With week three of fall camp now underway and a second scrimmage coming later this week, Miami’s camp has its usual headliners. But the more interesting story might be the players working a little farther from the spotlight - the ones quietly carving out roles while the bigger names keep drawing the attention.
Three of those under-the-radar pieces stood out in the latest breakdown from @DMoney and Ahmmon Richards, who had exclusive access to the Hurricanes’ fall camp and zeroed in on where these guys stand right now.
Jamal Meriweather is one to file away on the offensive line.
The tackle from Brunswick, Ga., the same hometown as former Cane Deejay Dallas, arrived from Georgia with injuries already complicating his spring. He wasn’t polished when he got there, and that’s part of the point.
Richards said Georgia had not put him in a great developmental spot before he transferred, noting, "[Meriweather] is an upside portal guy," Richards said. "He wasn't coached very well at Georgia."
That led to a comparison to Adrian Colbert, another talented transfer who didn’t see much action before landing at Miami and eventually building a real NFL career once the staff had a chance to work with him. No one is forecasting that exact path for Meriweather, but the raw tools are there and the line coaches have earned the benefit of the doubt. He’s very much a project, but one worth watching.
At defensive end, Herbert Scroggins is back in the conversation.
“Third” Scroggins has been working his way back from injury, and the picture now looks a lot more encouraging than it did earlier. He’s not out; he’s progressing. In fact, he’s now pushing to be Miami’s fourth defensive end behind Wilson, Lightfoot and Blount.
Richards said Scroggins is the clear favorite if he stays healthy, and that he’s moved beyond the early recovery phase. He played in the scrimmage, Mario talked about how he played in the scrimmage; he was seen at practice today, and he’s now taking part in practice, team drills and hitting.
That matters. In August, depth is a talking point.
In October and November, it’s a separator. Scroggins already has meaningful snaps from last season’s national title run, and if he keeps trending this way, Miami has a legitimate fourth option instead of crossing its fingers.
Then there’s Vance Spafford, who seems to be settling in as camp goes on.
The freshman had a rough adjustment in the spring, and the jump from high school football to Greentree in the summer heat was no small thing. Richards has seen him work through that learning curve day after day.
"The routes are there, the speed is there," Richards said. "He's been a guy that's just stacking days and it's a noticeable difference from spring to now."
Spafford also appears to have added strength, which should help him play through contact. The polish still has room to grow, but the 4.3 speed that made him such a prized recruit is showing up more consistently, along with a better comfort level in the system.
In Other News...
Miami Scrimmage Put Two Early Roster Battles Under The Spotlight
The first scrimmage of Miamis 2026 fall camp gave the coaching staff an early look at where the depth chart is taking shape, and just as importantly, where it still needs work. The Hurricanes came out of the session with a better sense of player performance across the board, but a few spots already have the feel of real camp battles, especially on offense as the staff sorts through who fits where once the pads are on and the tempo picks up.
One of the most closely watched jobs is the third receiver role, a spot that could end up mattering plenty once the season starts. Up front, SJ Alofaituli is also under the microscope at left guard, where his frame stands out next to Miamis other top linemen, and the staff will keep using the coming scrimmages to see whether he can hold that spot. Freshmen are in the mix, too, with a chance to turn early camp work into meaningful snaps if they keep making the right impression. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Just Took An Unexpected Hit In Its Receiver Room
Miamis receiver room took an unexpected turn this week when Mario Cristobal announced Cam Vaughn was no longer with the program. Vaughn had arrived in January as a transfer after stops at West Virginia and Jacksonville State, and he had been one of the more interesting newcomers to watch as camp unfolded.
His presence had added another layer of competition to an offense still sorting out its depth chart, and he had drawn praise from both coaches and teammates along the way. Vaughn had been working with the third-team offense while pushing for a bigger role, so his departure leaves Miami with one less option as fall camp continues to shape the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Is Already Making Tough Camp Cuts At A Key Position
Miamis camp has already turned serious at wide receiver, where the Hurricanes are still sorting out a crowded group ahead of the season opener against Stanford. Three players have been dismissed during camp, part of a broader push as the staff continues to evaluate effort and consistency in practice.
Head coach Manny Diaz addressed the situation on a radio show and made clear that the standard in camp is not optional. The message is aimed at a position group with plenty of competition, and the ongoing cuts show Miami is willing to make difficult decisions now rather than let camp drag on with unfinished business. [Read more 🡒]