14-04-2025
Five Miami Hurricanes players who improved their standing during spring practices
The Miami Hurricanes' 15-practice spring regiment concluded Saturday with the team's spring game, and coach Mario Cristobal toed the line between praising his group and understanding more work needs to be done as the team prepares for the season ahead.
'A lot of ground was made,' Cristobal said after the scrimmage. 'I will never come up here and try to fluff up the spring. We have a ways to go, but we have progressed so much. We are excited. We feel like every spring we are getting better and I feel the same way about this spring.'
The team will reconvene in late July to resume preparation for the 2025 season, which begins Aug. 31 against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Miami is coming off a 10-3 season in which it started 9-0 and then faltered down the stretch, losing out on chances to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game and the 12-team College Football Playoff in the process.
In the meantime, here are five players who took a step forward this spring.
Offensive lineman Markel Bell
Bell has the size at 6-9 to be a menacing force at left tackle. He got valuable reps last season as well when starter Jalen Rivers missed five games and then continued getting spot playing time when Rivers did return.
Now, Bell looks poised to take over full-time at left tackle for a starting offensive line that should also include left guard Ryan Rodriguez, center James Brockermeyer, right guard Anez Cooper and right tackle Francis Mauigoa.
The offensive line will need to be a strength for the Hurricanes in 2025.
Defensive back Xavier Lucas
Of the handful of defensive backs who transferred to Miami this winter, Lucas has been the most consistent.
With OJ Frederique and Jadais Richard slowed by injury during spring practice, Lucas got ample reps with the first-team defense and should be a regular in the Hurricanes' rotation.
At full strength, the Hurricanes will have plenty of depth at cornerback. In addition to Lucas and Frederique most likely projecting Miami's starting cornerbacks, Miami also has Richard once he returns, Damari Brown (who played just two games due to injury last season) and transfers Charles Brantley, Emmanuel Karnley and Ethan O'Connor as part of the rotation.
Defensive back Markeith Williams
And while most of the talk around the defensive backs is on the newcomers, one returnee who was noticeable during the spring game Saturday was rising redshirt junior Markeith Williams. He got reps with the first team opposite transfer Zechariah Poyser during the scrimmage with Zaquan Patterson limited with injury.
In 25 games with the Hurricanes, Williams has 31 tackles, two pass breakups and one tackle for loss.
In addition to Williams, Poyser and Patterson, rising sophomore Dylan Day and true freshman Amari Wallace could factor into the rotation as well.
Malachi Toney
The freshman wide receiver out of Plantation American Heritage appears to be cementing himself as the front-runner to be Miami's slot receiver. He showcased his shiftiness and hands during the scrimmage and has been giving junior Ray Ray Joseph a run for his money at the position.
Defensive tackle Donta Simpson
Another true freshman who stood out during spring, Simpson was a standout at Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna.
He was overlooked at the start of spring because he was only a three-star recruit, but Simpson flashed throughout the spring and could find himself as part of Miami's defensive tackle rotation that figures to feature Louisiana Tech transfer David Blay, Justin Scott and Ahmad Moten.
