It’s no surprise that Miami is keeping things tight-lipped heading into the opener at Stanford, because that’s been the norm under Mario Cristobal. The Hurricanes usually don’t let the full depth chart see daylight until it gets handed out in the press box and makes its way onto social media.
That uncertainty has left some people wondering where everyone fits and how much depth this team really has. Miami enters the season opener against Stanford with some turnover on the roster after losing several players to the transfer portal, dismissal, and injuries.
Even with those changes, the Hurricanes are in solid shape in key spots and ready to roll no matter how the pieces are arranged. The offensive line is one of the biggest talking points, but Cristobal isn’t treating it like something that needs to be solved in public.
“In terms of who are going to walk out on the field and play first, we'll kind of hold off on that until it's time," Cristobal said during Monday's press conference. "I think this. I think when you have a lot of guys that are truly capable of starting and that can play winning football for you, and the battles are close, I think you keep those guys on edge all the time because it's the only way to get the best out of them, right?
"And that's going to be no different for a couple of other positions as well. I believe strongly in those guys showing up on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and absolutely just fighting with everything they have in them to earn a role, playing time, starting position, whatever it may be. I think that when they come here, and that when they're recruited by us, they know to expect that, and we feel strongly about that.”
For now, the only specific two-deep note listed is at defensive end, where Armondo Blount and Herbert Scroggins III are the names to watch.
Miami Hurricanes on SI said it will continue updating its position previews until fall camp begins in August.
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Miami Suddenly Has An Unsettling Backfield Issue Before The Opener
Miamis preseason picture got a little murkier this week as the Hurricanes continued sorting through a long list of availability concerns ahead of the opener. Running back Jordan Lyle has been ruled out, and head coach Mario Cristobal said his status is tied to either a self-imposed team suspension or a new injury, leaving another layer of uncertainty around a group that already has several players listed as out, questionable or probable.
Cristobal said Lyles situation has not changed as Miami moves through its game-week prep, which keeps the focus on how the Hurricanes will piece together the backfield and manage the rest of the absences. With multiple key contributors unavailable, the opener now carries a little more intrigue than Miami likely wanted, especially in a spot where early-season continuity usually matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Darian Mensah's Duke Exit Just Got A Lot More Painful
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Now Mensah is headed to Miami, and the reported price tag attached to that decision is even larger, around $6.5 million. For the Hurricanes, it is another sign of how aggressively they are operating in the modern quarterback market, while for Duke the exit only looks more painful in hindsight after the back-and-forth that followed his original return announcement. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Fans Should Know These Stanford Names Before The Opener
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Benji Blackburn gives Stanford a tight end option with size and a chance to matter in the middle of the field, while Micah Ford brings a running back profile that could help the Cardinal stay balanced. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Matt Rose stands out as a defender Miami will need to account for, giving the opener a few individual matchups that could shape how comfortable the Hurricanes look right out of the gate. [Read more 🡒]