Miami Hurricanes Football

Miami's first ACC game of the year ended with a 47-34 victory over No. 18 Louisville in Cardinal Stadium on Saturday evening.

Big plays buoyed Miami to victory, with the Hurricanes posting a pair of 75-yard touchdowns and a 47-yard score in the second half.

Louisville scored four second-half touchdowns but could not keep pace with the high-flying 'Canes, who were led by quarterback D'Eriq King's 325 passing yards and three touchdowns.

The Hurricanes, who beat UAB 31-14 to open their season, are now 2-0. Louisville, which beat Western Kentucky 35-21 last Saturday, fell to 1-1.

                  

Notable Performances

Miami QB D'Eriq King: 18-of-30, 325 passing yards, 3 TD

Miami RB Cam'Ron Harris: 9 carries, 134 rushing yards, 1 TD

Miami TE Brevin Jordan: 7 catches, 120 receiving yards, 1 TD

Louisville QB Malik Cunningham: 26-of-36, 307 passing yards, 3 TD, 1 INT

Louisville RB Javian Hawkins: 27 carries, 164 rushing yards, 1 TD

Louisville WR Tutu Atwell: 8 catches, 114 receiving yards, 2 TD

    

Big Plays Lead to Miami's Road Win

Explosive plays lead to wins, and Miami was no exception in its dominating victory over Louisville.

Such plays also destroy an opponent's momentum.

The Cardinals refused to give up after a first half where they fell down two scores in part because Miami kicker Jose Borregales, who is establishing himself as the Lou Groza Award front-runner, knocked home field goals of 48 and 57 yards to close the scoring before halftime.

Down 20-6, Louisville started the second half with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive.

It was an impressive start for the Cardinals, but Miami had other plans, with Cam'Ron Harris taking one to the house from 75 yards to erase the home team's work:

MIAMI TAKES IT THE DISTANCE 💨 pic.twitter.com/qAugUp8qlL

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 20, 2020

To Louisville's credit, the Cardinals bounced back with an 11-play, 74-yard drive capped by a Tutu Atwell six-yard touchdown catch.

However, Miami struck quickly once again. This time, Jaylan Knighton caught a pass from King and went 75 yards for the score.

Jaylan Knighton practicing social distancing pic.twitter.com/UngFO3P4gy

— Brody Logan (@BrodyLogan) September 20, 2020

A breakdown in the Louisville defense certainly helped out, but Miami took advantage.

The Cardinals were left with next to no room for error due to Miami's penchant for back-breaking plays, and they could not keep pace.

A three-and-out after a drive that lost 11 yards led to a Miami field goal, and the Hurricanes held on from there.

Of course, they added one more big play to their resume in the form of a 47-yard touchdown pass from King to Brevin Jordan. That all but sealed the win to keep Miami undefeated.

        

Defensive Breakdowns Doom Louisville

Louisville has the offensive talent to be competitive in the ACC. Of note, the trio of wideout Tutu Atwell, quarterback Malik Cunningham and running back Javian Hawkins should guide Louisville to numerous scoring explosions.

However, the defense is a work in progress, as evidenced Saturday.

Miami gained 485 yards from scrimmage despite possessing the ball for just 21:59. In other words, the 'Canes offense amassed roughly 22 yards per minute.

The Hurricanes committed zero turnovers, and they punted only three times.

Credit to Miami's offense, which played lights-out football and can make a case for being the ACC's second-best team behind Clemson.

But Louisville has to get to work. Numerous analysts recognized the Cardinals' defensive shortcomings, which included wide-open Hurricanes finding nothing but green to the end zone.

After the Harris touchdown run, Chris B. Brown of Smart Football tweeted: "The cornerback follows the motion, and then the defensive end/OLB jumps and the linebacker to that side both jump inside. Very unsound stuff."

Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio brought up memories of Louisville's 45-13 loss to Kentucky last November, in which the Cardinals allowed 517 rushing yards.

Louisville’s Defense reminds me of one I saw in the last game in Lexington last year

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) September 20, 2020

Stewart Mandel of The Athletic and Dominique Yates of the Louisville Courier-Journal also offered their takes.

