Halfway through the regular season, the Hurricanes are getting a break.
After an improbable comeback win against California last week, No. 6 Miami has a bye week where it can rest, recuperate and game plan for its next opponent, Louisville.
Here is a look at a position-by-position breakdown of how each group has performed thus far.
Quarterback: A+
Cam Ward was expected to be an upgrade at quarterback. He has exceeded that expectation. The veteran quarterback is a Heisman candidate.
Ward has been one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. He leads the nation in passing yards (2,219) and passing touchdowns (20). Ward is No. 1 in passing yards per game (369.8) and is 19th in completion percentage (69.2).
The advanced analytics like Ward, too. He is sixth in the nation with a 182.43 quarterback rating and is third in ESPN’s QBR (91.2). Pro Football Focus ranks Ward first in offensive grade (93) and second in passing grade (91.6) among quarterbacks with 100 or more drop-backs.
Ward has not been perfect — he had a bad pick-six against Cal — but the Hurricanes would not be in this position without him.
Additionally, backup quarterbacks Reese Poffenbarger and Emory Williams have performed well when called upon in late-game, mop-up situations.
Running backs: B-
The Hurricanes have a stable of running backs, which makes it somewhat surprising that UM is “only” 44th nationally in rushing offense. Miami is averaging 184 rushing yards per game, which is a solid mark. But how the Hurricanes have racked up those yards is interesting, with the offense appearing unbalanced for long stretches of time.
Running back Damien Martinez, who was a 1,000-yard rusher at Oregon State last year, leads the team with 292 rushing yards. But he is fourth among the top four running backs in yards per carry (4.4 yards per carry, down from 6.1 yards per carry the last two years). Martinez is not playing poorly. He has a 75.5 offensive grade and a 76.7 rushing grade from PFF while leading the team with five rushing touchdowns. Martinez has also been a threat in the passing game, notching 130 receiving yards so far. But his lack of explosive runs has been a detriment so far this year.
Mark Fletcher Jr., who returned from a foot injury he suffered in last year’s bowl game, is leading the team with an 83.9 run grade from PFF, which is second in the ACC among players with 25 or more carries. He is averaging 6 yards per carry and has four rushing touchdowns. Fletcher is third on the team with 223 rushing yards.
Freshman Jordan Lyle and redshirt sophomore Ajay Allen excelled in non-conference play. Lyle is second on the team with 239 rushing yards, thanks in large part to a 91-yard touchdown run against USF. Lyle has a 78 rushing grade, which is ninth in the ACC and seventh among freshmen running backs nationally. The bulk of Allen’s running yards came in an excellent performance against Ball State.
Chris Johnson Jr. has been explosive in limited playing time but has made a bigger impact (two touchdowns) in the passing game.
The running backs have been solid, but there is still room for improvement.
Wide receivers: A
Ward can’t do it alone in the passing game. Luckily for him and for the Hurricanes, Miami’s wide receivers have been just as good.
Xavier Restrepo, who was an All-ACC receiver last year, is continuing his excellent UM career. He leads the team in receptions (32), receiving yards (585) and receiving touchdowns (five). He has an 85.9 receiving grade from PFF, which leads UM and is 10th nationally (and first in the ACC) among receivers with 10 or more targets. Restrepo is making his way up the list of all-time receivers at Miami; he moved into fourth place in receiving yards in UM’s win against Cal.
Isaiah Horton has been the breakout player in Miami’s receiver room. The third-year receiver is second on the team in receptions (31) and receiving yards (395) and has three touchdowns. Horton is second on the team with an 85 receiving grade, which is 13th nationally and second in the ACC, behind only Restrepo.
Jacolby George and Sam Brown Jr. have both been solid, as well. George has 290 receiving yards and three scores, while Brown has 246 yards and one touchdown. George is seventh in the ACC with a 75.9 grade.
Miami has not gotten much production from its backup receivers, but the Hurricanes have not needed to rely on them much with the top four’s production.
Tight ends: A
The Hurricanes’ tight ends were a maligned group last year and did not have a lot of production in the passing game. That has not been the case this season.
