Miami Hurricanes mailbag: Will the freshman WRs play? When will Carson Beck be ready?

New York Times

28-03-2025

The Miami Hurricanes are halfway through spring practices. The spring game is scheduled for April 12.
You have questions. Let's dive in.
Any chance the new freshman receiver trio of Joshua Moore, Daylyn Upshaw or Malachi Toney getting playing time this season? Been hearing praise for Moore and Toney! — Hassan K.
Who are the Greentree All-Americans? — Thomas L.
I sense a bit of sarcasm in your question, Thomas. There is no better time to bloviate on what guys look like in shorts and helmets with no opponents on the field.
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I've watched one practice thus far (the first of the spring) and viewed probably 20 minutes of drills before the media was asked to leave. However, the 'special guests' who have been able to watch an entire practice have told me the freshman receivers — Moore, Upshaw and Toney — have looked very good. One onlooker whose opinion I highly respect told me he expects all three to be in the regular rotation along with sophomore Joshisa Trader and LSU transfer CJ Daniels (who is out this spring). Mario Cristobal referred to Toney as Baby Jesus after Miami's first practice.
What a catch by Josh Moore 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/rUlFhiUNO9
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) March 26, 2025
Personally, though, I learned long ago to stop buying into the preseason hype at Greentree. What happens during spring football — when many players are out recovering from surgery — is meaningless.
Now, if I were to bet $100 on anyone being a legitimate All-American this fall, it would probably be right tackle Francis Mauigoa. Outside of Mauigoa, I'd go with defensive end Rueben Bain, if he's healthy and past the injuries that limited him last season. There may not be an individual All-American in Miami's secondary, but I believe it will be vastly improved.
When will Carson Beck throw? Any chance he's actually leading the offense when camp opens in August? — Captain B.
I'd be shocked if Beck is not throwing by this summer. It took San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, who had the same Tommy John surgery, a little less than five months (139 days exactly) to get back on the field and throw the football in practice after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow.
There's no question, though, that Miami needs a capable backup quarterback ready to play in case Beck suffers any setbacks. Onlookers at practice have told me third-year sophomore Emory Williams has looked better than second-year freshman Judd Anderson, who at times has taken too long to release the ball in 11-on-11 drills. But neither guy, in my opinion, leads Miami to more than eight wins if Beck is unavailable.
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Will this defensive unit be able to step up and live up to the program's reputation this season? — Anthony B.
As I mentioned earlier, I think Miami's secondary will be vastly improved. The program spent a lot of name, image and likeness dollars to reel in Charles Brantley (Michigan State), Ethan O'Connor (Washington State), Emmanuel Karnley (Arizona), Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin) and Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State) from the portal. I expect that alone will help the Hurricanes improve from ranking 99th in passing plays allowed of 20 yards or more (43 total) to somewhere in the top 25.
But let's not pretend that alone will fix what ailed the Hurricanes' defense last year. Miami's front featured an All-ACC first-team selection at defensive tackle in Simeon Barrow, edge rusher Tyler Baron, who led the team with 48 pressures, and linebacker Kiko Mauigoa, who led the team in tackles for a second straight season. All three must be replaced.
Bain, Louisiana Tech transfer David Blay, sixth-year senior Akheem Mesidor and linebackers Wesley Bissainthe (26 career starts) and Jaylin Alderman (20 career starts) will provide plenty of veteran leadership in the front seven.
But there's also a lot of young guys Cristobal is counting on to step up. Miami needs sophomore Justin Scott to live up to his five-star billing as a recruit. Second-year freshman linebacker Cameron Pruitt has to be as good as advertised. Same with Cole McConathy as a backup edge rusher. Miami's second- and third-year holdovers have to show us they're worth the hype.
If not, all the money spent on the secondary will go to waste if opposing quarterbacks have all day to throw and no one upfront can stuff the run.
Who is the most likely wide receiver to transfer to Miami? — Gacanefan
Your guess is as good as mine, but it won't be someone currently in the portal. If Miami adds a receiver to the roster, it's going to be a proven commodity who is still on a Power 4 or Group of 5 roster this spring. There were rumors Jeremiah Smith might return home from Ohio State. That's realistically the only addition that would make a huge splash at the position.
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Beyond that, I'd point to any player recruited by Miami or receivers coach Kevin Beard over the last two or three cycles who isn't getting the playing time or opportunity they thought they would get at their current school.
How does the administration (Board, president, etc) feel about Cristobal and his time at Miami thus far? — Anonymous U.
They're happy with the direction of the program. The first thing I was told this week when I spoke to someone high up at Miami was how happy they were to see all 32 NFL teams on hand for Miami's Pro Day. The next thing mentioned to me was how three years ago, the Hurricanes had only one player selected — defensive lineman Jonathan Ford — to keep the program's draft streak alive.
Not only are the Hurricanes likely to have the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft (Cam Ward), but they could have as many as 11 players selected. That's real progress.
The program simply hasn't been producing talent like it used to. Yes, Miami has had 23 players drafted since 2018. But only four — Kam Kinchens, Tyrique Stevenson, Jaelan Phillips and Gregory Rousseau — were not taken on the last day of the draft (Rounds 4 to 7).
That's basically on par with Pittsburgh (22 total since 2018, five first- or second-day picks) and North Carolina (22 total, eight first- or second-day picks). Pittsburgh won the ACC in 2021, and North Carolina played for the ACC championship twice over that span. If Miami starts producing NFL draft picks like Clemson has for the last seven years (35 total, 19 first- or second-day picks), it's only a matter of time before the Hurricanes win a conference title.
That's at least the way the brass is thinking.
Is this the most unique schedule Miami has ever had, where we don't leave the state until November? Can you think of any other time we've been set up with such a positive start to a season? — Jeffrey C.
Miami plays three games out of state in the regular season — at SMU on Nov. 1, at Virginia Tech on Nov. 22 and at Pittsburgh on Nov. 29. The last time Miami played so many in-state games was in 2013 when it went 9-4 in Al Golden's third season. The Canes played their first out-of-state game on Oct. 17 at North Carolina and later played at Duke and at Pittsburgh.
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This is a tougher schedule, though, than last season. Notre Dame played for the national title in 2024 and has an excellent coach. Florida is improved with DJ Lagway at quarterback. Louisville has been consistently good under Jeff Brohm. Florida State should be better. The trip to Dallas to face SMU on Nov. 1 will not be easy, and Syracuse beat Miami last year.
Do you expect Samson 'Pancake' Okunlola or Tommy Kinsler to ever play significant snaps at Miami? — Jonathan O.
Probably not. It's not because they're not talented or capable. But it feels like in today's portal era, most players spend two seasons at a school sitting on the bench before they look to transfer. Offensive line coach Alex Mirabal dropped Kinsler and Okunlola's names first last week when talking about the depth Miami has at the position. They've spent time developing and getting better behind the scenes. But it's rare to see anyone wait three years to get on the field. I think they will have to get into the rotation this year — whether through injury or not — to stick around.
(Photo of Mario Cristobal: Sam Navarro / Imagn Images)