# 2018 Miami Hurricanes football team

The 2018 Miami Hurricanes football team (variously "Miami", "The U", "UM", "'Canes") represented the University of Miami during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hurricanes were led by third-year head coach Mark Richt and played their home games at Hard Rock Stadium. They competed as a member of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). They finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in ACC play to finish in a 3-way tie for 3rd in the Coastal Division. They were invited to the Pinstripe Bowl where they would lose to Wisconsin.
On December 30, 2018, Richt announced his retirement after 3 seasons at Miami and 18 overall as head coach. That same day, the school named Manny Diaz as their new head coach.

## Offseason
### Recruiting
#### Position key

| Back | B | Center | C | Cornerback | CB | Defensive back | DB |
| Defensive end | DE | Defensive lineman | DL | Defensive tackle | DT | End | E |
| Fullback | FB | Guard | G | Halfback | HB | Kicker | K |
| Kickoff returner | KR | Offensive tackle | OT | Offensive lineman | OL | Linebacker | LB |
| Long snapper | LS | Punter | P | Punt returner | PR | Quarterback | QB |
| Running back | RB | Safety | S | Tight end | TE | Wide receiver | WR |

#### Recruits

The Hurricanes signed a total of 23 recruits.
US college sports recruiting information for 2018 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Daquris Wiggins WR | Miami, Florida | Miami Southridge High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Oct 21, 2015 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Gilbert Frierson DB | Coral Gables, Florida | Coral Gables High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Feb 23, 2016 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| D. J. Ivey CB | Homestead, Florida | South Dade High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Jun 25, 2016 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Delone Scaife OG | Miami, Florida | Miami Southridge High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 320 lb (150 kg) | Jul 9, 2016 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Lorenzo Lingard RB | Orange City, Florida | University High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Feb 9, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Nesta Jade Silvera DT | Plantation, Florida | American Heritage School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 308 lb (140 kg) | Feb 14, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Cam'Ron Davis RB | Miami Gardens, Florida | Miami Carol City High School | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 187 lb (85 kg) | Feb 18, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Brian Hightower WR | Calabasas, California | IMG Academy | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 196 lb (89 kg) | Mar 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Mark Pope WR | Miami, Florida | Miami Southridge High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Mar 27, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Gurvan Hall S | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida | Palm Beach Gardens Community High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Mar 27, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Cleveland Reed OG | Fort Meade, Florida | Fort Meade High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 327 lb (148 kg) | Apr 5, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Brevin Jordan TE | Las Vegas, Nevada | Bishop Gorman High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | Apr 16, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Will Mallory TE | Jacksonville, Florida | Providence School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 207 lb (94 kg) | Apr 21, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Gregory Rousseau DE | Miami, Florida | Champagnat Catholic School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 222 lb (101 kg) | Apr 22, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Bubba Baxa K | Pasadena, Texas | Pasadena Memorial High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | May 27, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Al Blades Jr. CB | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | St. Thomas Aquinas High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Jun 18, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| John Campbell OT | Orlando, Florida | Dr. Phillips High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 284 lb (129 kg) | Jul 3, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Realus George FB | Pace Academy | Atlanta, Georgia | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | Nov 12, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Patrick Joyner DE | Homestead, Florida | South Dade High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Dec 3, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jarren Williams QB | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Central Gwinnett High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 206 lb (93 kg) | Dec 6, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Nigel Bethel CB | Miami, Florida | Miami Northwestern High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | Jan 22, 2018 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jordan Miller DT | Jacksonville, Florida | Sandalwood High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 330 lb (150 kg) | Jan 29, 2018 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Marquez Ezzard WR | Stockbridge, Georgia | Stockbridge High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Feb 7, 2018 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Miami Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 25, 2018. "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 25, 2018. |||||||

## Preseason
### Award watch lists

| Award | Player | Position | Year |
| Lott Trophy | Joe Jackson | DE | JR |
| Rimington Trophy | Tyler Gauthier | C | SR |
| Chuck Bednarik Award | Shaquille Quarterman | LB | JR |
| Chuck Bednarik Award | Jaquan Johnson | DB | SR |
| Maxwell Award | Travis Homer | RB | JR |
| Maxwell Award | Ahmmon Richards | WR | JR |
| Doak Walker Award | Travis Homer | RB | JR |
| Fred Biletnikoff Award | Ahmmon Richards | WR | JR |
| Butkus Award | Shaquille Quarterman | LB | JR |
| Jim Thorpe Award | Michael Jackson | DB | SR |
| Jim Thorpe Award | Jaquan Johnson | DB | SR |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Michael Jackson | DB | SR |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Jaquan Johnson | DB | SR |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Shaquille Quarterman | LB | JR |
| Outland Trophy | Tyler Gauthier | C | SR |
| Wuerffel Trophy | Demetrius Jackson | DL | SR |
| Walter Camp Award | Jaquan Johnson | DB | SR |
| Walter Camp Award | Ahmmon Richards | WR | JR |
| Ted Hendricks Award | Joe Jackson | DE | JR |
| Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award | Malik Rosier | QB | SR |
| Manning Award | Malik Rosier | QB | SR |