I don't want to take anything away from Miami, but Louisville has had mind-boggling coverage busts on three of these TDs.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) September 20, 2020

Louisville’s defense looks a lot like I did in my math classes - confused.

— Dominique Yates (@RealDYates) September 20, 2020

The road ahead doesn't get easier for Louisville thanks to its tough schedule, which features three straight road games against No. 25 Pitt, Georgia Tech and No. 7 Notre Dame up next. That doesn't leave much time for the defense to improve.

In other words, the onus might be on the offense for lights-out performances to guide Louisville to victories on their challenging road stretch.

            

What's Next?

Miami hosts archrival Florida State on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, while Louisville will visit the Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday at noon ET.

Many teams across college football have tried to rip off the Miami Hurricanes' famed turnover chain, but the school keeps coming back with more and more over-the-top versions of its iconic trophy.

On Saturday, the Canes debuted their fourth edition of the necklace given to whichever defender forces a turnover, and it's an absolute beauty.

First look at the U’s new turnover chain ⛓🙌

(via @CanesFootball) pic.twitter.com/BSct5CfRsN

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 20, 2020

The charm—shaped like the state of Florida—weighs 300 grams and features 1,400 sapphire stones on the "U" logo. The rest of the state is made from 1,900 sapphires, while the chain itself weighs two kilograms and checks in at 30 inches long.

Miami spent nearly three months putting the piece of jewelry together, and it certainly paid off.

Al Blades Jr. was the first Hurricanes player to win the chain this season with an interception on Louisville's Malik Cunningham late in the second quarter.

⛓ 2020 TURNOVER CHAIN ⛓ @CanesFootball pic.twitter.com/ZMHuvLcIGW

— ACC Network (@accnetwork) September 20, 2020

After seeing what the chain looks like this year, he'll have plenty of teammates vying for it as well.

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Tate Martell is opting out of the 2020 season following a one-game suspension by head coach Manny Diaz, according to Barry Jackson and Susan Miller Degnan of the Miami Herald.

The redshirt junior did not play in the season opener last Saturday against Alabama-Birmingham and wasn't listed on the depth chart earlier this week.

Martell has long shown plenty of promise as a college football star, though he's yet to make a name for himself on the field as an NCAA player. 

The quarterback out of Nevada was ranked the No. 2 player in the state in 2017 as well as the No. 2 overall dual-threat QB in the nation by 247Sports, which named him a four-star recruit. 

Martell originally signed with Ohio State over the likes of Alabama, Texas A&M, Michigan and Auburn but only threw 28 passes in two years on campus with the Buckeyes. After redshirting his freshman year, Martell lost the starting battle to Dwayne Haskins Jr. in 2018.

Following the news that Georgia quarterback Justin Fields was transferring to Ohio State, Martell made the decision to leave for Miami. 

That decision has yet to pay off, and a failed transition to wideout after losing another QB battle didn't help matters. 

Miami is currently using former Houston star D'Eriq King at quarterback and was rewarded with a win in the season opener against UAB. 

King completed 16 of 24 passes for 144 yards, one touchdown and a passer rating of 130.8. 

Miami defensive end Gregory Rousseau has opted out of the 2020 college football season.

Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz confirmed Rousseau's decision to reporters on Thursday. The redshirt sophomore had 15.5 sacks and 54 tackles in 2019, earning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

"We support him 100 percent in his decision," Hurricanes defensive coordinator Blake Baker said, per Christy Chirinos of Miami's official athletics site. "We'd had some conversations with him in the previous days and knew it was something on his mind. ... At the end of the day, we support him."

Rousseau joins the list of players who have decided to sit out the upcoming year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley was the first, followed by Minnesota receiver wide receiver Rashod Bateman and Penn State defensive end Micah Parsons.

Given what he achieved in his first full season on the field, expectations were high for Rousseau. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller ranked him 11th in his initial big board for the 2021 draft:

"Production usually catches your eye first when putting together an early big board. Then you go back and watch the player to see whether he has the requisite athleticism to make him a good draft prospect.

