There’s no question the Miami Hurricanes have upgraded their talent significantly since Mario Cristobal took over in 2022.
But there are plenty of questions about who’s the best NFL prospect among the Canes who will be draft eligible in 2025. (Defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., who has first-round potential, isn’t draft eligible until 2026.)
CBS’ Ryan Wilson says it’s quarterback Cam Ward; he has Ward as the 13th overall pick in April’s NFL Draft and the third quarterback off the board, behind Georgia’s Carson Beck and Colorado’s Shadeur Sanders.
The 33rd Team’s Kyle Crabbs also says it’s Ward; he has Ward going 18th in April’s draft.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. said Ward has first-round potential: “Cam Ward was at Incarnate Word. Then he goes to Washington State, completes 67 percent of his passes. Now, he’s at Miami. You saw last week against Florida down in The Swamp what he’s capable of.
“All the arm angles, an unorthodox delivery, the mobility, the roll right, roll left, and make accurate throws. This kid has no fear of throwing the football at any point on the field. He’s on a team that will win 11 or 12 games and be in the playoff.... He could move up from that third-, fourth-round area and into round one.”
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said in recent weeks that UM’s best draft-eligible player is receiver Sam Brown, whom he rates 47th among all 2025 draft prospects.
Brugler said: “The Hurricanes added several high-profile transfers this offseason, like quarterback Cam Ward and running back Damien Martinez, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Brown is the highest drafted of Miami’s incoming transfers.
“The Savannah, Georgia, native spent two seasons at West Virginia [2020-21] and two seasons at Houston [2022-23], leading the Cougars in receiving last year with 62 receptions for 815 yards and three touchdowns.
“If the 2025 NFL Draft were tomorrow, I don’t think Brown would be one of the first five receivers drafted. If you’re looking for an underrated senior prospect ready to emerge, though, Brown has the talent to ascend.”
Pro Football Focus says it’s Xavier Restrepo; PFF rates him 62nd among all prospects. PFF has running back Martinez as UM’s second-best draft prospect, 83rd overall. Ward is rated third, 99th overall.
To some, the best pro prospect entering the season might be edge player Tyler Baron. ESPN’s Matt Miller says Baron is a potential first-rounder.
Here’s what Eric Galko, the director of football operations for the East-West Shrine game, said of the former Tennessee standout, on the social media platform X:
“At [6-4 and] 255, Miami’s Baron uses his long and powerful frame to explode into the backfield to rush the passer and set a firm edge against the run, and there’s a good chance he would’ve been a top-four round pick a year ago.
“He helped lead Tennessee to an SEC-high 101 TFL as a team, with 10.5 of his own and his activeness and impact as a disrupter leading to many more and forcing offenses to adjust.
“ Per@PFF_College, he has the fifth highest pressure percent among returning [Power 5] defensive linemen, and should be able to be at or near the top of that list this year too. With one of the most complete DE skill sets in college football, Baron gets to work with NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor as his new D-Line coach at Miami, who will continue to develop and craft Baron into an ELITE force along the Hurricane defensive line.”
Baron has four sacks in Miami’s first two games.
THIS AND THAT
Freshman defensive tackle Justin Scott continues to emerge. He had a sack last week.
“He’s been growing, growing into a great player,” senior defensive tackle Simeon Barrow said. “He sits right between me and Akheem Mesidor [during meetings], always wants to find something to get better at. I feel he’ll be a great player in the future.”
▪ Through two games, among those who have played a lot, Pro Football Focus rates Ward, receiver Isaiah Horton and Martinez as UM’s top three players on offense, and Baron, linebacker Wesley Bissainthe and safety Mishael Powell as the top three on defense
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