<body><div><h2>These young players can help Miami continue to improve in 2024.</h2>The bye week provides a valuable opportunity for a team to rest and recover in the middle of a physical season.The bye week also provides an opportunity for a program to make tweaks for the remainder of a season in terms of playing time.This article looks to highlight five young players that might deserve expanded roles coming out of the bye week.Miami has done a nice job of providing opportunities to the young players on the roster through the first half of the season and now in some cases those players have proven they can play a bigger role as this Hurricanes team looks to continue to ascend during the course of the season.The Hurricanes opened the season with a 41-17 win at in-state rival Florida to open the season. In that game, quarterback Cam Ward established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the country, throwing for 385 yards with three touchdowns and one interception against a Florida Gators defense that had no answers.UM then cruised to victories over lesser opponents, earning double digit wins over FAMU, Ball State, and South Florida.Then ACC play started in week five of the season and the Hurricanes met more resistance from opponents like Virginia Tech and California, which were one-score victories by UM that required dramatic comebacks in the fourth quarter.At the midway point of the season, Miami ranks inside the top ten in many key statistical categories on offense. UM is averaging 47.7 points per game, which ranks second overall in the country. The Hurricanes are averaging 583 yards per game, which ranks number one nationally. Miami is also the top third down offense in the country, converting 60.3 percent of their opportunities. The Hurricanes have also improved their red-zone touchdown efficiency year-over-year with UM converting 72.73 percent of those opportunities into touchdowns.Defensively, Miami is allowing 18.8 points per game, which ranks 31st in the country. UM ranks No. 12 in pass defensive efficiency while allowing 89.7 yards per game on the ground, which ranks No. 13 nationally. The Hurricanes pass rush is averaging 3.33 sacks per game, which ranks No. 9 overall in the country. On third down, the UM defense is allowing opponents to convert 30.7 percent of their opportunities, which ranks No. 18 overall in the country.Good teams continue to improve as the season progresses. This article looks to highlight some young players who can help the Hurricanes maximize the second half of this 2024 season.<h2>RB JORDAN LYLE </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2xP0us_0w1V45pL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2xP0us_0w1V45pL00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: 247Sports)</figcaption></figure>Average Snaps Through First Six Games: 11Truthfully, this average seems about right for the rest of the season, but it will be interesting to monitor if Miami will do that during ACC play.Lyle averaged 15 snaps during non-conference play because he was able to get into the game during blowout situations. Against Virginia Tech and California, Lyle averaged four offensive snaps per game.The case for Lyle playing more in ACC play has to do with his immense talent. Lyle is inexperienced, but he is clearly the most talented and well-rounded running back on the team with his combination of size, speed, and contact balance. Pass protection has not been an issue for Lyle with the freshman back earning an 82.0 pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus through the first six games.In non-conference play, Lyle showed the ability to score tough, short yardage touchdowns in the red-zone and against USF he showed impressive explosiveness while generating a 91-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter (and hitting 21 miles per hour).In 2023, Mark Fletcher saw his workload jump significantly in the second half of the season. Miami's 2024 backfield is deeper and more talented, but we'd like to see Lyle get more work in the second half of this year.<h2>RB CHRIS JOHNSON</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=04EkhO_0w1V45pL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=04EkhO_0w1V45pL00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: 247Sports)</figcaption></figure>Average Snaps Through First Six Games: 4On the front end, let's make it clear that we like the way Miami incorporated Johnson into the offense as a gadget player, utilizing his speed in space in both the run game and pass game.Johnson has caught seven passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns while running the ball six times for 31 yards. He is averaging 7.6 yards per touch out of the backfield.We'd advocate for Miami to find ways to incorporate Johnson more into the run game this season because the Hurricanes would benefit from the explosive potential he provides at the running back position.On special teams, Johnson is averaging 28.1 yards per kick return and we'd like to see him get an opportunity to show what he can do as a punt returner too.Johnson is dangerous any time he can touch the ball. He deserves more touches in the second half of the season.<h2>TE ELIJA LOFTON </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3dNmxz_0w1V45pL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3dNmxz_0w1V45pL00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: 247Sports)</figcaption></figure>Average Snaps Through First Six Games: 15Miami's tight end room is deep and talented. So within that context, the UM staff is doing a good job of working him into the playing rotation as a true freshman.But we think a case could be made for Lofton to get on the field slightly more because whether he is blocking or catching passes, he finds a way to make plays and make an impact.Lofton has caught eight passes for 133 yards and one touchdown. He is also making an impact as a run blocking, earning a 73.9 grade in that phase from PFF.Lofton is a mismatch because he is a Swiss Army knife type of talent that impacts things significantly and we'd like to see him get on the field slightly more.<h2>DT JUSTIN SCOTT</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1HFhmc_0w1V45pL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1HFhmc_0w1V45pL00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: 247Sports)</figcaption></figure>Average Snaps Through First Six Games: 11Scott is an ultra talented true freshman, who has flashed his talent during the first half of the season and he is poised to play a slightly bigger role in the second half of a season.In five games, Scott has generated six tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack in a small role.Scott has also generated five pressures on 41 pass rushing snaps, which is a strong rate at the defensive tackle position.A team can never have too many talented defensive tackles. Especially a team that has aspirations of making a playoff run and playing plenty of extra games in the postseason. Look for Scott to earn a bigger role in November.<h2>DB ZAQUAN PATTERSON</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1HN9lo_0w1V45pL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1HN9lo_0w1V45pL00" width="620" height="320" ></figure>Average Snaps Through First Six Games: 8Miami would be wise to develop its depth at safety and providing an opportunity to a player like Patterson, who is talented, but still adjusting to the speed of the game at the college level.Since the start of ACC play, Miami's starting safeties, Meesh Powell and Jaden Harris, have struggled to play with consistency, whether it is in coverage or with tackling in space.In an elevated role, Patterson would likely take some lumps too, but the drop-off wouldn't be too steep and the pay off could help the Hurricanes in the long run. Elevating Patterson to a bigger role at safety would also move Powell to his more natural nickel corner spot.Getting Patterson going in the second half of the season would benefit the defense in the long run.</div></body>

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Five young players to keep an eye on during the second half of the season

These young players can help Miami continue to improve in 2024. The bye week provides a valuable opportunity for a team to rest and recover in the middle of a physical season. The bye week also provides an opportunity for a program to make tweaks for the remainder of a season in terms of playing time.

Five young players to keep an eye on during the second half of the season

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