Miami, FL

CanesCounty – Miami Football: Ranking the top five defensive backs going into spring

Published

2 years ago

February 27, 2024

CanesCounty – Miami Football: Ranking the top five defensive backs going into spring

5. Damari BrownÂ

Louisville Cardinals wide receiver Chris Bell (0) catches the football against Miami Hurricanes defensive back Damari Brown (6) during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium.

The defensive back room is perhaps the most intriguing going into spring football practice. The departure of starters Kamren Kinchens, James Williams, Jaden Davis, and Te’Cory Couch to enter the NFL, and Davonte Brown transferring to Florida State, leaves plenty of opportunity for returning players and transfers to make significant contributions.

Jaden Harris and Markeith Williams will definitely be in the mix for playing time, and both could emerge this spring to take the next step in development. Harris excels in tackling, receiving an 82.7 tackling grade (four games), while Williams received his highest grade in run defense (77.5 in three games) from Pro Football Focus.

Kaleb Spencer and Arizona transfer Isaiah Taylor will also push for playing time on defense and special teams. Demetrius Freeney also could push for playing time after recovering from injury last season.

The 2024 signees Zaquan Patterson, Ryan Mack, OJ Frederique, and Dylan Day will likely need a year to develop to the college level.

One of the key returners is sophomore Damari Brown. The Miami coaches showed plenty of confidence in Brown during his freshman season, allowing him to play 445 total snaps with 331 on defense.

Brown went through some growing pains, but his potential is high with his solid frame (6’2,” 195) and physical style.

According to PFF, Brown needs to improve in tackling, scoring a 43.5 season grade in that area, his lowest among all categories. Brown excels in coverage (65.3 season grade), scoring his best grade against NC State on 15 coverage snaps. He’s in line to be CB2 for Miami this season.

4. Savion Riley

(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) — Vanderbilt safety Savion Riley (21) plays against Alabama A&M in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.

Savion Riley, the transfer from Vanderbilt, adds much-needed experience to the position. Riley played 413 total snaps last season, with 343 on defense. He totaled 43 total tackles (34 solo) and graded with an 81.8 tackling grade in the season finale against Tennessee.

Riley could get the start at safety but will have to hold off Harris, Williams, and others for the spot.

3. Jadais Richard

Mark Smith-USA TODAY Sports — Miami Hurricanes defensive back Markeith Williams (15) and Miami Hurricanes defensive back Jadais Richard (25) react to a missed field goal by Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second quarter at Yankee Stadium.

Jadais Richard seemed to get better and better as the year progressed last season. Also, a transfer from Vandy, Richard played 372 total snaps with 187 on defense.

His season grades (Defense – 67.7, Run Defense – 76.2, Tackling – 85.7, Pressure – 55.9, Coverage 65.5) were impressive among his peers, so he lands third on this list. He is a well-rounded player who can play safety, corner, or the slot, making him a valuable piece of this Miami defense.

2. Mishael Powell

Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports — Washington Huskies safety Mishael Powell (3) celebrates an interception of a Michigan State Spartans pass in the first quarter at Spartan Stadium.

Miami did well to land Washinton transfer Mishael Powell. The former Husky brings a wealth of experience, having played in the College Football Playoff and national championship game last season.

Powell played 1,005 total snaps, with 878 on defense last season.

In 2023, he tallied 38 total tackles (29 solo), defended six passes, and snagged three interceptions, including one return for a touchdown against Arizona State that changed the game and helped seal that victory for UW.

It would be surprising if Powell did not get one of the starting safety spots in the 2024 season.

1. Darryl Porter Jr.

(AP Photo/Doug Murray) — Miami’s Daryl Porter, Jr. during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Daryl Porter Jr. will be highly dependent upon to lock down one side of the field, much like he did in 2023. In eight games, he totaled 21 total tackles (14 solo), fourth among returning Hurricanes.

The West Virginia transfer many times re-routed wide receivers from catching the football last season. Porter Jr. ranked 18th among 2025 draft-eligible corners in coverage.

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Miami, FL

No. 22 Kentucky Outlasts Miami University in Wild Affair

Published

11 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

No. 22 Kentucky Outlasts Miami University in Wild Affair

Kentucky drew 11 walks, took seven hit by pitch and found a way to do just enough to outlast a Miami University team with a strong offense, registering a 14-11 victory in front of 3,733 fans enjoying the 80 degree weather at Kentucky Proud Park.

Kentucky now is 22-6 overall and 5-4 in the Southeastern Conference.

Four different players drove in multiple runs, five had multiple hits and five drew a hit by pitch as the No. 22 Wildcats figured out a way to claim their 22^nd victory of the season. The Cats erased deficits of 3-1 and 10-7 along the way with three more innings of at least three runs scored, including a six-run fourth inning.

Hudson Brown, Carson Hansen and Will Marcy each drove in three runs, Ethan Hindle reached base in five plate appearances without logging a single official at bat, Jayce Tharnish swiped his 19^th base and Luke Lawrence extended his reached base streak to 33 games.

