The Miami Hurricanes 2024 season has come to an in depth and earlier than we flip the web page fully to Carson Beck and the 2025 season, let’s check out what the Tight Finish place offered Cam Ward and the Hurricanes offense in ‘24.
4 gamers noticed taking part in time as tight ends for TE U. this season. Potential top-50 NFL Draft choose Elijah Arroyo, ninth 12 months senior Cam McCormick, sophomore Riley Williams and freshman Elija Lofton.
Arroyo was named to the All-ACC second workforce offense per ACC.com and hit 21.8 MPH this season. Arroyo was additionally named a Reese’s Senior Bowl high performer this winter.
Elijah Arroyo
Once I’m proper, I’m actually dang proper! Here’s what I needed to say about Elijah Arroyo in my piece “Perhaps he’s born with it,” previous to his freshman season at Miami:
I selected three random recruits to interrupt down their operating type of. I’m so impressed by Elijah Arroyo I’m scared to sort this. He’s one hell of a soccer participant. Like, I’m undecided what determines a 4 star from a 5 star on these websites like 247 Sports activities, however what’s he lacking?!
Elijah Arroyo met these lofty praises, lastly, after a pair of harm plagued seasons at Miami in the midst of his ‘Canes profession. Arroyo got here on robust in 12 video games as a freshman averaging 17.2 yards per catch with one landing. He spent his pair of sophomore seasons injured, earlier than a breakout junior marketing campaign.
This season, Arroyo caught 35 balls for 590 yards and seven touchdowns on 16.9 yards per catch. Arroyo was an in a position blocker that would dominate at instances.
Some extra notes from my viewing of Arroyo’s highschool movie:
He’s blocking a dude on his tape all the way in which into the again wall by means of the bench. He’s sprinting like a observe star. He’s on kick return pancaking TWO GUYS on one clip, he exhibits that he is aware of easy methods to catch a rattling soccer by getting his chest and eyes again, and excessive pointing the factor.
I hope I’m not jinxing this younger fella however I despatched his tape to a school and a highschool assistant and we simply talked about how superior this child is for 10 minutes.
Oh — And Arroyo threw a landing move on “Texas to Texas” to Cam Ward for my favourite play design of the season.
Cam McCormick
Cam McCormick, the ninth 12 months senior switch from Oregon, caught six catches for 42 yards (seven YPC) with three touchdowns in his closing season of faculty soccer. McCormick’s freshman season in 2017 was his most dynamic, however he did tie his private single season file for landing receptions (2022).
McCormick served principally as a lead blocker in a number of TE units for the Shannon Dawson offense and was an improved blocker in ‘24. Add that to being a more practical move catcher within the crimson zone and his worth elevated this season.
Riley Williams
Riley Williams was a blue chip prospect out of IMG Academy that had spurts however by no means actually noticed the sunshine come all the way in which on. Williams caught seven balls for 115 yards (16.4 ypc) however was as soon as once more held with no TD. Williams by no means scored in orange and inexperienced and has since transferred to the Oregon State Beavers for the ‘25 season.
Williams might have failed to search out pay filth, he did nonetheless, catch an especially clutch first down in opposition to Virginia Tech. Miami was trailing 34-31 late within the fourth quarter when Cam Ward broke by means of two sack makes an attempt to flip Williams the ball. Williams then scampered up the sideline breaking his personal sort out makes an attempt earlier than going out contained in the 5 yard line.
Elija Lofton
True freshman Elija Lofton performed in 13 video games for Miami as principally a particular groups ace. Lofton picked up a key first down in opposition to Iowa State on a faux punt everybody however the Cyclones noticed coming that stored Miami in competition within the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
In ‘24, Lofton caught 9 passes for 150 yards with one landing. Lofton additionally rushed for 30 yards on two carries. The previous four-star out of Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas has a shiny future forward in orange and inexperienced.
The Wrap
The way forward for the place room lies with Elija Lofton and his potential to play operating again, fullback, and tight finish like an h-back of outdated. He’s a Swiss military knife like Frank Wycheck from the early days of the Music Metropolis Miracle Tennessee Titans.
If the man can throw a number of passes he can really be a one-of-a-kind participant in Shannon Dawson’s offense in 2025. He’ll be joined by a bevy of recent faces and will probably be relied upon to be a younger chief for Miami subsequent season.