Explosive speed meets physical dominance as these standout sophomores battle for a starting role in a deep Miami Hurricanes rotation.
MIAMI, Fla. – As fall camp reaches the end, the Miami Hurricanes fanbase continues to argue about whether Joshua Moore or Daylyn Upshaw should start alongside Malachi Toney and Cooper Barkate, but what if it didn’t matter so deeply?
On social media, mainly on X (formerly called Twitter), people who follow the football program have debated who should be the third wide receiver starter. Both Moore and Upshaw are returning sophomores who showed remarkable flashes last season. Although opportunities were limited, they made the most of their time on the field.
Moore and Upshaw are projected to take on expanded roles ahead of the upcoming season. As Toney and Barkate are strong locks to start, the third spot has been a battle since spring. Rumors have circulated that Upshaw gained an edge over Moore, but even that third starter in the Hurricanes’ first game against Stanford won’t be the end of the story.
Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson alluded to consistently rotating lineups, given the depth, especially at wide receiver. Last season, Toney, CJ Daniels, and Keelan Marion were heavily relied upon in the Hurricanes’ passing game. This time around, Dawson will have a plethora of options to carve out plays for.
Moore presents more physical attributes. He’s unofficially listed at 6-4 and 220 pounds. Moore showed flashes last season against the South Florida Bulls. The Miami native caught three passes for 61 yards and scored two touchdowns, one of which was heavily contested by former cornerback Jonas Duclona.
Meanwhile, Upshaw is a speedy and explosive playmaker. Last season, in the final four games before the College Football Playoffs, he caught one pass and went for double digits in yards for three games. Against Syracuse, Upshaw made a 41-yard play, which led to the Hurricanes scoring a touchdown on the drive. He missed the entire run to the National Championship because of an injury.
Even with Toney and Barkate leading the wide receiver room, Moore and Upshaw will have opportunities to make an impact on the field. The Hurricanes will likely flip game-by-game who starts, but the amount of snaps will be consistently distributed throughout the depth chart.
The Hurricanes aren’t concerned with how fans build the starting lineup. As fall camp concludes, the focus has remained on improving and “going 1-0,” as Mario Cristobal says. Moore and Upshaw will be strong contributors to a National Championship contender.
Only two weeks remain before the Hurricanes’ season kicks off.
Anthony Aguirre covers the Miami Hurricanes, Miami Heat, and Miami Marlins for Roundtable Sports. Contact info for tips/info: [email protected] & 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
