Miami Football: Hurricanes 5 Strongest Positions for the 2012 Season

I had already done an article on the Hurricanes five weakest positions, so it would be only fitting to write about their five strongest.

Although the Hurricanes finished just 6-6 last year and returned a combined 10 players on offense and defense, there are plenty of returning players that got multiple starts last season.

In fact, some of their best players from last year's team are retuning sophomores.

Here are Miami's strongest positions.

Kicker/Punter

When Matt Bosher left Miami in 2010 I thought that the Hurricanes were in some serious trouble in the kicking game. Jake Wieclaw was the only other kicker on the roster that I even heard of and he hadn't even kicked in a college game.

What a surprise Wieclaw ended up being.  He ended up having an amazing first year, converting 11 of 14 field goals including a game winner at South Florida.  He had such a great year that he was a semi-finalist for the Lou Groza award (best placekicker in college football).

Wieclaw was originally going to pull both duties of kicking and punting, much like Bosher did, but once again another unknown stepped up to the plate—community college-transfer Dalton Botts.

Botts only averaged 37.5 yards per punt at Moorpark College but ended his first season with the Hurricanes as the second best punter in the ACC, averaging a 42.7 yards per punt.

Both players are retuning to Miami after great seasons and will once again be a huge asset to the team.

Running Back

I honestly thought Miami was going to be in huge trouble this year after losing one of the best running backs in the country last year, Lamar Miller, but I believe Mike James and Eduardo Clement have already proved me wrong.

Both James and Clement have had a great spring and look to be on pace to be "Smash and Dash Part 2—a nickname given to Miller and James last year. Clements is a very quick and shifty running back while James has also gained a little step when he came into spring in amazing shape.

The best asset to the team may not even be on campus yet, Duke Johnson. 

Johnson is a heralded 5-star recruit that will add great depth to the running back position.  Many people even speculate that Johnson will give both Clements and James a run for their position.

Tight End

The tight end position has been less than stellar of late, considering how many great ones Miami has produced.  They even got more bad news when USC-transfer Blake Ayles had to quit football due to concussions, according to the Orange Count Register.

That wont be a problem as Miami has some surprisingly good tight ends this year.  Asante Cleveland has been the most improved one on the team.  If you remember, Cleveland was a threat as a freshman two years ago, but injuries and poor conditioning limited his play last year.

Clive Walford stepped in and had a very solid season at tight end and will give Cleveland a run for his money this year as well.

With both players pushing each other to get better and better, we may finally see the tight ends get back into the offense, something that hasn't happened since Greg Olsen was a Hurricane in 2006.

Safety

Ray Ray Armstrong and Vaughn Telemaque didn't have a very good season last year, but that does not mean they aren't going to improve.  They are both seniors right now and not only do they want to win, they want to increase their draft spots as well.

I think they will be great this year and along with Alonzo Highsmith Jr. and true freshman Deon Bush, the Hurricanes will have a very talented and deep defensive backfield.

Linebackers

I can not remember the last time the Hurricanes had this much depth at linebacker.  It's not only the depth that is solid, but it's the athletes that they have at the position that really get me excited.

Denzel Perryman could very well be the next Ray Lewis and will be the leader of the linebackers; he switched from outside to inside linebacker this year.

The outside linebackers will be held by Gionni Paul, Ramon Buchanan and/or James Gaines.  As of right now, Al Golden lists Gaines as the right outside linebacker and a trio of players on the left side.

Buchanan has yet to practice as he is coming off a season-ending injury, but will be a solid backup to Paul, who I believe will be the starters.

In all honesty, I would love to see Kirby, who had a terrific spring, to move to the right and lineup Paul on the left giving the Hurricanes three tremendously talented athletes at the position.

No matter what way the coaches decide, this position is stacked—so deep that they moved Kelvin Cain to defensive end.