Hurricanes will see many changes in their defensive backfield next year

After the loss of four starting defensive backs, UM faces major questions in its secondary when spring practice opens on Monday. Where things stand:

SAFETY

With Kamren Kinchens and James Williams NFLbound, UM found a productive FBS starter in Washington’s Mishael Powell, who started all 15 games last season for a team that made the national championship game.

Per PFF, Powell yielded an excellent 82.4 passer rating in his coverage area last season, which was ninth-best among all FBS safeties who were targeted at least 50 times. That passer rating against was far superior to Kinchen’s 118.4 last season.

And this was impressive: Powell, who’s 6-1 and 210 pounds, permitted just 8.8 yards per catch, which tied for fifth among all FBS safeties who were targeted at least 50 times. That was far superior to Kinchens’ 16.9.

Per PFF, Powell last season played 122 snaps as a deep safety, 165 snaps in the box, 477 snaps at slot cornerback and 34 as a boundary cornerback.

So UM appears in good shape at one safety spot.

As for the other starting job. … Savion Riley, the Vanderbilt transfer, and Arizona transfer Isaiah Taylor (UM assistant coach Jason Taylor’s son) will compete with several young players — Markeith Williams (who started in the Pinstripe Bowl), Kaleb Spencer (good size), Jaden Harris (made a play against FSU in a defensive cameo last season) and Brian Balom, who played sparingly last year after UM persuaded him to remove his name from the portal a year ago.

And don’t discount four-star Class of 2024 Hollywood ChaminadeMadonna safety Zaquan Patterson, who should push for immediate playing time. Recruiting analyst Larry Blustein says Patterson “could be another Kam Kinchens.”

Some metrics on the players competing to start opposite Powell:

Riley allowed 14 of 19

THE HURRICANES COULD USE AT LEAST ONE MORE ESTABLISHED VETERAN IN THE PORTAL AFTER LOSING TE’CORY COUCH, JADEN DAVIS AND DAVONTE BROWN.

targets caught for 150 yards and two touchdowns — equal to a 131

JOHN DAVID MERCER USA TODAY NETWORK Mishael Powell, right, started all 15 games last season for the Washington Huskies, who made the national championship game. His passer rating in his coverage area was ninth-best among top FBS safeties, and he can also play cornerback.

AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com Freshman Zaquan Patterson, who helped Chaminade-Madonna win the Class 1M state championship last year, could push for immediate playing time for the Hurricanes this fall.