Hurricane Football - What to Expect in 2025

In last week’s edition of Canes Corner, we reviewed Head Coach Mario Cristobal’s first three years and detailed the 2024 season that started with high expectations but finished 10-3 after a 9-0 start.

Now that the past is gone, we will be focusing on 2025 in today’s storylines. Which players and coaches are gone, how might the new arrivals contribute, how is fall practice progressing, and will the culture Coach Cristobal has been developing help Miami attain 2025 goal number one: reaching the ACC Championship Game?

The ultimate goal is a national championship, but to get there a team must make it to the twelve-team College Football Playoff. To get to the CFP, the Hurricanes must earn a spot in the Conference Championship Game.

Who’s gone on offense?
The biggest loss is at quarterback, the most important position. Cam Ward set Miami single-season records in completions (305), passing yards (4,313), passing touchdowns (39), and completion percentage (67.2%) while leading the Canes to their first 10-win season since 2018. The Tennessee Titans selected Ward as the first player taken in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Running back Damian Martinez was drafted by Seattle, and both Ajay Allen and Chris Johnson entered the transfer portal. Wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, who set Miami career records for receptions and receiving yards, and Jacolby George are out of eligibility. Sam Brown declared for the draft, and Isaiah Horton transferred to Alabama.

Miami lost three tight ends. Elijah Arroyo was a second-round draft pick, Cam McCormick is out of eligibility, and Riley Williams transferred to Oregon State. On the offensive line, Miami lost two starters: left tackle Jalen Rivers, a fifth-round selection by Cincinnati in the NFL Draft, and center Zach Carpenter, who was out of eligibility. Kicker Andy Borregales was selected in the sixth round of the draft by New England.

The replacements on offense
It might look like a disaster with all those key losses, but credit to Coach Cristobal and Offensive Coordinator Shannon Dawson for filling those holes admirably.

At quarterback, Miami added Georgia transfer Carson Beck, who was 24-3 in his 27 starts for the Bulldogs. Beck was the Georgia starter in 2023 and 2024. In ’23 he led Georgia to a 63-3 win over Florida State in the Orange Bowl. In ’24, Beck led his team to an 11-2 record, an SEC Championship win, and a College Football Playoff berth.

At running back, the Canes are stacked. Returnees Junior Mark Fletcher and Sophomore Jordan Lyle will lead the way. Both are 200 lb. plus bruisers that can run with anyone. Char Mar Brown, a redshirt sophomore transfer from North Dakota State, is another big back. Freshman Girard Pringle Jr. has “take it to the house” speed from anywhere on the gridiron.

The Hurricanes’ staff did a great job building the 2025 wide receiver group. LSU transfer CJ Daniels will start out wide. Either sophomore JoJo Trader or BYU transfer Keelan Marion will start at the other wideout spot. Two exceptional freshmen will be major contributors: Josh Moore will play outside, and Malachi Toney will contribute both outside and in the slot. Sophomore Ny Carr and freshman Dylan Upshaw should also see snaps out wide.

Cincinnati transfer Tony Johnson looks like the starter in the slot, but it could be Toney or junior Ray Ray Joseph.

Elija Lofton is a budding superstar at TE. Lofton is 6’2”, 242, and can run. He is as much an H-back as a TE and will be lined up all over. Alex Bauman, a 6’5” transfer from Tulane, is basically an in-line TE, and both he and Lofton will complement each other when the offense lines up in a “12” formation. Freshmen Brock Schott and Luka Gilbert, as well as UAB transfer Jack Nickel, are next men up.

The offensive line looks to be the strongest and deepest of all position groups. It’s very likely that three Miami offensive linemen will be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Senior Markell Bell, the 6’9”, 345 lb. starting left tackle, has improved every season at the U and is ready to reap the rewards of all his hard work.

Redshirt junior Matthew McCoy or redshirt senior Ryan Rodriguez will start at left guard. TCU transfer James Brockermeyer will man the center position. Senior Anez Cooper returns at right guard, and junior Francis Mauigoa at right tackle.

Offensive line coach Alex Mirabal cross-trains the entire OL group. The primary backups will be Samson Okunlola and Tommy Kinsler at tackle, Max Buchanan at guard, and SJ Alofaituli at center. All will play multiple positions as spot subs, injury replacements, and in situational plays.

