Miami Football: Freshmen Who Will Be Instant Impact Players for the Hurricanes

Each season the Miami Hurricanes have at least one or two true freshmen that make a real difference in their first year of playing.

This season, with so many question marks on the Hurricanes team, there may be more than just a couple that see a lot of playing time in their first year.

The current roster shows holes in the wide receiver, running back, defensive line and cornerback positions.

Here is my take on which true freshmen will see considerable playing time and those who may even start this upcoming season.

Duke Johnson, RB

With the departure of Lamar Miller the Hurricanes are down to Mike James and Eduardo Clements to handle the duties at running back.

James has gotten plenty of touches over the last couple years, but I truly don't know if he can handle the starting load.

James had 72 rushes last year for just 275 yards (3.8 yards per carry) which just won't cut it for the pro-style offense Miami runs.

That is where true freshman Duke Johnson comes in.

Johnson is a very versatile back with great quickness and field vision.  One of the main question marks for Duke is his size (5'9", 188 pounds).

Johnson will also not be at Miami until the fall, leaving only about a month of practice before the first game of the season.

Overall though, there is no doubt in my mind that Johnson will get the opportunity and eventually take over the starting position from James; he is that talented.

Expect Johnson to see limited time for the first couple games, but I guarantee you he will be a difference-maker come the third or fourth game, if not sooner.

Angelo Jean-Louis, WR

With Travis Benjamin, Tommy Streeter and LaRon Byrd all leaving Miami last season, there are huge question marks at who will fill their positions.

Angelo Jean-Louis will be one of those players to compete for a starting position.

Jean-Louis has great athleticism and can catch everything thrown his way. Just like Duke Johnson, he just needs to fill out his frame more (6'0", 180 pounds).

Jean-Louis has great acceleration and could very well be the next Travis Benjamin-type player for the Hurricanes.

Once in the open field he will cause headaches for opposing defenses with his quick feet and second gear.

Rapheal Kirby, LB

If you want to know the future starter at linebacker, look no further than incoming freshman Raphael Kirby.  Kirby is a beast of a linebacker with a nonstop motor and great tackling ability.

After watching over a dozen different videos of him, he reminds me a lot of sophomore Denzel Perryman, all over the field and when he hits someone they go down.

Even with the return of Ramon Buchanan and James Gaines, I still believe that Kirby will get plenty of opportunities at the linebacker position.

Kirby and Perryman could turn into the best combination of Hurricane linebackers since D.J. Williams and Jonathan Vilma.

Jelani Hamilton, DE

Jelani Hamilton didn't get a 5-star tag from the recruiters but there is no doubt that he plays like one. 

Hamilton is a very agile lineman with tremendous hands.  He has a very quick step and if you watch any of his videos, he never gives up on a play.

Although Anthony Chickillo will be starting on the left side, there are no other returning defensive ends as Adawale Ojomo (denied sixth-year eligibility) and Olivier Vernon (forgoing senior season) are no longer Hurricanes.

That leaves the right end position up for grabs and Hamilton will have every opportunity to snag that position.

Tyriq McCord, DE

Just like Jelani Hamilton, Tyriq McCord will be fighting for playing time as a true freshman.

The defensive end position is open and McCord has the ability to compete for the starting position, probably with Hamilton and Jalen Grimble.

McCord doesn't have the size (6'3", 220 pounds) that Hamilton has, but is much quicker and a menace in passing situations, unlike Hamilton.

Until McCord bulks up some we may only see McCord in passing situations, but if he adds extra pounds in this offseason, don't be surprised at all if he is listed as the No. 1 on the depth chart.

Tracy Howard, CB

If there was one freshman that is almost guaranteed to see a lot of playing time and eventually start this year it would be Tracy Howard.

The 5-star product out of Miramar is a super-talented freshman that will see a lot of playing time early due to the fact that Miami has a serious depth problems at cornerback.

JoJo Nicolas and Mike Williams are no longer with the team, meaning the Hurricanes only have one cornerback with a lot of experience, Brandon McGee.

Thomas Finnie got some playing time last year as a true freshman, but he is not as talented as Howard is.

I definitely see Howard taking over one of the cornerback positions early and becoming a staple in the Hurricanes defensive backfield for a few years.

Deon Bush, S

Deon Bush is the fastest recruit Miami got this year as he was clocked in the 4.44/40 range earlier last year.

He has good decent size (6'1", 177 pounds) and great recovery skills in the defensive back position.

Bush could certainly compete for a second-string position at safety, unless he is moved to a cornerback position due to the fact that Miami is returning both Vaughn Telemaque and Ray Ray Armstrong at safety.

If he moved to cornerback next season, he will have to compete with Tracy Howard for playing time.

Either way, Bush will see the field a lot this year and definitely make an impact for the Hurricanes.