"Gregory Rousseau's 15.5 sacks last season is the kind of production you love to see, especially when coupled with a 6'7", 253-pound frame that has quickness and length but is still getting stronger."

Rousseau may have already played his last game for Miami, and the obvious question is whether he's the last highly ranked draft prospect who decides to opt out.

Couple quick thoughts on college guys opting out:

1) Rousseau is special. Best player I’ve studied in the upcoming class.

2) More big names are going to announce soon.

3) Some other big names are waiting to see if the season will happen before opting out.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) August 6, 2020

"I know there's probably some guys that can see more playing time and will probably thrive on that situation," Baker said of Miami's remaining options at defensive end, per Chirinos.

Miami had added Quincy Roche as a graduate transfer from Temple to bolster its D-line. Roche had 26 sacks and 39.5 tackles for loss over three seasons with the Owls. The redshirt senior was already slated to start alongside Rousseau, so now Miami will need to figure out who replaces Rousseau at defensive end. 

Jaelan Phillips might be the likeliest candidate. Phillips sat out 2019 after transferring from UCLA. He collected 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss through his first two years with the Bruins.

Highly touted defensive tackle Leonard Taylor committed to Miami.

He announced his decision Thursday on CBS Sports HQ, selecting the Hurricanes over the Florida Gators.

BREAKING: 5-Star DT Leonard Taylor commits to Miami.@56reasons_ projects as a standout with All-American potential who can develop into a future first-round pick.

He's got 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓!@247Canes | @Andrew_Ivins | @247Sports pic.twitter.com/h4BcCBrpqc

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) August 6, 2020

Taylor is the No. 3 DT and No. 27 player overall in the 2021 class, per 247Sports' Composite rankings. He's also the sixth-best player in the state of Florida.

The Miami native had 68 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 11 sacks during the 2019 season.

In his scouting report of Taylor, 247Sports' Charles Power drew a parallel to New York Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams:

"Is a fluid and natural athlete playing along the defensive line. Uses his length to disengage from opposing offensive linemen and wins with a strong first step and quick swim move. Incredibly disruptive as an interior pass rusher. Gets his hands on a lot of footballs whether it's by using his long arms to disrupt passing lanes or blocking kicks. Plays with good pad level and body lean. Finds multiple ways to disrupt the offensive game plan."

Given his size (6'4", 255 lbs), he looks more like an edge-rusher when he penetrates the offensive line to blow up a play in the backfield.

4-star DT Leonard Taylor with the sack and safety. https://t.co/LxwGwDvUsn pic.twitter.com/a9tgg6E0ov

— Luke Stampini (@LukeStampini) August 15, 2019

Palmetto rising junior DT Leonard Taylor with the pressure. Easy to see why he’s already got the big offers. pic.twitter.com/MQRV94842K

— Andrew Ivins (@Andrew_Ivins) May 18, 2019

Taylor competed in the Under Armour All-American camp in Miami in March and was one of the standout performers. His strength and athleticism were immediately apparent during the various drills.

https://twitter.com/BudElliott3/status/1236680490977038337

#ESPNJr300 Top-10 prospect Leonard Taylor was a handful at the Under Armour Miami camp - taking a lot of reps & working on the edge & inside. The #UAALLAMERICA DT displaying good quickness & active hands on this rep. @TheUCReport @56reasons_ @HamiltonESPN @DemetricDWarren pic.twitter.com/Kfofd6Fyzk

— Craig Haubert (@CraigHaubert) March 8, 2020

#ESPNJr300 5-Star Leonard Taylor working off the edge w/ quick, violent hands during 1-on-1’s. The #UAALLAMERICA DL had a strong day at the Miami UA Camp. @TheUCReport @DemetricDWarren @HamiltonESPN @56reasons_ pic.twitter.com/OBAjbvl5mC

— Craig Haubert (@CraigHaubert) March 9, 2020

In order to stay at defensive tackle, he'll need to add some weight. Going back to Power's comparison, Williams is listed as one inch shorter than Taylor and 48 pounds heavier on his NFL.com profile.

