The 2024 NFL Combine is scheduled to take place in Indianapolis, IN, from Monday, February 26th to Monday, March 4th. Representing the Miami Hurricanes, there will be five prospects across three different positions.
Among them, transfers Javion Cohen and Matt Lee will showcase their skills for the offensive line, while Leonard Taylor III will represent the defensive line. Kamren Kinchens will stand for the defensive backs, and James Williams, though listed as a defensive back, is rumored to be considering cross-training as a linebacker.
Unfortunately, the positions of quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs, slated for Saturday, March 2nd at 1pm, won’t have any Hurricane representatives. The absence of draftable wide receivers or running backs from a South Florida school is perplexing, yet it reflects the current situation at Miami.
However, there is optimism for the future. It is anticipated that in 2025, quarterback Cam Ward and wide receivers Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George will emerge as prospects. Additionally, offensive lineman Jalen Rivers is expected to be drafted in 2025.
Defensive Line
The live drills for defensive linemen and linebackers will be broadcasted on NFL Network on Thursday, February 29th at 3pm. Miami boasts a storied tradition of producing exceptional defensive linemen in the NFL, with notable figures such as Gregory Rousseau, Jerome Brown, Cortez Kennedy, and Warren Sapp, among others.
Leonard Taylor III
That description encapsulates defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III. Taylor, standing at six-foot-three and weighing 305 pounds, hails from Miami, FL. Throughout 28 games, he accumulated impressive stats, including 22.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, and one interception.
Taylor, once a highly-touted five-star prospect, has drawn comparisons from various sources. 247 Sports likened his style to that of the NFL’s Sheldon Richardson, while Bleacher Report sees similarities between him and the 49ers’ Javon Hargrave, a former 3rd round draft pick.
Safety
Friday, March 1st at 3pm marks the opportunity for Kinchens and Williams to showcase their talents. Kinchens is anticipated to be the first Hurricane selected in the upcoming April draft.
Kamren Kinchens
Kinchens, a former three-star recruit from Miami-Northwestern, stands at five-foot-eleven and plays safety. He has earned recognition as an All-American and All-ACC player.
Throughout 33 games, Kinchens demonstrated his versatility and playmaking ability with 11 interceptions, 15 pass breakups, two touchdowns, five tackles for loss, and one sack. Known for his aggressive style, Kinchens didn’t shy away from taking risks, despite experiencing different defensive coordinators over three years, including Manny Diaz, Kevin Steele, and Lance Guidry.
Bleacher Report draws comparisons between Kinchens and Packers safety Darnell Savage, a former first-round draft pick. Meanwhile, 247 Sports likened Kinchens to James Wiggins from the UFL.
James Williams
Williams, a former five-star safety from American Heritage, possesses an imposing physique standing at six-foot-five and weighing 220 pounds. Despite his pedigree, he struggled to find his footing in the Miami defensive backfield. While often compared to Kam Chancellor, Williams fell short of demonstrating the big-play potential expected of a future first-round pick.
Over three seasons spanning 33 games, Williams grappled with the adjustments brought by three different defensive coordinators. Despite his challenges, he managed four interceptions, along with 13 pass breakups and three forced fumbles. Notably, Williams didn’t record any credited sacks but notched two tackles for loss.
Comparisons from 247 Sports align Williams with Carolina Panthers’ second-round safety Jeremy Chinn, while NFL Draft Buzz sees similarities between him and Jevon Holland.
Offensive Line
The offensive linemen are set to showcase their skills on NFL Network on Sunday, March 3rd at 1pm. Both Javion Cohen and Matt Lee are expected to be selected in the draft, with Cohen anticipated to be chosen before Lee, primarily as interior linemen.
Javion Cohen
Cohen made the move to Miami from the Alabama Crimson Tide. As a former four-star recruit, Cohen stands at six-foot-four and weighs 320 pounds, specializing as a guard with a projected position at left guard in the NFL. With 36 starts in Power 5 games, he brings considerable experience to the table.
Bleacher Report draws a comparison between Cohen and Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Jared Hocker, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent. Additionally, Bleacher Report projects Cohen to be drafted in the 5th or 6th round.
Matt Lee
Lee made the transition to Miami from UCF with the aim of assuming the starting role as the Hurricanes’ center. Initially a three-star prospect in high school, he garnered attention as a four-star transfer prospect from UCF. Despite being somewhat undersized at six-foot-four and weighing 285 pounds, Lee brings significant experience to the table, having played in 61 games over five years at the college level.
Projected as a 7th round pick or undrafted free agent (UDFA), Lee’s versatility and extensive playing time could make him an appealing prospect for NFL teams seeking depth on the offensive line.
The Wrap
As a head coach, Mario Cristobal’s track record of producing NFL Draft prospects beyond a few standout players like Kayvon Thibodeaux, Penei Sewell, and Justin Herbert has been somewhat inconsistent. Despite consistently recruiting highly ranked classes, Cristobal’s draft success has been limited to players like Jevon Holland and Troy Dye, with most of his recruiting classes finishing in the top 14 nationally.
In his first year at Miami, Cristobal saw some success in the NFL Draft with a second-round defensive back, a fifth-round tight end, and a seventh-round defensive back selected in the 2023 draft. Tyrique Stevenson, the second-round pick, was a transfer from UGA who navigated through three different defensive coordinators in his final three seasons.
Critics in the college football strength and conditioning community have long debated Aaron Feld’s effectiveness in developing players for the NFL Combine, particularly when it comes to maximizing the potential of highly recruited players like Thibodeaux, Sewell, and Holland. The lack of draft prospects beyond the blue-chip recruits raises questions about player development and maximizing talent.
The success of Michigan in developing three and four-star players into NFL Draft prospects, as evidenced by Ben Herbert’s work there, highlights the importance of player development in turning the corner for a program. With Herbert now joining Jim Harbaugh at the LA Chargers, there’s a pressing need to elevate both the floor and ceiling of talent on the Hurricanes’ depth chart to avoid a repeat of previous seasons, even with a potentially softer schedule in 2024.
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