There can be some confusion in the Miami Hurricanes’ tight end room due to having two players named Elijah—redshirt junior Elijah Arroyo and true freshman Elijah Lofton. “We get mixed up all the time,” Arroyo admitted. “It’s hard.” However, what’s clear is how crucial Arroyo and Lofton will be to reviving the tight end position’s performance, which was lacking last year. Miami has a history of producing standout tight ends like Kellen Winslow II, Willie Smith, Greg Olson, Bubba Franks, David Njoku, Brevin Jordan, and Will Mallory. But last season, Miami’s tight ends managed just 18 catches for 154 yards and one touchdown—well below expectations.
“Tight ends have always been important in this offense,” Arroyo said. “We had a bit of a setback last year with injuries and all. I’m just excited for this year and to see what we can accomplish.” Arroyo knows firsthand about injuries; he missed most of the past two seasons due to a torn left ACL in September 2022. Now, he hopes those challenges are behind him. The large brace he wore during spring practice is gone, and he feels fully healthy for the first time in a while. “Man, it feels great,” Arroyo said. “I feel like myself again. It’s nice to play without worrying about injuries. Just focusing on what needs to be done. With injuries, confidence is key. Being able to do everything again has been fantastic for me.”
However, Arroyo isn’t the only one expected to step up. Lofton, a highly versatile true freshman and four-star recruit from Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, is anticipated to make an immediate impact. Also contributing are Cam McCormick, entering his ninth college football season, and sophomore Riley Williams, who handled most of Miami’s tight end duties in 2023.
“The group can be really, really productive,” McCormick said. “We all have different skills and bring something unique. We’re a very unselfish group and love celebrating each other’s successes. When someone makes a big play, we’re all excited and cheering because we know the effort we’ve put in this offseason. On Saturdays, those big plays are going to find us.”
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