### ACC media poll

The ACC media poll was released on July 24, 2018.
Media poll (Coastal) :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Miami | 998 (122) |
| 2 | Virginia Tech | 838 (16) |
| 3 | Georgia Tech | 654 (8) |
| 4 | Duke | 607 (1) |
| 5 | Pittsburgh | 420 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 370 (1) |
| 7 | Virginia | 257 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 7:30 p.m. | vs. No. 25 LSU* | No. 8 | AT&T StadiumArlington, TX (Advocare Classic) | ABC | L 17–33 | 68,841 |
| September 8 | 6:00 p.m. | Savannah State* | No. 22 | Hard Rock StadiumMiami Gardens, FL | ACCN Extra | W 77–0 | 60,307 |
| September 15 | 12:00 p.m. | at Toledo* | No. 21 | Glass BowlToledo, OH | ESPN2 | W 49–24 | 28,117 |
| September 22 | 3:30 p.m. | FIU* | No. 21 | Hard Rock StadiumMiami Gardens, FL | ESPN2 | W 31–17 | 59,814 |
| September 27 | 8:00 p.m. | North Carolina | No. 16 | Hard Rock StadiumMiami Gardens, FL | ESPN | W 47–10 | 60,845 |
| October 6 | 3:30 p.m. | Florida State | No. 17 | Hard Rock StadiumMiami Gardens, FL (rivalry) | ABC | W 28–27 | 65,490 |
| October 13 | 7:00 p.m. | at Virginia | No. 16 | Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA | ESPN2 | L 13–16 | 42,393 |
| October 26 | 7:00 p.m. | at Boston College | | Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA | ESPN | L 14–27 | 44,514 |
| November 3 | 7:00 p.m. | Duke | | Hard Rock StadiumMiami Gardens, FL | ESPN2 | L 12–20 | 62,754 |
| November 10 | 7:00 p.m. | at Georgia Tech | | Bobby Dodd StadiumAtlanta, GA | ESPN2 | L 21–27 | 48,217 |
| November 17 | 3:30 p.m. | at Virginia Tech | | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA (rivalry) | ESPN | W 38–14 | 62,379 |
| November 24 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 24 Pittsburgh | | Hard Rock StadiumMiami Gardens, FL | ESPN | W 24–3 | 59,606 |
| December 27 | 5:15 p.m. | vs. Wisconsin* | | Yankee StadiumBronx, NY (New Era Pinstripe Bowl) | ESPN | L 3–35 | 37,821 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### vs LSU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 8 Hurricanes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
| No. 25 Tigers | 10 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 33 |

### Savannah State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 22 Hurricanes | 7 | 21 | 21 | 28 | 77 |

### At Toledo

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 21 Hurricanes | 7 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 49 |
| Rockets | 0 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 24 |

### FIU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 17 |
| No. 21 Hurricanes | 7 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 31 |

### North Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tar Heels | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| No. 16 Hurricanes | 14 | 19 | 0 | 14 | 47 |

### Florida State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seminoles | 7 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
| No. 17 Hurricanes | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |

### At Virginia

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 16 Hurricanes | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| Cavaliers | 0 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 16 |

### At Boston College

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hurricanes | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Eagles | 14 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 27 |

### Duke

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Devils | 7 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 20 |
| Hurricanes | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |

### At Georgia Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hurricanes | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Yellow Jackets | 14 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 27 |

### At Virginia Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hurricanes | 3 | 14 | 21 | 0 | 38 |
| Hokies | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |

### Pittsburgh

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 24 Panthers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Hurricanes | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |

### Vs. Wisconsin (Pinstripe Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Badgers | 14 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
| Hurricanes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | 8 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 17 | 16 | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Coaches | 8 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 15 | RV | 25 | RV | — | — | — | — | — | |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |

## 2019 NFL Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 4 | 119 | Sheldrick Redwine | S | Cleveland Browns |
| 5 | 158 | Michael Jackson | CB | Dallas Cowboys |
| 5 | 165 | Joe Jackson | DE | Dallas Cowboys |
| 6 | 181 | Jaquan Johnson | S | Buffalo Bills |
| 6 | 204 | Travis Homer | RB | Seattle Seahawks |