That's not a pressing concern, though, since getting on a regular strength-and-conditioning regimen at Miami will allow him to fill out his frame.

The physical tools are otherwise there for Taylor, and he could be unstoppable if he gets even stronger. The Miami Palmetto High School star could play right away for Miami in a situational role, and he has the potential to contend for all of the top defensive honors over the next few years.

His commitment is a massive boost for the Hurricanes' 2021 class. They were 11th in 247Sports' composite team rankings prior to Thursday's news, with James Williams the only other 5-star recruit who has pledged his future to the school.

Highly touted safety James Williams re-committed to Miami on Tuesday.

Huge pick-up for #Miami and Manny Diaz: 5-star safety James Williams, one of the top 10 players in the country and 247's highest-rated player in Florida, commits to the Canes.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) July 22, 2020

Williams is the No. 1 athlete and No. 9 player in the 2021 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. The Opa Locka native is also the best player in the state of Florida.

He originally committed to Miami but reversed his decision last May.

This is life & with life comes decisions🙇🏾‍♂️.... #RespectIt #Blessed🙏🏾 #Ripmom🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/VoGKpFQMNi

— James Williams (@Begreat_20) May 7, 2019

Williams told the Sun Sentinel's Adam Lichtenstein last June that 2020 recruit Justin Hodges, who had committed to Miami, was doing his best to lobby on the Hurricanes' behalf.

"He calls my phone at random times: 'Commit back, man,'" he said. "But I'm just enjoying the process."

Williams' decision looked prescient as the Hurricanes labored to a 6-7 record in 2019, a season that included an embarrassing loss to Florida International and a shutout at the hands of Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl.

Hodges decommitted from Miami as well and signed with UCF.

Patrick Surtain, a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback in the NFL, coached Williams as a sophomore at American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida, before the 5-star safety transferred to Western High School. He has since moved back to Heritage.

At 6'5" and 218 pounds, Williams has great size for his position, and Surtain explained to The Athletic's Manny Navarro how his skills go well beyond that:

"I think the thing that separates him is his football IQ. I know he has all the measurables, but his understanding of football at this age is something pretty special and you rarely see it in high school. With all the defense we run, he's the head, he's talking with everybody, putting them in the right position and that's rare for a guy who just turned 16 years old. He's the team leader. I've seen him grow in that aspect."

Former Clemson star Isaiah Simmons represents the best of what Williams could become at the next level.

Coming out of high school, Simmons was a 3-star recruit and the No. 25 safety in the 2016 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. Clemson turned him into a linebacker/safety hybrid who terrorized opposing offenses. Simmons led the team in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks, and he was second in interceptions.

That's the kind of impact Williams can have for Miami's defense, and don't be surprised if he makes an immediate impact for the Hurricanes in 2021.

Williams told InsideTheU's Andrew Ivins that Miami remained an option despite his having already spurned the school.

The program hired former star Ed Reed as its chief of staff in January, which allowed him to serve a wide range of duties in an official capacity. Even though Williams wasn't born when Reed prowled the Hurricanes secondary, his on-field exploits are legendary to fans young and old.

Williams had also said to Ivins by joining Miami he "could learn from the greatest," referring to Reed.

Bringing the Hall of Famer into the fold appears to be paying dividends for the Canes.

Junior tight end Michael Irvin II is reportedly transferring from the University of Miami.

Per CaneSport.com (h/t Barry Jackson of the South Florida Sun Sentinel), Irvin, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, is expected to leave the school but remains on the active football roster. 

The 22-year-old has had an injury-plagued college career to this point. He's only recorded 11 catches for 111 yards and zero touchdowns since 2017. 

Irvin missed the entire 2018 season because of an MCL injury that required surgery. He did play in all 13 games for the Hurricanes last year and started the Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech.

Andrew Ivins of 247Sports noted Irvin wasn't at Miami's first day of spring practice Monday. 

Coming out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 2016, Irvin was a well-regarded prospect. The Florida native was a 3-star player and the No. 33 tight end in his class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. 

Irvin likely would have entered the 2020 season as Miami's No. 3 tight end, behind rising junior Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory.    

