Top 120 countdown No. 39 Miami

OFFENSE

THE SCHEME: The Hurricanes run a pro-set offense. They went three-wide at times last season, and under new coordinator Mark Whipple, we should see more of that this season. There is a large group of talented wide receivers and questions at tight end and fullback, so why not put more playmakers on the field?

STAR POWER: Junior RB Graig Cooper is a multi-talented guy. He has good speed, is an effective receiver and a solid return man. An injury to backup Javarris James meant Cooper was on the field too often last season and cut down on his impact. Expect to see both players on the field at the same time this season, as Cooper can be moved all over the place in an attempt to exploit mismatches. While Cooper has good speed, he also can be effective running up the gut. In short, he's a talented all-around back.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Watch for redshirt freshman WR Kendal Thompkins. He played in the first two games last season before suffering a wrist injury that caused him to miss the rest of the season. Thompkins has good speed and can get deep, both needed dimensions in this offense. Plus, he played with new starting QB Jacory Harris in high school.

WATCH FOR HIM TO EMERGE: Harris started twice last season as a true freshman ? in the opener, a glorified scrimmage against Charleston Southern, and in the bowl game, which was a hard-fought loss to California in which the offense was shut down. Harris did play extensively as a backup, and the starting job is all his this season with the transfer of 11-game starter Robert Marve to Purdue. Harris will be asked to throw the ball downfield more under Whipple, who comes from the NFL. Harris needs to add bulk, but he has a good arm and mobility. He lacks a proven go-to receiver, but there are numerous candidates.

STRONGEST AREA: The receiving corps is unproven, but this has the makings of a deep and productive group. And they're almost all underclassmen. There are big, physical guys, such as junior Leonard Hankerson, sophomore Laron Byrd and redshirt freshman Tommy Streeter. There are smaller, quick guys, such as sophomores Travis Benjamin, Thearon Collier and Davon Johnson and Thompkins. There's also sophomore Aldarius Johnson, who is big and fast and may have the most upside of anybody in this group. A go-to receiver needs to emerge; while it's nice having a deep group of targets, it's also nice for a quarterback to have one guy he knows he can count on. Harris and Johnson were a potent pass-catch duo in high school at powerhouse Miami Northwestern. Miami had 22 touchdown passes last season, but no receiver caught more than 31 passes and the average completion was just 10.8 yards. There also is a deep group of running backs, headed by Cooper and James. In addition, there are two touted true freshmen ? Mike James, who enrolled early and went through spring ball, and Lamar Miller ? who could push their way into the playing-time picture.

BIGGEST PROBLEM: The line needs some work. Other than senior T Jason Fox, headed into his fourth season as a starter, no lineman stands out. Fox has started every game but one in his Miami career; he missed last season's victory over Virginia Tech with an injury. G Orlando Franklin has the talent to become an all-league player. The depth isn't good, and if Fox and/or Franklin is lost for any amount of time, trouble could ensue. Miami ran for just 129.2 yards per game last season, and the line's inconsistency was a major reason for the lack of production. Tight end is another potential trouble spot. Dedrick Epps suffered a severe knee injury in the Emerald Bowl loss to California and may miss the season. His replacement would be Richard Gordon, a senior who has done nothing in his college career.

GRADE: B

DEFENSE

THE SCHEME: The Hurricanes run a 4-3 set. UM has been known for its aggressive nature on defense for much of the past two decades, and that won't change with new coordinator John Lovett, who was hired off North Carolina's staff to replace Jim Young - who went to Oklahoma State. This still will be coach Randy Shannon's defense.

STAR POWER: Sophomore LB Sean Spence is a star on the rise after a freshman All-America performance last season. He has excellent speed and is a hard hitter. Coaches will be looking for more big plays from him this season, and he has the talent and skill to come through in that regard.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Look for true freshman Ray Ray Armstrong to get on the field this season; he's too good ? and too explosive ? not to play. Armstrong (6 feet 4/215 pounds) played both ways at Sanford (Fla.) Seminole, which won Florida's big-school state title. He was the starting quarterback on offense and played safety and linebacker on defense. He'll likely begin fall drills as a backup safety, and his speed, athleticism and big-play potential will get him on the field sooner rather than later.

WATCH FOR HIM TO EMERGE: Junior T Allen Bailey signed with Miami as a linebacker, moved to end, then moved to tackle in the spring. His quickness could be disruptive in the middle against the run and as a pass rusher.

STRONGEST AREA: The linebackers should be the strength of the defense. Senior Darryl Sharpton is a steadying influence in the middle, but he needs to make more plays. Senior Colin McCarthy is reliable, but he too often has been banged-up. If he stays healthy, McCarthy and Spence give Miami a playmaking duo on the outside. Sophomore Arthur Brown, the nation's top-ranked high school linebacker in the 2008 signing class, didn't do much as a freshman, but expectations remain high.

BIGGEST PROBLEM: Miami struggled to stop the run last season (last in the ACC and 75th nationally, allowing 151.8 yards per game), and the first priority for Lovett ? and Shannon ? is to get more physical, especially up front. Bailey should emerge as a force, junior Joe Joseph is a solid run-stuffer and sophomore backup Marcus Forston has star potential. E Eric Moncur received a sixth season of eligibility because of various injuries, and he should be part of an effective end rotation. Sophomore E Marcus Robinson is undersized (6-1/242), but he has good speed off the edge and could develop into a feared pass rusher. Another problem: While Miami was seventh nationally in pass defense last season, it had just four interceptions, an embarrassingly low number for a team with this many athletes. There are four or five corners who could start, and look for coaches to lean toward the guys who show they can make things happen. The return of FS Randy Phillips, a former cornerback who missed all but two games last season, should help.