On the flip side, the UK pitching staff did not have its best outing but Nile Adcock was sensational in pitching the final 2.2 innings. He escaped a bases loaded situation in the seventh inning but striking out a pair of hitters on six total pitches after entering the game and earned his second win.

NOTES

Kentucky is 22-6 on the season, 5-4 in SEC play.
- UK is 140-68 since the beginning of 2023.
UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his 10th season at the helm and now owns a 315-198 career record.
- Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
- Mingione is 186-54 in non-conference games.
  - He is 165-25 vs. non-Power Four opponents.
- UK is 126-49 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
- Mingione now is 8-0 vs. Miami.
- Mingione is 21-5 vs. teams from the state of Ohio.
The Cats drew 10+ walks for the third time in the past five games.
UK was hit by seven pitches.
The Cats scored three runs or more three times.
- They now have scored at least three runs in an inning 32 times this season.
IF Luke Lawrence has reached safely in 33 consecutive games.
OF Jayce Tharnish went 2-for-4 with 3 R, RBI, BB, HBP, SB.
- Tharnish now is 19-of-20 on the season in stolen bases.
  - That ties for the 6^th most in the Mingione Era in a season.
- IF Ethan Hindle had five plate appearances without an official at bat.
  - Hindle went 0-for-0 with three walks, two HBP, three runs, an RBI and a steal.
- IF Hudson Brown went 2-for-3 with a run, 3 RBI, 2B, HBP, BB, SF.
  - He has 12 multi-hit games this season.
- OF Will Marcy went 1-for-4 with 3 RBI, 2B and BB.
  - It was his second extra base hit in two injury-riddled years with the Cats.
  - It’s a career high in RBI.
- OF Carson Hansen had a two-run HR and RBI single.
- RHP Nile Adcock got the win.
  - He allowed one run in 2.2 innings.
  - He entered in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and struck out two batters on six pitches to end the threat.

ON DECK

UK hosts Missouri this weekend beginning Friday night at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game is on SECN+ and the contest can be heard on UK Sports Network.

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Miami, FL

Trump shares renderings of his presidential library — a massive skyscraper in Miami

Published

1 day ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

Trump shares renderings of his presidential library — a massive skyscraper in Miami

President Donald Trump on Monday teased the plans for his presidential library in Miami.

Trump posted a video on Truth Social that shows a tall, glass building with a large needle on top. The building has his last name in gold lettering across its facade, an American flag hanging down the middle and a presidential plane displayed on the first floor. (A Boeing 747 given to Trump by the Qatari government is set to be displayed in his presidential library once he leaves office.)

The size of the proposed building dwarfs the nearby Freedom Tower, a downtown Miami landmark that carries special significance to Cuban immigrants in Florida — a key demographic that helped Trump win historically blue Miami-Dade County in 2024.

The video also shows replicas from Trump’s time in the White House, including the Oval Office, the West Colonnade featuring his so-called presidential walk of fame and his anticipated ballroom.

The presidential library will be designed by the Miami-based architecture and engineering firm Bermello Ajamil.

The site of the library — a prime piece of Miami real estate that borders the city’s waterfront — is a nearly 3-acre property valued at more than $67 million. The parcel became the source of a legal battle last fall after a federal judge paused the transfer of the land from a local college to the state. The judge ultimately threw out the case in December and allowed the transfer to continue.

The proposed site is not far from Trump National Doral, a resort owned by Trump’s family business.

In his Truth Social post sharing the video, Trump also included a link where people can donate to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation Inc.

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Miami, FL

Could Miami Dolphins trade up in first round of 2026 NFL Draft?

Published

2 days ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

Could Miami Dolphins trade up in first round of 2026 NFL Draft?

Jon-Eric Sullivan — new Miami Dolphins general manager — has been busy acquiring a war chest of draft picks for the 2026 NFL Draft. The team currently has 11 picks in April’s selection process — including two first rounders and four third round picks.

While the team has plenty of holes in their roster that desperately need to be filled, could Sullivan’s stockpiling of picks have been conducted with the idea that the Dolphins want to move up in the first round of the draft in order to land an elite prospect?

Yesterday, Washington Commanders beat writer, Josh Taylor, dropped an interesting social media post where he said that he’s heard from two separate sources that the Dolphins and Commanders are in talks about a trade that would see Washington trade back from pick #7 in the first round in order for Miami to move up from pick #11.

Again, with Miami needing to upgrade at so many positions, it’s hard to guess which player the team might be targeting, but safety Caleb Downs, offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, linebacker Sonny Styles, defensive linemen Rueben Bain and David Bailey are just some of the names that the Dolphins could be interested in.

Of course, as Taylor states, these whispers could remain just that — whispers.

With the Dolphins in full-on rebuilding mode, the team needs to bring in as many young, talented players as possible. Trading away draft picks instead of adding more would not help them to accomplish that goal. However, with the 2026 NFL Draft kicking off in less than a month, we won’t have to wait long to discover what Sullivan’s ultimate plan for his first draft as Dolphins general manager ultimately ends up being.

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