A look at most interesting Canes football starting battles. And UM football, hoops notes

A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Tuesday:

▪ Among several percolating starting battles, here are the six most interesting to me:

1). Cornerback: This is essentially a battle among six players — offseason veteran transfer additions Jaden Davis, Jadais Richard, Davonte Brown and Demetrius Freeney, plus returnees Te’Cory Couch and Daryl Porter Jr. — for three starting cornerback jobs when UM plays a nickel package.

From what I’ve heard, I make Brown (the University of Central Florida transfer who was at UM for spring ball) a slight front-runner for one of the jobs.

Couch figures to play a lot in the slot.

I could see a path for Davis (the Oklahoma transfer), Richard (the Vanderbilt transfer), Freeney (the junior college transfer) or Porter (who arrived via West Virginia a year ago) to win the other starting boundary corner job. Davis’ experience might give him a slight edge, but this could be the most competitive battle of camp.

And several young cornerbacks, including Chris Graves and freshman Damari Brown (Davonte’s brother), could push for time.

2). Running back: Freshmen Mark Fletcher, Chris Johnson, Nebraska transfer Ajay Allen and returnees Henry Parrish Jr. and Don Chaney Jr. all enter August with a chance to win the starting job. The status of running back TreVonte’ Citizen, who missed his entire freshman season with a knee injury, remains undetermined; he wore a leg brace during UM’s spring game in April.

From what I’m hearing, Fletcher and Allen are the front-runners to eventually emerge as the starter ahead of Parrish, who’s pretty good but wore down with too heavy a workload last season, and Chaney, who has had bad luck with injuries.

3). Wide receiver: Three will start among Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George, Colbie Young, Frank Ladson, Brashard Smith, Michael Redding and Isaiah Horton, transfers Tyler Harrell (Alabama) and Shemar Kirk (JC route) and freshmen Ray Ray Joseph and Robby Washington.

Restrepo, George and Young were first team for most of spring, but Harrell and Kirk were added since then, and Harrell could give UM the deep threat this offense badly needs. The Canes expect Harrell to compete for a starting job. I’m expecting a prominent role for Joseph, who flashed in the spring.

4). Defensive tackle spot opposite Leonard Taylor: I would make Branson Deen, the Purdue transfer, the slight favorite. But Jared Harrison-Hunte, Jacob Lichtenstein, Thomas Gore (the Georgia State transfer), Anthony Campbell (the Louisiana-Monroe transfer) and freshman Joshua Horton will compete. At least four should get a lot of snaps this fall.

5). Defensive end spot opposite Akheem Mesidor: Don’t be surprised if Nyjalik Kelly mounts a serious challenge to unseat Jahfari Harvey. UM people believe Kelly could be elite.

6). Tight end: Cam McCormick, the ninth-year Oregon transfer, is a very good blocker and competent receiver. Both he and Elijah Arroyo, coming off a significant September injury, will play a lot. But I wouldn’t assume Arroyo is the definite starter; he’s the favorite but McCormick is legitimate competition.

▪ Pro Football Focus said between Kamren Kinchens and James Williams, “Miami has the best safety duo in the country heading into next season.

“Both Williams and Kinchens have recorded 89.9 coverage grades over the last two seasons — tied for first among returning Power Five safeties. At 6-foot-5, Williams has unbelievable length for a safety, which he used to force six incompletions in 2022. “

PFF noted that “Kinchens led all safeties in the country this past season with a 90.0 grade and a 90.7 coverage grade. His six interceptions were also tied for the most in the Power Five. He’s a true centerfielder at free safety.”

▪ After a strong last week, UM has 12 nonbinding Class of 2024 football commitments, with three four-star commitments and nine three-star pledges, per 247 Sports. Two of the the three-four stars committed in recent days: tight end Elija Lofton and running back Kevin Riley, who committed Tuesday night.

247 Sports ranks UM’s class 23rd in the country.

And the Canes are in the mix for several top prospects.

Miami has joined Notre Dame and Georgia as firmly in the mix for five-star Chicago based defensive lineman Justin Scott.

“Their message was that if I go there, it would be my team,” Scott told On3’s Chad Simmons after he visited UM last weekend. “I would be the difference-maker and flip the program. Every time I’m there I get more comfortable. I’m at a point were I can be chill with the coaches.”

Scott, who has taken multiple trips to UM’s campus, told Simmons that “Miami is still at the top and I may make a decision before summer ends, but if I do I wouldn’t announce it ahead of time. I would just do it.”

He’s planning an Ohio State visit this weekend.

▪ UM forward Jordan Miller has attracted considerable interest in advance of Thursday’s NBA Draft. Boston summoned him to its headquarters for a workout and a visit — two separate trips. He also has worked out for Utah, Portland, Charlotte, Indiana, Detroit, Atlanta, Brooklyn, Phoenix, Oklahoma City and Milwaukee.

He has a decent chance to be drafted on Thursday. If not, he will be a coveted undrafted free agent. The Heat has scouted him and likes his game.

UM guard Isaiah Wong also has done a bunch of workouts (including for the Heat) and hopes to be among the 60 picks in Thursday’s draft.

▪ Former LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri is expected to interview for the Hurricanes baseball coaching job this week, per D1 Baseball’s Kendall Rogers.

Mainieri, who attended Christopher Columbus High in Miami, retired in 2021 after coaching LSU from 2007 to 2021.

He went 641-283-3, with a national title in 2009 and six SEC tournament titles.

Rogers also has reported mutual interest between UM and and ex-MLB shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, a Texas assistant the past three seasons.

Rogers also listed Wake Forest’s Tom Walter, South Carolina’s Mark Kingston, Marlins assistant coach (and former UM player) Jon Jay, Duke’s Chris Pollard and UM pitching coach J.D. Arteaga among other potential candidates.

UM AD Dan Radakovich is conducting the search discreetly.

▪ Sad to see news of the recent passing of Ray Lewis III, the son of Hall of Famer and former UM star Ray Lewis.

Per TMZ, Lewis III, 28, died from an accidental overdose, though the medical examiner will determine the official cause of death. Police who responded to the 911 call administered Narcan, but were unable to revive him.

Per TMZ, the police report noted that police found a used needle; a blue pill unofficially identified as Alprazolam; and a small plastic bag inside an empty beer can.

Lewis, a standout at Lake Mary Prep High School in Central Florida, played at UM, Coastal Carolina and Virginia Union.