Miami Hurricane Season: Depth Chart, Will FAMU Keep It Close

the Miami Hurricanes are kicking off their 2010 campaign by taking on the Rattlers of Florida A&M. 

The Hurricanes released their depth chart and starting lineup for the game, and it contained what some might consider several surprises.

With several players returning from injury like Marcus Forston and Adewale Ojomo, the Hurricanes have developed depth at much-needed positions. 

This depth chart in a lot of areas had players listed with "or" next to their names, which means the competition was fierce at that particular position. 

It also means there are a lot of players who are backups that will be seeing significant playing time during the season.

Enjoy looking at the depth chart for the 2010 Hurricanes as they get ready to take on Florida A&M, and a prediction of the outcome of the game as well.

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Depth Chart: Quarterbacks

This was the position least in doubt coming into the season, and the race was for the backup position. 

Jacory Harris seems to be fully recovered from the thumb injury he suffered last season, and his work in the offseason should be evident this year.

The only question for Harris is if he is going to be able to limit the amount of interceptions this year since he led the nation in that category last year. 

Alonzo Highsmith and Spencer Whipple just need to be ready in case something catastrophic happens.

Harris has a few areas he is expected to improve in outside of the interceptions, for example taking what the defense gives him rather than going deep every play.

Also, many fans are hoping to see Harris scramble for yardage more when he has the opportunity, but it is unclear if the coaching staff shares the same sentiment.

Depth Chart:

Jacory Harris

Alonzo Highsmith

Spencer Whipple

Depth Chart: Running Backs

This is probably the deepest position on the Hurricanes football team, and many speculated that Lamar Miller or Storm Johnson would break into the top two on the depth chart. 

Well, despite both players having a strong showing in spring, it seems that the depth chart is keeping the status quo as the incumbents kept their spots.

That does not mean we will not see players like Lamar Miller and Graig Cooper (provided he is healthy), but early in the season Berry and Mike James will have to carry the load because of the murderers' row of games the Hurricanes have to play early in the season. 

With all the explosive playmakers at this position, the Hurricanes should be able to keep players fresh, and allow them to be able to keep pressure on the defense.

Depth Chart:

Half Back

Damien Berry

Mike James

Full Back

Patrick Hill

Maurice Hagens

Depth Chart: Wide Receivers & Tight Ends

This is another deep and talented group on this team; the Hurricanes can make an argument for having the fastest receiving group in the nation. 

On the depth chart, all of these players are listed as starters because a lot of them are interchangeable.

The main focus for these players is to get open and read the blitzes from the defense so Harris will have a hot route to throw the football to.

The Hurricanes really cannot go wrong with any combination of this group, although Leonard Hankerson is considered the go-to receiver for Jacory Harris.

The tight end position is filled with talent as well although a lot of the players do not have much game experience; Richard Gordon is the elder statesmen of the group.

Chase Ford is a transfer, and the other two players are true freshmen.  Gordon is talented, but a comfort level will have to develop with him and Jacory Harris. 

It is widely accepted that Gordon will be better than Jimmy Graham, which means this is an upgrade at the position.

Depth Chart:

Wide Receivers

Leonard Hankerson

Aldarius Johnson

Travis Benjamin

LaRon Byrd

Tight Ends

Richard Gordon

Chase Ford

Asante Cleveland

Billy Sanders

Depth Chart: Offensive Line

This has been the most scrutinized and criticized group on the team, many people are talking about how suspect the offensive line is. 

Most people are focusing on one game, and they forget that this team averaged over 30 points a game last season. 

You don’t score that many points if your offensive line is suspect, they had some injuries in the bowl game and performed badly. 

In the offseason, the offensive line took it personally that they were considered the weak link on the team, and I expect them to come out and make a statement this season. 

Depth Chart:

Left Tackle

Orlando Franklin

Ben Jones

Left Guard

Harland Gunn

Jared Wheeler

Center

Tyler Horn

Brandon Linder

Right Guard

Brandon Washington

Malcolm Bunche

Right Tackle

Joel Figueroa

Jermaine Johnson

Depth Chart: Defensive Line

This should also be a position of strength for the Hurricanes with Marcus Forston returning from a season long injury. 

