Miami football's dangerous weapon identified as star of 2024

The Miami Hurricanes football team must be feeling pretty good heading into the 2024 season. Perhaps no team has improved as much as Mario Cristobal's to the point where they can make a sizable jump in one season. But that's exactly what Miami (FL) football has been preparing for, thanks to two strong recruiting classes coupled with its impressive use of the winter and spring transfer portal.

Miami Football's offense expected to be dynamic for the 2024 season

What turned heads following this use of the recruiting and transfer portal was mainly what was done offensively. You can't start talking about Miami's revamped football offense without first talking about their new signal-caller in Cam Ward. The former Washington State quarterback completely changes the identity of the Hurricanes, not only as an offense but as a team as a whole.

The quarterback position has long been ridiculed in Miami football, and with Ward now having a proven track record dating back to his days at Incarnate Word and then with the Cougars, he is bound to make an impact that hasn't been seen at the post in years.

Who does Ward often entrust with football is Damien Martinez. The former Oregon State running back was one of the top backs in the spring edition of the transfer portal and is now one of the many weapons in the Hurricanes' new offense.

The 2024 Miami football team also has what Pro Football Focus called a top-10 receiving corps. The Canes come in at No. 7 on the list, between Missouri and Colorado. This is a group that will now be led by last year's leader Xavier Restrepo, last year's leader Jacolby George and transfer portal addition Sam Brown from Houston.

This means, at least on paper, that all skill positions should be much improved. However, the one we talk about the least is that of the closers, who obviously do not only reception work but also protection. Now, with players with complementary skills all around, as well as a top offensive line and a quarterback to ease the ball to everyone, Hurricanes tight end Elijah Arroyo could finally have his breakout season .

Elijah Arroyo will have his breakout season for Miami football in 2024

For a school that was once labeled as Tight End U thanks to players like Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey, Greg Olsen, Jimmy Graham and others, it's been anything but that for a while in Miami. Last year may have hit an all-time low for Miami tight ends.

Four tight ends hit the field for Miami last year, and between them they had just 18 catches for 154 yards. It's beyond terrible. Arroyo was expected to play a big role in Miami's offense since 2022, but suffered a knee injury that season, which kept him out for most of the 2023 season. But everything is new in 2024, including Arroyo's health.

Miami football coaches have already raved about Arroyo, raving about his offseason work thus far, according to ESPN, which also named the tight end as a star for the Canes in 2024. At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Arroyo is the type of big player who can be a nightmare for opposing defenses, and now that he has what should be a reliable quarterback behind center to throw him the ball, the sky could be the limit for him this coming season, as will a return to the tight end position.