The 2024 Miami Hurricanes season wasn't just another year of "The U is back" hype. Honestly, if you looked at the depth chart back in August, you could see the blueprint was different. Mario Cristobal finally stopped relying on just potential and started leaning on proven, high-level production through the transfer portal.
It worked. Sorta.
The Hurricanes finished 10-3, a massive jump from the mediocre years that preceded it. But to understand how they got there, you have to look past the stars like Cam Ward and see how the Miami Hurricanes depth chart 2024 actually functioned. It was a mix of veteran "mercenaries" (in the best way possible) and young South Florida talent that finally stayed home.
The Cam Ward Effect and the Offensive Hierarchy
Let’s be real: the entire 2024 season lived and died with Cameron Ward. When he transferred in from Washington State, the depth chart shifted instantly. Before Ward, the QB room felt like a "wait and see" project with Emory Williams and Jacurri Brown. Once Ward took the QB1 spot, everyone else's role became clearer.
Ward put up video game numbers—4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns. But a quarterback is only as good as his protection and his targets. The 2024 depth chart featured a receiving corps that was arguably the deepest in the ACC.
Xavier Restrepo was the undisputed alpha. He wasn't just a slot guy; he was the safety net. 1,127 yards doesn't happen by accident. Behind him, you had Jacolby George and Isaiah Horton (who eventually blossomed into a massive threat before heading to Alabama later).
The running back situation was also fascinating. Damien Martinez came in from Oregon State and took the RB1 mantle, but Mark Fletcher Jr. was the physical soul of that room when healthy. It wasn't a "one-bell-cow" system. It was a "who’s hot right now" system.
Offensive Starters (The Core Group)
- QB: Cam Ward (Senior)
- RB: Damien Martinez (Junior) / Mark Fletcher Jr. (Sophomore)
- WR1: Xavier Restrepo (Senior)
- WR2: Jacolby George (Senior)
- WR3: Isaiah Horton (Sophomore)
- TE: Elijah Arroyo (Junior) - Finally healthy after years of knee issues.
- LT: Jalen Rivers (Junior)
- LG: Matthew McCoy (Junior)
- C: Zach Carpenter (Senior) - The Indiana transfer who stabilized the middle.
- RG: Anez Cooper (Junior)
- RT: Francis Mauigoa (Sophomore) - A future first-rounder, no doubt.
The offensive line was massive. We're talking NFL size across the board. Zach Carpenter coming over from Indiana was probably the most underrated move of the offseason. He replaced Matt Lee and didn't miss a beat, giving Ward the pocket he needed to operate that "Air Raid" hybrid scheme Shannon Dawson loves.
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Defense: A Tale of Two Lines
If the offense was about flash, the defense was about Lance Guidry's "chaos" 4-2-5 system. But here's the thing people miss about the Miami Hurricanes depth chart 2024 on defense: it was built from the outside in.
Tyler Baron and Rueben Bain Jr. formed a terrifying pair of bookends. Baron, a Tennessee transfer, was a sack specialist early in the season. Bain, the local legend, just kept doing Bain things. But the interior is where the depth chart got interesting.
Simeon Barrow Jr. (Michigan State transfer) and C.J. Clark (NC State transfer) were brought in specifically because Miami was getting bullied inside in 2023. They changed the math.
The Defensive Two-Deep
The linebacker spot was thin but elite at the top. Francisco Mauigoa—Francis's older brother—was the brain of the defense. He and Wesley Bissainthe played almost every meaningful snap. If one of them had gone down for a long stretch, the season might have looked very different.
In the secondary, Mishael "Meesh" Powell was the quarterback of the back half. Transferring from Washington after their National Championship run, he brought a level of "pro-ness" that the young DBs like Damari Brown and OJ Frederique desperately needed.
Key Defensive Rotations
- DE: Tyler Baron / Elijah Alston (The Marshall transfer who was a pass-rush specialist)
- DT: Simeon Barrow Jr. / Ahmad Moten
- MLB: Francisco Mauigoa / Raul Aguirre Jr.
- WLB: Wesley Bissainthe / Jaylin Alderman
- CB: Daryl Porter Jr. / Damari Brown
- Safety: Mishael Powell / Jaden Harris
The emergence of OJ Frederique as a freshman was the "shocker" of the year. You don't usually see a true freshman corner hold down a starting spot at a place like Miami without some growing pains, but he was surprisingly steady.
What Actually Happened with the Depth?
A lot of fans look at a depth chart and think it’s static. It’s not. By November, the 2024 Hurricanes looked different.
Injuries at the cornerback position forced Jadais Richard into more snaps. The tight end room, which started with high hopes for Elijah Arroyo, saw freshman Elija Lofton become a "Swiss Army Knife" player. Lofton was lining up at fullback, H-back, and even taking snaps at running back.
That’s the sign of a well-coached depth chart. It’s not just about "Next Man Up." It’s about "Best 11 on the Field."
Surprising Details and Misconceptions
People think Miami just "bought" this roster with NIL. While the portal additions were huge, the 2024 success was actually rooted in the 2023 recruiting class. Guys like Francis Mauigoa and Rueben Bain weren't transfers; they were the foundation.
Another misconception? That the defense was elite all year.
Truthfully, the depth chart in the secondary was shaky. When teams could protect against the front four, Miami's DBs occasionally got exposed in man coverage. That’s why you saw Guidry dial up so many blitzes—he knew he had to protect his corners by making the opposing QB throw before he wanted to.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're tracking how this depth chart evolved into the 2025/2026 era, here is what you need to focus on:
- Watch the "Blue Chip" Ratio: Under Cristobal, Miami has kept its roster at roughly 70% four and five-star players. This creates a "floor" where even a "bad" year is 8 or 9 wins.
- The Portal is a Bridge, Not a House: Notice how the 2024 starters were a 50/50 split of transfers and high school recruits. If that ratio tips too far toward transfers, chemistry usually breaks.
- Identify the "Iron Men": Look at players like Anez Cooper. He’s started nearly every game for three years. Those are the guys who actually win conference titles, not just the flashy QB transfers.
The 2024 season proved that Miami could finally build a roster that survived the grind of a long season. They finished ranked No. 18 in the final AP Poll, and while the Pop-Tarts Bowl loss to Iowa State stung, the depth chart they built that year became the template for the current "Power Four" era in Coral Gables.
Keep an eye on the interior line development. That's where games are won in the ACC, and it's where Miami finally stopped being "soft." Whether they can maintain that without a superstar like Cam Ward under center is the million-dollar question for the next cycle.