Sizing up all the UM draft prospects and their projections. UM bring in Longhorns kicker

Miami Herald

25-04-2025

Some final draft projections for Miami Hurricanes, beyond Cam Ward, who went No. 1 to Tennessee on Thursday night:
▪ Tight end Elijah Arroyo:
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, who projects him as a second-rounder, sizes him up this way: 'He displayed a willingness as both a point-of-attack and move blocker, but his technique and play strength will need upgrading. He's an average athlete who struggles to beat man coverage but appeared to get faster and more fluid as the 2024 season wore on. He plays with awareness in space and secures throws with sure hands in traffic.'
The mocks: He is being projected 42nd to the Jets (by Mel Kiper Jr.), 67th (by ESPN's Jordan Reid), 55th by The Athletic's Dane Brugler and 70th by NFL.com's Chad Reuter.
▪ Running back Damien Martinez:
Zierlein projects him as a sixth-rounder and describes him as a 'productive three-year starter with an impressive blend of power, dexterity and decisiveness. First and foremost, Martinez is truly a 'big back' who proves he can find yards after contact on most carries. Despite a lack of breakaway speed, Martinez averaged 6.2 yards per carry on 514 career totes. He can catch passes here and there but could be best dialed in as a complementary banger capable of taking on the lion's share of the carries if needed.'
The mocks: He's being projected 99th (by ESPN's Reid); 113th by Brugler (third round) and 189th (sixth round) by NFL.com's Reuter.
▪ Receiver Xavier Restrepo:
Zierlein projects him to go undrafted after he ran poorly (albeit while nursing an injury) at his Pro Day, and assesses him this way:
'Feisty, slot-only target who has maximized his talent and honed his craft. Restrepo is a route chef who reeks of urgency and plays faster than the stopwatch times him, but his timed speed will almost surely hurt his draft stock. His instincts, blitz recognition and talent to scramble open when plays break down will make him a favorite of quarterbacks and play-callers. Subpar length and average measurables could create some hesitation for NFL evaluators, but the lack of speed is a much bigger concern.'
The mocks: He's projected to go in the fifth round (145th overall) by ESPN's Reid; in the sixth round (178th) by Reuter; and 197th by Brugler.
▪ Tackle/guard Jalen Rivers:
Zierlein projects him as a fourth-rounder, describing him as a 'burly offensive lineman with natural anchor and above-average length. He could get a shot at right tackle but slow feet will put him in harm's way against NFL edge rushers… His mass and length increase his likelihood of finding starting reps on the interior, provided he can stay healthy.'
The mocks: He's projected to go in the fourth round/136th overall by ESPN's Reid; in the fourth round (105th) by Brugler; and in the sixth round (209th) by NFL.com's Reuter.
▪ Edge player Tyler Baron:
Zierlein projects him as a fifth-rounder and says he has 'the size and athleticism for consideration as an edge defender in odd or even fronts. He doesn't create fear with his rush quickness or skill level but he's an active worker with a slippery upper body that could foreshadow improvement in rush efficiency with more work. Baron projects as a middle-round edge prospect whose ceiling could be tied to his ability to become a more consistently disruptive force.'
The mocks: He's projected to go in the fifth round (152nd overall) by NFL.com's Reuter, in the sixth round (208th overall) by Reid and with the next-to-last pick in the sixth round by Brugler (215th).
▪ Receiver Jacolby George:
Zierlein predicts he will go undrafted and said he has 'consistent production but lacking desired pro traits. George is a feisty competitor who has allowed that fire to burn his team with critical penalties at times. Unless he can rebrand as a crafty slot receiver, the difficulty he encounters when trying to beat physical cornerbacks could be an overriding concern for teams.'
The mocks: None of the three seven-round mocks have him being drafted.
▪ Receiver Sam Brown:
Zierlein predicts he will go undrafted and said 'Brown played at three schools over five seasons but failed to produce at a standout level. Frankly, there are more flashes on Brown's 2023 tape at Houston than there were on his Miami tape from 2024. He has some instincts in space and flashes route-running potential, but it's hard to find enough consistent tape to make a clear projection of what he could provide as a pro.'
The mocks: None of these three seven-round mock drafts have him being selected.
▪ Defensive lineman Simeon Barrow Jr:
Zierlein said he's a seventh-rounder or priority free agent who is 'heavy on starting experience but light on measurables. Barrow lacks the size and length of an NFL interior defender but flashes good upper-body power to shed and tackle when he's singled up. He has enough rush potential for consideration as a three-down backup but will need to add more functional mass to his frame to have a chance.'
The mocks: None of these three seven-round mock drafts have him being selected.
▪ Linebacker Francisco Mauigoa:
Zierlein projects him for the seventh round and said he's a 'productive three-year starter with the frame and physicality of a throwback banger….. He's too limited for third-down duties as a pro, so he'll have to prove he's a capable backup as a two-down run thumper and quality special-teams player.'
The mocks: Brugler has him going in the seventh round, at 225.
▪ Kicker Andres Borregales: He went 18 for 19 on field goals and 62 for 62 on extra points last season, and Zierlein said he figures to go in the fifth or sixth rounds.
' The keys to Borregales' accuracy, Zierlein said, 'are his repeatable stroke and consistent ball-striking. He doesn't have a cannon for a right leg but he has enough power to hit from distance at an admirable clip. He has a good chance to win a pro job as a rookie.'
The mocks: He's projected to go late in the sixth or early in the seventh — 212th by Brugler, 216th by Reuter; and 220th by Reid.
▪ Safety Meesh Powell, cornerback Daryl Porter Jr. and center Zach Carpenter could get offers as free agents.
Kicker visits
UM, which is hosting more than 10 portal targets this week, is bringing in Texas Longhorns kicker Bert Auburn, per 247 Sports.
He went 16 for 25 on field goals and 64 for 64 on extra points last season.
In four years at Texas, he made 66 of 86 field goals and all 178 extra points.
Auburn, who has one year of eligibility left, led the Big 12 with 29 field goals in 2023, the Longhorns' final season in that conference.
He's 2 for 6 from 50 plus yards in his career, with a long of 54.
Last season, he was 5 for 6 on field goals of 20 for 29, 4 for 5 from 30 to 39, 6 for 12 from 40 to 49 and 0 for 2 from 50 plus yards. Before last season, he was better from 40 to 49 yards, hitting 16 of 21 in his previous three seasons.
FAU transfer Carter Davis is the only scholarship kicker on UM's roster at the moment following the recent departure of second-year player Abram Murray, who was the No. 4 kicker in the 2024 class but struggled this spring.
It's possible Davis could retain only the kickoff job — because of his strong leg and high touchback rate — even if Auburn picks Miami. Davis was just 4 for 11 on field goals in two years at FAU.
Also Friday, UM was scheduled to host transfer portal visits with North Carolina State linebacker Kamal Bonner, UF safety Gregory SmithIII and receiver Keelan Marion (BYU) and Tony Johnson (Cincinnati).