Who’s gone on defense?
Two defensive players were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. Both linebacker Kiki Mauigoa and defensive end Tyler Baron were fifth-round picks by the NY Jets. Three defenders were signed to undrafted free agent contracts: CB Daryl Porter Jr. to Buffalo, safety Mishael Powell to Minnesota, and DL Simeon Barrow to Atlanta.

Three players were invited to camps without contracts: DL Marley Cook, long snapper Mason Napper, and DT CJ Clark.

Eight players found new homes in the transfer portal: DL Joshua Horton (Georgia), DE Elias Rudolph (UNLV), CB Emmanuel Karnley (Virginia), CB Robert Stafford (UCLA), CB D’yoni Hill (Wisconsin), safety Isaiah Thomas (Kennesaw State), safety Jaden Harris (Georgia), and safety Zaquan Patterson (Oklahoma State).

The loss that hits hardest is Patterson transferring after an excellent freshman season for the Canes. Last year’s defensive backfield was Miami’s weakest position group. Some contributors left in the portal, but Coach Cristobal and new DC Corey Hetherman loaded up on talent in the transfer portal.

The replacements on defense
The defensive line will be a very strong position group. A healthy Reuben Bain and Akheem Mesidore will return as starters at defensive end. Armando Blount, Marquise Lightfoot, and Malik Bryant (who will also play at linebacker) are the returnees at the edge. Even with all that depth and talent, 6’5”, 255 lb. freshman Hayden Lowe, a future superstar, will get his share of snaps.

There is talent at defensive tackle, but not as much depth as on the edge. Returning redshirt junior Ahmed Moten and Louisiana Tech transfer David Blay will start at DT. Sophomore Justin Scott will challenge for a starting spot. Redshirt freshman Artavius Jones and true freshman Donta Simpson will be in the DT rotation. It’s very possible that, if necessitated by injury or game situations, some of the aforementioned edge players will move inside. Sophomore DEs Booker Pickett and Cole McConathy, as well as freshman DT Daylen Russell, will provide additional defensive line depth.

Miami’s base defense is a hybrid 4-2-3-2 where they play a weak-side and middle linebacker and a nickel back on the strong (tight end) side. Senior Wesley Bissainthe and NC State transfer Kevin Bonner will compete for the start at the weak-side spot. Rutgers transfer Mo Toure will start at middle linebacker with junior Raul “PoPo” Aguirre as primary backup.

Returning redshirt seniors Chase Smith and Jaylin Alderman, redshirt sophomore Bobby Washington Jr., and freshman Cam Pruitt will provide linebacker depth.

A couple of transfers will be battling for the starting spot at the nickel position: Auburn transfer Keionte Scott and Michigan State transfer Charles Brantley are the contenders. Sophomore OJ Frédérique and Wisconsin transfer Xavier Lucas will be the likely starters at cornerback. Redshirt sophomore Damari Brown will back up at both nickel and CB. Washington State transfer Ethan O’Connor will be a primary backup at CB, and freshmen Chris Ewald and Jaboree Antoine will provide depth.

Safety was a particular problem last season. Both potential starters are transfers. Highly regarded Jacksonville State transfer Zechariah Poyser and Middle Tennessee State transfer Jakobe Thomas will start. Next up on the safety depth chart will be redshirt junior Markeith Williams, sophomore Dylan Day, USC transfer Briton Allen, and the aforementioned CBs O’Connor and Richard. Freshmen Amari Wallace and Bryce Fitzgerald will also be in the mix for playing time.

Special teams
There is a close competition to replace Andy Borregales at kicker. Texas transfer Bert Auburn looks to have the lead over senior Carter Davis. Davis might handle kickoffs. Dylan Joyce returns for his third year as punter. WR Keelan Marion, CB Keionte Scott, and RB Char Mar Brown have been handling punt and kickoff returns in fall camp.

The outlook
Canes Corner believes the balance sheet, after all the player changes that were made, will fall significantly on the plus side.

Miami has been ranked #10 in both the USA Today and Associated Press preseason polls. Week one opponent Notre Dame is #5 in the USA and #6 in the AP poll.

The proof of the pudding will be in the pie. That pie will be served at the 7:30 kickoff on Sunday night in the nationally televised contest at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

In the August 29 edition of the SDNL, Canes Corner will provide complete coverage of the Hurricanes–Fighting Irish clash.

That’s it for now. Be well, all, and Go Canes!