Fansided
Fansided

Miami Hurricanes College Football Season Preview

By Eric Robinson

Oct 10, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) hands off to running back Joseph Yearby (2) in the second quarter of their game against the Miami Hurricanes at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) hands off to running back Joseph Yearby (2) in the second quarter of their game against the Miami Hurricanes at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 7
Next
Sep 19, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes players and mascot Sebastian carries the American flag before taking the team onto the field before a game against Nebraska Cornhuskers at Sun Life Stadium. Miami won 36-33. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes players and mascot Sebastian carries the American flag before taking the team onto the field before a game against Nebraska Cornhuskers at Sun Life Stadium. Miami won 36-33. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Predictions

There is a different sense with this edition of the Miami Hurricanes.

Are they College Football Playoff caliber? Nope. Those hopes and expectations should be placed in a lockbox and stored. The team has depth concerns and is still a recruiting class or two away from eliminating those concerns. However, Richt is light years ahead of Al Golden when it comes to being a head coach and Richt’s staff is definitely more skilled. What we may see in year one of this reclamation project is the difference between a quality coaching staff and one that is below-average.

More from NFL Mocks

Having a dark horse Heisman candidate in Kaaya, a solid set of running backs in Yearby/Walton and a couple of playmaking receivers in Coley and Njoku along with the talented freshmen in Bruce, Mullins, and Richards, gives the offense plenty of firepower.

The depth concerns are more evident on defense but, barring injuries of course, the guidance of Diaz can give a unit with Grace, Elder, Muhammad, Gerald Willis, Kendrick Norton, Quarterman, Jenkins, and Carter the ability to sharpen their football IQs to add to their given talent and Diaz’s blitz-happy, aggressive scheme plays into the hands of his current personnel.

The schedule isn’t tough but a four game sequence of FSU, UNC, VT, and Notre Dame will tell a lot about Richt and his skilled ball club. I don’t expect Miami to get throttled during that stretch of the season and a matter of fact, I can definitely envision an upset or two occurring during that time. An ACC division title is not out of the question in 2016 although I think it may be better to reserve that optimism for 2017 instead.

Prediction: 9-3, 2nd in the ACC Coastal Division

Next: Brad Kaaya Scouting Report

Home/ACC