Starter Elijah Arroyo has thrived this year. After returning from an ACL tear that kept him sidelined for most of the past two seasons, the redshirt junior has been a weapon for Ward. He has 286 receiving yards and is second on the team with four touchdown catches — including the game-winner against Cal. PFF gives him a 73 offensive grade, which is 19th nationally and sixth in the ACC. Arroyo has been a solid blocker, as well.
Riley Williams and Cam McCormick have both had over 100 snaps, and they have been solid in their roles. Williams has six catches for 86 yards — including a key catch-and-run against Virginia Tech — but has low grades blocking (42.5 pass-blocking grade and a 56.2 run-blocking grade). McCormick has three catches for 24 yards and two touchdowns, and he has been good blocking on running plays (73.5 run-blocking grade).
Freshman Elija Lofton has looked good in his time on the field. He has eight catches for 133 yards and a score. PFF gives him high marks for his time on the field; he has an 83 offensive grade and an 83 receiving grade to go with grades above 70 in run and pass blocking.
Offensive line: B
Miami’s offensive line is a strength of the team, and it showed that in non-conference play. It has had a tougher time in recent weeks but remains a solid unit.
The Hurricanes currently rank 33rd in the nation with a 75.6 pass-blocking grade and 53rd in the nation with a 65.7 run-blocking grade. UM is currently tied for 66th in the nation with nine sacks allowed.
Sophomore Francis Mauigoa, a former five-star prospect, has been the team’s top lineman. He leads the team with a 76.5 offensive grade and has not allowed a sack all season.
Redshirt sophomore Matthew McCoy has also been a breakout player on the line, taking over the left guard spot and notching a 78.4 pass-blocking grade. He also has not allowed a sack.
New center Zach Carpenter and right guard Anez Cooper have been solid, if not spectacular, in their roles. They have offensive grades of 70.3 and 62.3, respectively. Junior-college transfer Markel Bell has started in place of the injured Jalen Rivers at left tackle, and he has a 60.8 offensive grade.
Rivers is expected to return for UM’s game against Louisville next week.
Defensive line: A
The Hurricanes revamped their defensive line entering the season, bringing in 12 new players. But the returning anchor was Rueben Bain Jr., a rising star who was the conference defensive rookie of the year last year.
Three plays into the season, Bain suffered an injury. But the Hurricanes’ line did not miss a beat. Miami is tied for fifth in the nation with 20 sacks and is 13th in the nation in run defense.
The main starting four linemen — Elijah Alston, Tyler Baron, Simeon Barrow Jr. and Akheem Mesidor — have all played well this year.
Baron, a Tennessee transfer, leads the team with 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and has racked up 20 quarterback pressures, which is tied for fifth in the ACC.
Barrow, a Michigan State transfer, has been arguably the best interior defensive lineman in the conference. He has 17 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and an 84.7 defensive grade. Barrow has been excellent at stopping the run, earning the seventh-best run-defense grade among ACC defensive linemen with at least 50 snaps this year.
Mesidor, who missed most of last year with foot injuries, has 12 tackles, 3.5 tackls for loss and 1.5 sacks. Alston, who missed UM’s win against Cal with an injury, 15 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. They have defensive grades of 77 and 76.2, respectively.
The Hurricanes rotational linemen have also performed well. Malik Bryant, who moved to edge rusher from linebacker, has been excellent in his role. He has the highest defensive grade (89.7) in the ACC among defensive linemen with 50 or more snaps. C.J. Clark, Justin Scott, Ahmad Moten, Anthony Campbell, Armondo Blount, Marley Cook and Cole McConathy have all been solid as reserves, as well.
And now Bain is back, too.
Linebackers: B+
Miami’s linebackers came up big last week vs. Cal. Junior Wesley Bissainthe had a key tackle to end a drive and set up the Hurricanes’ comeback. Senior Francisco Mauigoa had the game-sealing interception. The group has been solid all season.
Mauigoa is a leader on the defense, and returning for his second season at UM was crucial. He leads the team with 32 total tackles and has five tackles for loss. He also has two sacks and an interception. PFF gives Mauigoa a 72.4 defensive grade.
