Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No. 6 Jalen Rivers
The Miami Hurricanes have massively reshaped the roster from a year ago with five primary offensive starters gone (QB Tyler Van Dyke, RB Henry Parrish, WR Colbie Young, OL Javion Cohen and Matt Lee) along with seven on the defensive side (DT Leonard Taylor, DT Branson Deen, DL Jared Harrison-Hunte, S Kam Kinchens, S James Williams, CB Jaden Davis and CB Te’Cory Couch).
50. RB JORDAN LYLE … 49. RB CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON … 48. DE COLE MCCONATHY … 47. S ZAQUAN PATTERSON … 46. TE CAM MCCORMICK … 45. NY CARR … 44. JUSTIN SCOTT … 43. OT Markel Bell … 42. RB AJAY ALLEN … 41. TE RILEY WILLIAMS … 40. OL MATTHEW MCCOY … 39. LB CAM PRUITT … 38. DT JOSHUA HORTON … 37. LB RAUL AGUIRRE … 36. S MARKEITH WILLIAMS … 35. S JADEN HARRIS … 34. QB EMORY WILLIAMS … 33. WR JOJO TRADER … 32. D’YONI HILL … 31. RAY RAY JOSEPH … 30. ISAIAH HORTON … 29. MARLEY COOK … 28. JAYLIN ALDERMAN … 27. JADAIS RICHARD … 26. SAMSON OKUNLOLA … 25. ELIJA LOFTON … 24. ELIJAH ALSTON … 23. DAMARI BROWN … 22. REESE POFFENBARGER … 21. ZACH CARPENTER … 20. SAM BROWN … 19. CJ CLARK … 18. ELIJAH ARROYO … 17. WESLEY BISSAINTHE … 16. DARYL PORTER, JR. … 15. DYLAN JOYCE … 14. MARK FLETCHER … 13T. TYLER BARON/MISHAEL POWELL … NO. 12 SIMEON BARROW … NO. 11 AKHEEM MESIDOR … NO. 10 ANEZ COOPER … NO. 9 JACOLBY GEORGE … NO. 8 FRANCIS MAUIGOA … NO. 7 ANDY BORREGALES
Which brings us to our annual series breaking down the top 50 players on the current roster. As we go along on this list you’ll get an idea of the overall depth of talent on Mario Cristobal’s team this year as he seeks Miami’s second 10-win season in the last two decades.
Today we are at No. 6:
NO. 6 OL JALEN RIVERS
Why He’s No. 6
Rivers is a talented veteran with an NFL Draft future, and he’s shown his versatility at Miami starting as a guard and tackle. Last season was his first at tackle after moving from guard, and he manned the LT spot well – per Pro Football Focus he graded out at a solid 74.1 percent (73.5 pass block grade, 70.2 run block grade). He was noted allowing three sacks and six hits on the quarterback. Prior to that he had not graded out particularly well per PFF, with a 55.3 overall grade in 2021 (159 reps, 45.9 percent grade pass blocking, 55.0 run blocking) and a 60.6 grade in 2022 (631 reps, 73.3 pass blocking, 53.6 run blocking). Last season also was Rivers’ first full year where injury didn’t cost him games … and he was a key piece of an offensive line that improved from 3.7 to 5.1 yards per carry rushing and from allowing 36 to 16 sacks. Prior to last year Rivers had played in 19 games and started 10 (injuries cost him all but three games in 2021 and another three games in 2022).
What he needs to do to move up this list
Rivers is one of the ACC’s top returning linemen, so the key for him is just to continue to be consistent and remain injury-free unlike his 2021 and 2022 seasons at Miami. Having a mobile quarterback like Cam Ward can help Rivers … but he also may need to hold blocks longer if Ward looks to get outside the ends’ rush. As one of four linemen with starting experience on the front line, it’s an experienced group with a very high ceiling.
Realistic season objective
Miami’s looking to better last season’s numbers, when the team ranked No. 44 in the nation in rushing offense and there were 16 sacks allowed. Rivers joins returning starters Anez Cooper and Francis Mauigoa, and the team’s also added Indiana starting center Zach Carpenter. That’s a solid four. So now the question is who becomes the fifth starter – likely Samson Okunlola, Markel Bell or Matthew McCoy. Regardless, we fully expect Rivers to be a standout linemen and one of the best tackle performers in the ACC. This can be a top 10 or top 20 rushing offense if the line performs as expected combined with the addition of Oregon State star RB Damien Martinez.
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