Where UM team, Cam Ward, others stack up in preseason rankings. And UM notes, new uniforms

The Hurricanes’ offseason additions, highlighted by the signing of quarterback Cam Ward, have elevated Miami into the top 25 of many preseason rankings even after a 7-6 season.

The Sporting News used the preseason rankings of 11 websites to come up with a composite top 25. Miami was 22nd, just behind Kansas and just ahead of Southern Cal.

The Canes received their highest preseason rankings from 247 Sports and The Athletic, who both rated Miami 14th.

Sports Illustrated and USA Today had Miami unranked.

ESPN’s College Football Power Index has Miami 23rd. The Canes are given only a 9.9 percent chance to win the Atlantic Coast Conference and an 18.2 percent chance to make the College Football Playoff and a 0.6 percent chance to win the national title.

By contrast, ESPN gives FSU a 26 percent chance to win the ACC and has Clemson at 19 percent and Louisville at 12.

Ward, who was a standout at Washington State, is given plenty of recognition in different preseason measurements.

BetMGM has Ward with the ninth-shortest Heisman Trophy odds at 2,000 to 1; Georgia quarterback Carson Beck is the favorite. VegasInsider also has Ward ninth while FanDuel has him 12th in Heisman odds.

Noted college football writer Phil Steele ranks the Hurricanes quarterbacks 10th best in the country.

Surprisingly, EA Sports doesn’t rank Ward among the top 100 players in the country. EA has three Hurricanes players in its top 100, which were released this week: running back Damien Martinez (67), defensive end Rueben Bain (78) and receiver Xavier Restrepo (93).

CANES MAKE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT HIRES

Months after Alonzo Highsmith left his job as the football program’s general manager, the Canes have made changes inside their personnel department.

UM has a new executive director of player personnel in Trip Carrico, who had been involved in personnel at Arkansas State and previously worked with UM coach Mario Cristobal at Alabama.

Carrico will be assisted by Devontay Love-Taylor, a former FIU player who was working in Arizona State’s recruiting department. Other hires include new director of scouting and administration Jacob Lucas, a Miami graduate and former UM staffer who previously worked in UAB’s personnel department.

▪ The Canes, who have added 11 Class of 2025 commitments since June 1, are in the mix for three recruits who plan to announce next week, none more important than five-star Tampa based defensive back DJ Pickett, who is rated by 247 Sports as the No. 9 player and No. 3 cornerback in the class.

Oregon, Georgia and Miami are the top contenders for Pickett, who had six interceptions during the past two seasons.

And UM also is a finalist for Mulberry-based three-star defensive lineman Jarquez Carter, who plans to announce Thursday, July 18. His finalists are UM, UCF, Penn State, and Ohio State. On.3 ranks him the No. 401 prospect in this class.

And Orlando-based four star receiver Vernell Brown III will pick among UM, FSU, UF and Ohio State on July 21.

Miami Columbus safety Bryce Fitzgerald - who has originally planned to announce next week - instead is now looking at Aug. 16 as an announcement date. His four finalists are UM, UF, FSU and LSU.

Miami’s 17-player Class of 2025 is ranked 10th nationally by 247 Sports.

NEW UNIFORMS

The Hurricanes unveiled two sets of uniforms on social media this week: a traditional white, green and orange one that will be used for most games and a black jersey that will be a secondary uniform.

UM hasn’t announced how often the black jersey will be used this season, or for what games. The primary white/green/orange uniforms underwent minor and subtle changes to the collar design and the upper part of the jerseys.