoney latest bank) will slide inside on passing downs, which will be great but if they're playing inside on early downs we might up Schitt's Creek.
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Youre spot on, setting the edge and forcing things inside would definitely be my game plan, plus the revamped secondary should be trusted on the outside like you said.
 
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Still don't really get why Lucas won't be playing safety. But whatever. Imo he probably still sees some amount of snaps there, since O'Connor, Brantley, OJ, Damari all should get a lot of rotation on outside.

Will really just be intersting to see what the gameplan is at DB and Wr tbh. @DMoney is the plan to play Trader in Slot at all given Dawsons scheme and preference to feed the Slot? I think Trader in slot like 60-70%, Toney 30-40%, makes a lot of sense. And obviously if Toney earns more he earns more. Of course Lofton will also see a lot of Slot reps I'm sure... I think Toney and Moore both see a lot of reps
 
FrancisSawyer said:
Carver and Washington are both likely out for the year and I wouldn't expect Jadais Richard to be back anytime soon.

At RB, I really like Lyle to emerge as RB1 with Fletcher in a utility role or RB2. It depends on him. The wildcard here is Marty Brown. I could see him either taking the next step in his development and getting RB2 carries or he may take a while to adjust to our scheme like Martinez last year. Pringle has gamebreaking ability but competition for carries will be fierce. Chris Wheatley Humphrey is a very interesting player. I agree with the Henry Parrish with speed comparison and I would love for Merritt/Dawson to get him on the field. The addition of Charmar "Marty" Brown has completely changed the dynamics of this group in a very good way.

I like what we have at WR and the two additions are solid and practical although I would have preferred a true WR#1 who could be a gamebreaker. This role could very well be filled by Jojo Trader buy who knows. I do expect Trader to have a very good season barring injury. It would be nice to know if CJ Daniel's ankle has fully healed because if it has, he could be that more experienced gamebreaking #1 we are looking for. I think both Tony Johnson and Keelan Marion will be very productive given the opportunity. Lastly I expect Toney, Moore and Upshaw to all compete for PT. How much we will have to see.

Elija Lofton should have a very good year as a do everything utility type. He will be a difficult matchup at TE and potentially a terror at RB.

I feel great about Beck assuming he makes a full recovery and has no issues throwing this summer. The thing is who will play if God forbid Beck gets hurt. Luke Nickel is the obvious choice because we all know what Emory gives us and Anderson is not ready. The issue here will be getting Nickel enough reps in a relief role in order to get him as much experience as possible for 2026.

I believe that this should be the best and deepest OL of the Cristobal/Mirabal era. Markel Bell returns at LT. I would like to see Bell continue to develop especially against speedier pass rushers. At LG Ryan Rodriguez returns after missing most of 2024 with an injury. At Center James Brockermeyer transferred over from TCU where he was All Big 12 Honorable Mention. At RG Anez Cooper will be a senior and Francis Mauigoa returns for his junior season. Depth consists of Samson Okunlola, Tommy Kinsler, Nino Francavilla, Juan Minaya and Matt McCoy. This comprises one of the best OLs in the nation imo.


At DT I feel great about the trio of Blay, Scott and Moton. After that there are question marks. True Freshman Donta Simpson flashed in spring and chances are he will be called on to provide depth. Artavious Jones will also likely be called upon. Simpson and Jones will have to step up at some point and real game reps are the best teacher. I would have liked another DT or 2 in the portal.

I love this DE room on paper but they must produce. I look for a big bounce back year from Rueben Bain and expect Akheem Mesidor to be energized after moving back to DE fulltime. What truly excites me here is the depth and young upcoming talent like Armando Blount, Marquis Lightfoot and true freshman Hayden Lowe with Booker Pickett Jr and Cole McConathy providing even more depth.

At LB, DC and LB coach Corey Hetherman will have every opportunity to show his ability as a teacher as he attempts to revitalize this as yet uninspiring group at LB. Popo Aguirre and Wes Bissainthe will likely play a lot. I'm also interested to see if true freshman Kellen Wiley can contribute as well as redshirt freshman Adarius Hayes. Portal transfer Kamal Bonner will get every opportunity to make an impact.

I'm excited to finally have a real CB group as it's been awhile. Xavier Lucas, OJ Frederique, Ethan O’Connor and Damari Brown give us an excellent 2 deep. At Safety, Zechariah Poyser and Jakobe Thomas give us solid and potentially excellent starters but depth remains a concern. Dylan Day is a young upcoming type with great potential and Markeith Williams comes off a very good spring to provide depth.
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Wiley Jr. I'm Wiley and I ain't competing. lol
 
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If Wiley Jr isn't on your depth chart u sleep. He will be a force to reckon with. By mid year he will be the starter if not before
 
Miami04 said:
I actually don’t think OJ will start. I think he had a good freshman year but he was the tallest midget. The Syracuse game showed he’s got some improving to do and the transfers are all proven.
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Definitely something to think about and he was hurt all spring. He’s definitely gonna have to truly earn that starting spot this year with a healthy Brown and that O’Connor kid. Both those kids are studs.
 
Kellen Sr said:
If Wiley Jr isn't on your depth chart u sleep. He will be a force to reckon with. By mid year he will be the starter if not before
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The first 4 games - especially starting with ND and ending with UF for us out of those 4, it's just tough to trust a frosh LB unless he absolutely blows away the competition and clearly separates early. Though I'd expect him and Pruitt to get a lot of burn in the middle 2 games.

With Hayes situation, I wouldn't expect anything from him. Bobby unfortunately is injured and no idea what his recovery timeline is like. Ideally we'd have Him, Wiley Jr, and then 1 more starting ... Maybe next yr!

But for ND, id bet its going to be Wes at Will (Pruitt backing him up), Popo and Bonner at Mike, and Toure at Sam (Wiley Jr backing him up).
 
Just figure out a way to get the most talented kids on the field and understanding their assignments!
 
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