Bissainthe is having his best season at UM so far. He has 27 tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception. PFF gives him an 81.9 defensive grade, which is second in the ACC among all linebackers with 50 or more snaps. He has high grades in run defense (81.5, sixth among ACC linebackers) and coverage (86.3, best among conference linebackers).
Similar to the defensive line, the rotational linebackers have been good, as well. Sophomore Raul “Popo” Aguirre Jr. has played only 73 snaps but is fifth on the team with 18 tackles. He has 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack, and PFF gives him an 88.7 defensive grade — No. 1 among conference linebackers with at least 50 snaps.
Jaylin Alderman, a Louisville transfer, and Chase Smith have also played well in rotational roles.
Cornerbacks: C+
The cornerback group was an area of concern entering the season. They looked good to start the year, but issues have started to appear in ACC play, especially with starter Damari Brown missing time due to an injury he suffered in Week 1 against Florida. The only cornerback with an interception is walk-on Myles Mooyoung, who had a pick late in the game against USF.
Veteran Daryl Porter Jr. has been the anchor of the group, and he has been decent, if not excellent, so far this year. He has nine tackles and two pass breakups. PFF gives him a 60.8 grade this year, which is tied for 53rd in the conference.
Freshman O.J. Frederique Jr. has been a key player. He has the highest defensive grade among Miami’s corners, notching a 70.2 grade (tied for 19th in the ACC). He has 11 tackles and one breakup.
D’Yoni Hill, a transfer from Marshall, has been solid, as well. He has 18 tackles and the lowest opponent completion percentage among UM’s main corners (43.8 percent, 12th in the ACC among corners with 50 or more snaps). He has a 69.7 defensive grade. Jadais Richard, in his second year in the program, has 17 tackles and a 60.8 defensive grade.
Safeties: B-
Safety Meesh Powell was a crucial addition to the Hurricanes’ secondary via the transfer portal, and Jaden Harris has been solid at strong safety, but Miami still has room to improve at this position.
Powell, who has played the most snaps on defense for UM, has had some shining moments and some not-so-great moments. He has three interceptions, which leads the Hurricanes. But he also has eight missed tackles, which is tied for the team lead with Mauigoa. His 67.3 defensive grade is 19th among ACC safeties with 50 or more snaps.
Harris has 24 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, giving him the ninth-best pass-rush grade among ACC safeties. But he has just a 57.6 grade in coverage, which is 48th among ACC safeties.
Rotational safeties Zaquan Patterson and Markeith Williams have decent grades — 68.9 and 69.6, respectively — in their limited playing time.
Special teams: B+
Miami’s special teams has been solid, as expected.
Kicker Andy Borregales is seven for eight on field goals, missing one kick over 40 yards but draining a career-high 56-yarder. His 82 field-goal grade is 21st nationally and seventh in the ACC. He has also been great on kickoffs, notching touchbacks on 34 of 46 kickoffs. His 88.4 kickoff grade is No. 2 in the nation.
Dylan Joyce has not had many opportunities to punt, only coming out 10 times in six games. He is averaging 37.5 net yards per punt, which is tied for 102nd.
On the return side, Chris Johnson Jr. has shown explosiveness, breaking off a 40-yard return. Ray Ray Joseph has been decent returning punts, as well.
Coaching: A-
It is difficult to put a grade on coaching without knowing all the details about what happens behind the scenes. But the Hurricanes’ staff appears to be doing a fine job.
Miami has fallen into difficult spots in both of its ACC games. Both times, they launched comeback attempts that ultimately succeeded. That demonstrates the culture Mario Cristobal and his staff have built.
The Hurricanes have had issues on the field, and they have been addressed. UM had a couple down weeks of running the ball; that got better against Cal. They missed a season-high 19 tackles against Virginia Tech but lowered that number to seven against Cal.
The black mark on the 2023 season was the failure to take a knee to seal the win against Georgia Tech. While there are always nitpicks to make about coaching — when to take timeouts, when to punt, etc. — there have been no egregious issues like that this season.
Overall, the Hurricanes have improved in pretty much every aspect of the game this season.
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