Forston is not listed as the starter; it says that he or Josh Holmes could get the start at Left Defensive Tackle. 

Either way, Forston will see significant playing time, or if he can be a force in the middle, this defense will be hard to score on. 

Adewale Ojomo is also in the same situation, listed as one of three possible starters at defensive end after missing last season with a broken jaw. 

With all the players back and playmaker Allen Bailey back to playing defensive end, the front four should be solid this season...definitely more than enough to handle Florida A&M.

Left Defensive End

Allen Bailey

Marcus Robinson

Dyron Dye

Left Defensive Tackle

Josh Holmes

Marcus Forston

Right Defensive Tackle

Micanor Regis

Luther Robinson

Right Defensive End

Olivier Vemon

Adewale Ojomo

Andrew Smith

Depth Chart: Linebackers

The linebacker position has not been particularly strong over the past few seasons for the Hurricanes, and the middle linebacker position was the biggest question coming into the year. 

Sean Spence is back and healthy again, but still undersized at 220 lbs. playing the weak side linebacker position.  They decided to move Colin McCarthy to the middle linebacker spot, and Kylan Robinson seems to have beaten out Ramon Buchanan for the starting Strong side linebacker position. 

Overall this group has to play better; McCarthy was good but not overwhelmingly impressive last year.  This group had better use Florida A&M as a game to get the kinks worked out because Ohio State will be much less forgiving.

Depth Chart:

Strong Linebacker

Kylan Robinson

Ramon Buchanan

Middle Linebacker

Colin McCarthy

Kelvin Cain

Weak Linebacker

Sean Spence

James Gaines

Jordan Futch

Depth Chart: Defensive Secondary

The defensive backfield is very strong and could be one of the best in the country if this group plays up to their potential.  It all starts with Brandon Harris who is one of the best corner backs in the country, but will have a challenge against bigger receivers because of his size.  DeMarcus Van Dyke has gotten better every season, and seems poised to have a breakout season across from Harris.  He must be ready as teams throw away from Harris and challenge him to see if he holds up, if he can then the DVD moniker will be a feared this season. 

Prized Miami recruit Ray Ray Armstrong will finally be a starter and have to live up to the hype he received during his recruitment.  In the spring he was not the starter and this fall he worked his way back into the position and has the physical attributes to be one of the best safeties in the country. 

That group rounds out with Vaughn Telemaque who was a surprise contributor last season, and the same can be expected from him this year.  If this group plays to their talent level then Miami will boast one of the top passing defenses in the nation.

Left Cornerback

DeMarcus Van Dyke

Ryan Hill

Right Cornerback

Brandon Harris

Brandon McGee

Strong Safety

Ray Ray Armstrong

JoJo Nicolas

Free Safety

Vaughn Telemaque

Kacy Rodgers

Jared Campbell

Game Analysis & Prediction

The Miami Hurricanes come into this game with the challenge of staying focused and executing the game plan despite playing an inferior opponent.  There is no way FAMU wins this game, of course some will say on any given day any team can win.  This will not be one of those days, the Hurricanes have to avoid injury and not let the Rattlers hang around.

In last season’s meeting the Hurricanes defeated Florida A&M 48–16, and the Rattlers hung around for a little bit in the first half.  Miami can ill afford to let that happen this year, they need to make a statement and crush this opponent from the start.  What many may now know is FAMU beat Miami in their first meeting in 1979, but Miami has reeled off seven straight wins against the Rattlers.  Miami leads the all-time series 7–1; expect it to go to 8–1 after this game.

With that being said, this is an important game for the Hurricanes, as it is a tune up for their game the next week against Ohio State.  The Hurricanes struggled last year with play consistently at a high level for the entire season, and will need to display they can play mistake free football.

Florida A&M barely missed the playoffs last season, and are a very capable FCS subdivision football team.  The Rattlers averaged 28 points per game last season and combined for over 2,200 yards rushing as a team.  The Rattlers offensive production will be hurting with the graduation of Dual threat quarterback Curtis Pulley, and his replacement Eddie Battle has big shoes to fill.  We all know that Florida A&M will win one battle, at halftime their band “The Marching 100” is second to none. 

Miami wins this game in convincing fashion 45–13.