GRADE: B-plus

SPECIAL TEAMS

K/P Matt Bosher returns, and he's a weapon at both positions. He was 18-of-20 on field-goal attempts and has a strong leg; he also averaged 40.3 yards per punt, had 19 land inside the opponents' 20 and had 24 that were fair-caught. Benjamin did a great job as a punt returner last season, but only so-so as a kick returner. Look for Cooper to get first crack at the kick-return job this fall. The coverage teams were solid last season, and that should continue because of the plethora of good athletes available for special teams.

GRADE: A

COACHING

Shannon is going into just his third season, but the heat already is on, as evidenced by the two new coordinators ? Whipple on offense, Lovett on defense ? in place this season. Lovett is the third defensive coordinator in as many seasons, but that unit has had fewer problems than the offense. Former offensive coordinator Patrick Nix was criticized for being too conservative, but he didn't always have a lot of top-flight talent at his disposal. That won't be the case for Whipple, who will oversee a unit that has talent but lacks experience.

GRADE: C

DATE	OPPONENT
Sept. 7	at Florida State
Sept. 17	Georgia Tech
Sept. 26	at Virginia Tech
Oct. 3	Oklahoma
Oct. 10	Florida A&M
Oct. 17	at UCF
Oct. 24	Clemson
Oct. 31	at Wake Forest
Nov. 7	Virginia
Nov. 14	at North Carolina
Nov. 21	Duke
Nov. 28	at South Florida

SCHEDULE

Lovett and Whipple won't have time to learn on the job. The Hurricanes' first four games are tougher than anyone's: at Florida State, vs. Georgia Tech, at Virginia Tech and vs. Oklahoma. But the schedule's definitely front-loaded, with the second half easier than the first. Still, five of the six road games this season are against teams that went to bowls last season. Miami also plays relative upstarts UCF and USF on the road; the Hurricanes have everything to lose and nothing to gain in those games. This isn't the best schedule for a coach who's feeling the heat.

OVERALL OUTLOOK

Miami has scuffled a bit the past few seasons, and all the coaching upheaval hasn't helped. The Hurricanes have talent, but for the most part, it's untested. Harris' performance is huge this season; if he struggles, the offense isn't going to do anything. Miami looks to have the skill-position talent to make things easier for Harris, but the iffy line bears watching. Defensively, Miami must get tougher ? and must make plays. Four interceptions? That can't happen again. There's enough speed on defense for UM to force 25-plus turnovers this season. The schedule is tough, though a fast start could mean Miami challenges for the division title. A more realistic goal is eight victories and a move up the ACC's bowl pecking order.

? MIKE HUGUENIN

OFFENSE QB Jacory Harris (6-4, 190, Soph.) Taylor Cook (6-7, 225, R-Fr.) RB Graig Cooper * (6-0, 202, Jr.) Javarris James (6-0, 214, Sr.) FB Patrick Hill (5-9, 260, Sr.) John Calhoun (6-3, 254, Soph.) WR Travis Benjamin (5-10, 170, Soph.) Leonard Hankerson (6-3, 210, Jr.) WR Aldarius Johnson * (6-2, 205, Soph.) Laron Byrd (6-4, 211, Soph.) TE Dedrick Epps * (6-4, 253, Jr.) Richard Gordon (6-4, 270, Sr.) T Jason Fox * (6-7, 310, Sr.) Jermaine Johnson (6-6, 310, Fr.) T Matt Pipho (6-7, 307, Sr.) Ben Jones (6-5, 310, R-Fr.) G Joel Figueroa (6-5, 335, Jr.) Harland Gunn (6-2, 313, Soph.) G Orlando Franklin * (6-7, 334, Jr.) Ian Symonette (6-9, 351, Jr.) C A.J. Trump % (6-3, 308, Sr.) Tyler Horn (6-4, 289, Soph.) K Matt Bosher * (6-0, 205, Jr.) PR Travis Benjamin (5-10, 170, Soph.)	DEFENSE E Eric Moncur (6-2, 255, Sr.) Steven Wesley * (6-3, 260, Jr.) T Allen Bailey (6-4, 290, Jr.) Josh Holmes (6-0, 279, Jr.) T Joe Joseph * (6-3, 302, Sr.) Marcus Forston (6-2, 302, Soph.) E Marcus Robinson (6-1, 242, Soph.) Adewale Ojomo (6-3, 240, Soph.) LB Colin McCarthy (6-3, 240, Sr.) Kylan Robinson (6-1, 235, Jr.) LB Darryl Sharpton * (5-11, 235, Sr.) Arthur Brown (6-2, 223, Soph.) LB Sean Spence * (6-0, 211, Soph.) Jordan Futch (6-2, 214, Soph.) CB Chavez Grant * (5-11, 183, Sr.) Brandon Harris * (5-10, 185, Soph.) CB Ryan Hill (5-11, 205, Sr.) DeMarcus Van Dyke (6-1, 177, Jr.) FS JoJo Nicolas * (6-1, 197, Jr.) Jared Campbell (6-0, 197, Jr.) SS Randy Phillips (6-0, 210, Sr.) Vaughn Telemaque (6-1, 185, R-Fr.) P Matt Bosher * (6-0, 205, Jr.) KR Graig Cooper (6-0, 202, Jr.)
(NOTE: *--denotes returning starter; %--denotes returning starter who has changed positions.)