Hall of Famer Ed Reed is returning to Miami as chief of staff for the football team, the school announced Thursday.

"As Chief of Staff, Reed will serve in an advisory role to Diaz in all aspects of the football program, including strategic planning, quality control, operations, player evaluation and player development," the statement read. "Reed will also provide assistance in team building, student-athlete mentorship and recruiting, as permissible under NCAA rules."

Reed spent four seasons at Miami as a player. He was a consensus All-American on two occasions and was a star senior for the Hurricanes when they won their last national championship in 2001. 

Then he embarked on an NFL career that included nine trips to the Pro Bowl, a Super Bowl title and five All-Pro honors. The 41-year-old was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2019.

Reed has expressed a desire to move into coaching:

Ed Reed says he considered applying for a DBs coaching job with the Patriots. Definitely has a desire to coach again at some point and would love if the Ravens would create a position for him somewhere on staff. Seems like a no brainer to me. They should make it happen

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) August 2, 2019

Dear football #NFL #College I’m interested in a Head Coaching job. #CoachReed/HC #HOF #CFHOH #HShof #SuperBowlChamp more on Resume #edreed501c3

— Ed Reed (@TwentyER) October 19, 2019

Given what his job duties entail, Reed will have the opportunity to wear a lot of hats for his alma mater. It doesn't appear head coach Manny Diaz is bringing him aboard to merely serve in a figurehead role.

Hiring Reed is one of several notable move by Diaz this month.

I’ve criticized the Canes plenty, but hiring Ed Reed is a great move and exactly what so many former players wanted. A voice from a great Cane to try and help guide Manny Diaz and the program in the right direction. It can’t hurt.

— Will Manso (@WillManso) January 30, 2020

Miami announced the arrival of Rhett Lashlee as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jan. 4. Just under two weeks later, D'Eriq King confirmed he was transferring to Coral Gables for his senior season. The Hurricanes are also welcoming a 2020 recruiting class that is 17th in 247Sports' composite rankings, up from 27th in 2019.

Fans have witnessed enough false dawns to be somewhat skeptical until the team delivers on the field. Diaz clearly understood the need to shake things up, though, following a disappointing 6-7 season.

Miami quarterback Jarren Williams has entered the transfer portal.

Williams attorney Thomas Mars confirmed the player was completing his paperwork Thursday in a statement to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.

Williams later confirmed the move in an Instagram post, h/t the South Florida Sun Sentinel's David Furones:

Jarren Williams in an Instagram post tonight. pic.twitter.com/g0PaMKPWdM

— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) January 24, 2020

Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated first reported the news.

The decision comes after Houston quarterback D'Eriq King announced Monday he will join Miami as a graduate transfer, eligible to play next season.

Williams appeared in 12 games last year as a redshirt freshman, starting 10 games in 2019.

After beating out N'Kosi Perry and Ohio State transfer Tate Martell for the starting job in the preseason, Williams played well out of the gate with four straight starts without an interception.

He finished the year with 2,187 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The Georgia native was a 4-star recruit out of high school, considered the No. 5 pro-style quarterback prospect in the 2018 class by 247Sports. He received more than two dozen offers the first time around, including from big programs like Alabama, Ohio State and LSU.

Though he was inconsistent on the field, Williams should receive a lot of attention once again as a transfer.

Meanwhile, Miami could lose some key depth for the future even if King takes over as the starter in 2020.

Perry and Martell are currently slated to return but will be both be junior next season, providing them limited opportunities if they are forced to wait until 2021 to see the field.

Manny Diaz's debut season as head coach of the Miami Hurricanes included an ineffective offense, fourth-quarter defensive collapses, dreadful special teams and a 6-7 record. However, that nightmare of a year followed an offseason in which he had gone undefeated.

The brain behind the Turnover Chain created Portal U, signing marquee players such as Tate Martell, Jaelan Phillips and Trevon Hill, among others. Diaz arrived at a booster event on an 88-foot yacht. He attempted to rebrand the program after a stale end to Mark Richt's tenure.

None of it mattered when the final record read 6-7. But the same trap could be approaching in 2020.

