Miami Hurricanes 5 players to watch, crucial games and keys to the season – The Denver Post
Five players to watch
Tyler Van Dyke
Position: Quarterback
The Buzz: After being named the ACC Rookie of the Year last season, Van Dyke is getting hyped as a potential first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft. If he lives up to that potential, the Hurricanes will be primed for a stellar season.
Corey Flagg Jr.
Position: Linebacker
The Buzz: Miami needs to see improvement from its linebackers. Flagg had a breakout season last year, so if he keeps improving, it will go a long way for UM’s revamped defense.
Tyrique Stevenson
Position: Cornerback
The Buzz: Stevenson, who transferred from Georgia before the 2021 season, had a strong season in his first year in Coral Gables. Pro Football Focus named him the 10th-best returning cornerback in the nation, and he should anchor the UM secondary.
DJ Scaife Jr.
Position: Offensive line
The Buzz: Zion Nelson gets much of the buzz on the UM offensive line, but Scaife could be a key player who flies under the radar. He will likely line up at right tackle this season after mostly playing right guard last year. Pro Football Focus graded him as the ninth-best pass-blocking qualified offensive lineman last season.
Will Mallory
Position: Tight end
The Buzz: Mallory, who was an All-ACC preseason pick, will be a big target for Van Dyke. Expect offensive coordinator Josh Gattis to make use of the talented tight end room, and Mallory should be a beneficiary of that.
Three Crucial Games
Miami at Texas A&M, Sept. 17: After a pair of relatively light opponents, the Hurricanes take a big road trip to College Station, Texas, and face a potential SEC title contender. How Miami performs may set the tone for the rest of the season.
Florida State at Miami, Nov. 5: Revenge is on the mind of some Hurricanes players after the Seminoles stole what would’ve been Miami’s fifth straight win in the rivalry series. Mario Cristobal lost one game to FSU during his playing days at UM. Let’s see how he does against the ‘Noles in his first game against them as the Hurricanes’ coach.
Miami at Clemson, Nov. 19: If everything goes right for these programs, this game will be a preview of the ACC championship game. Media voters picked both teams to win their divisions this year. That went poorly for the Hurricanes when they met in the conference championship in 2017. Will this year be different?
Keys to the season
1. Tyler Van Dyke avoids sophomore slump
Van Dyke burst onto the scene last year after D’Eriq King suffered a season-ending injury. He excelled under former offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. Under new coordinator Josh Gattis, Van Dyke will look to take another step forward. After Van Dyke threw 25 touchdowns last year, the Hurricanes’ single-season record of 29 passing touchdowns, set by Steve Walsh in 1988, is in danger of falling.
2. Tackling must improve
Pro Football Focus rated the Hurricanes the third-worst tackling team in FBS last year. That cannot happen again. If Miami wants to be successful, they need to improve in this fundamental area. Miami has a completely new defensive staff, which includes veteran coaches like Kevin Steele (defensive coordinator), Charlie Strong (linebackers coach) and Joe Salave’a (defensive line). The Hurricanes’ defense should improve under them this season.
3. Other receivers must step up
Miami lost a pair of big-time receivers in the offseason. Mike Harley Jr. and Charleston Rambo set records in Coral Gables, accounting for about 45 percent of the Hurricanes’ receiving yards and 40 percent of their touchdown catches last season. UM will need to find players to fill that void. Whether its returnees Key’Shawn Smith, Jacolby George and Xavier Restrepo or newcomers like Frank Ladson Jr. and Colbie Young, Miami will need production from its receiving corps.
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