This offseason, Diaz and Co. returned to the transfer portal and brought back Houston quarterback D'Eriq King, Temple defensive end Quincy Roche and FIU kicker Jose Borregales. They'll join an incoming recruiting class that ranks 17th nationally.

It's easy to label Miami's latest moves as false hope, a precursor to another inevitable disappointing year. But this optimism—seemingly more than ever—is based on real production, not simply the possibility for improvement.

Yes, Martell arrived as a much-hyped player and provided 14 yards of total offense in 2019. He also had thrown only 28 passes at Ohio State, whereas King posted a 50-touchdown season at Houston in 2018. His billing is entirely based on what he's accomplished.

Miami has a problematic offensive line, but a mobile quarterback of King's ability can atone for some of those woes.

Roche tallied 19.0 tackles for loss and 13 sacks at Temple last season, earning AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. He'll line up opposite Gregory Rousseau, the nation's leading returning sack leader, to form a devastating combination up front.

Borregales went 21-of-29 on field goals last season and hit two 50-yarders in FIU's upset of Miami. That's a considerable upgrade from the three Hurricanes who ended a combined 12-of-20, with missed kicks playing prominent roles in four losses.

In that trio alone, every unit of the roster improved measurably.

Plus, Diaz hired Rhett Lashlee as offensive coordinator after he guided SMU to the seventh-most points per game (41.8) last year. Lashlee previously coached at Auburn, where he oversaw a prolific scoring attack with a dual-threat quarterback in Nick Marshall.

With Lashlee, Miami is finally embracing an offense that stretches the field both vertically and horizontally. Based on his performance to date, King seems like an ideal option to engineer that style.

Let's take a look at some areas in which Miami might improve with D'Eriq King at quarterback in 2020. All stats via @SportsInfo_SIS. pic.twitter.com/61WeQg38pH

— CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) January 21, 2020

Here we go again?

"The New Miami" of 2019 was no better than the old Miami, a program that enters 2020 with one 10-win season in 16 years.

The 'Canes faltered so badly that Diaz dismissed offensive coordinator Dan Enos, who he once called the No. 1 recruit of last offseason. They ranked 90th in points per game, 96th in red-zone touchdown rate, 103rd in yards per carry, 128th in sacks allowed and 129th in third-down offense, and they failed to score a single point in the Independence Bowl.

The defense surrendered a fourth-quarter or overtime winner in Miami's first four losses, and missed kicks didn't help in any of those games, either.

Yet every offseason, analysts look at Miami's roster with respect to Coastal Division competition. We often highlight how Miami is clearly the most talented team and expect a division crown. The result is one Coastal title in 15 years.

We're already doing the same in 2020. Misery loves company, and Andy Bitter of The Athletic has also experienced this Miami-themed roller coaster in January.

Today's King/Roche news is certainly going to test this post-Independence Bowl memo ... https://t.co/9nrxzJay4B

— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) January 20, 2020

Miami's level of success mostly hinges on Lashlee and the quarterback. Despite a below-average offense in 2019, the Hurricanes' seven losses were by a combined 51 points, including five one-score letdowns. If this new offense and kicker are even worth 10 points of improvement while the defense is stable, Miami easily has 10-win upside.

Considering the history of Lashlee, King and Borregales, isn't that a reasonable thought? Defense, as a whole, has never been a serious issue under Diaz; Roche only bolsters the unit.

Additionally, Miami's nonconference slate includes Temple, Wagner, UAB and Michigan State. And beyond games against Coastal Division foes, the 'Canes host rival Florida State and get a rebuilding Wake Forest—avoiding Clemson in crossover play.

Given the program's recent results, no matchup should be labeled a guaranteed win, perhaps other than Wagner. But none of Miami's 2020 opponents are unquestionably better, either.

Yes, a pessimist sees the positive developments and wonders how Miami will manage to mess up this time. After all, we have 15 years of evidence for that happening.

But this familiar offseason trap sure is appealing once again.

          

All recruiting information via 247Sports. Stats from NCAA.com, cfbstats.com or B/R research. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.