The 2009 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Hurricanes' 84th season of football and 6th as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hurricanes were led by third-year head coach Randy Shannon and played their home games at Land Shark Stadium. They finished the season 9–4 overall and 5–3 in the ACC to finish in third place in the Coastal Division. They were invited to the Champs Sports Bowl where they lost to Wisconsin, 20-14.
Pre-season
In the offseason three quarterbacks transferred, including last season's starter Robert Marve. The moves left sophomore Jacory Harris as the starter and true freshman A.J. Highsmith as the backup. The Hurricanes' staff also saw turnover, with a new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, known for his pro-style offense and a new defensive coordinator, John Lovett.
On December 29, 2008, Miami fired offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Patrick Nix, two days after the Emerald Bowl. The following day, redshirt freshman quarterback Robert Marve, who had been suspended from the Emerald Bowl due to academic reasons, was granted conditional release from his scholarship and announced he would be transferring. Marve had started 11 of 13 games for Miami in 2008, and his transfer would result in true freshman Jacory Harris officially becoming the team's starting quarterback for 2009. Harris had played in all 13 games in 2008, starting in two of them.
On January 20, 2009, defensive coordinator Bill Young announced his leaving Miami to become the defensive coordinator of his alma mater, Oklahoma State University. This left Shannon with the task of having to replace two coordinators in the same off-season.
Shannon made the first hire on January 27, when Mark Whipple was hired to be the team's new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, as well as being named assistant head coach. On February 12, John Lovett was hired as the team's new defensive coordinator.
Miami began spring practice on February 24, and held their spring game on March 28.
Practice for the fall began on August 8. Several injuries occurred during practices; defensive end Adewale Ojomo suffered a broken jaw during a locker room incident that could have kept him out of the whole season. Defensive end Eric Moncur visited a specialist in Philadelphia on August 19 to have a groin injury examined and was held out of some practices, while defensive end Gavin Hardin was held out of camp with an unknown injury.
On August 25, backup quarterbacks Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith both announced that they had requested and obtained a release for transfer to other schools. This left true freshman A.J. Highsmith as the second team backup to Jacory Harris.
Roster changes
Starting tight end Dedrick Epps suffered a torn ACL in practices leading up to the Emerald Bowl in December 2008, keeping him out of spring practice. Jimmy Graham, a former forward on the Miami basketball team, announced in April that he would be joining the football team for the 2009 season as a tight end. Graham had not played football since high school.
Due to lack of depth at the cornerback position, receiver Sam Shields and safety Ryan Hill were moved to cornerback before the start of spring, where they would remain for 2009. Defensive end Allen Bailey was moved permanently to defensive tackle, and safety CJ Holton was moved from safety to linebacker. Several players from 2008 either transferred or left the team, including quarterback Robert Marve, receiver Jermaine McKenzie, running back Shawnbrey McNeal, and offensive lineman Christopher Barney.
On February 6, Miami announced its 2009 recruiting class, of which there were 19 members, and six of whom were early enrollees who participated in spring practice. Two signees failed to qualify: offensive tackle Malcolm Bunche and defensive back Prince Kent.
Recruiting class of 2009
Schedule
Regular season
#19 Florida State
The Hurricanes' first game was against Florida State. The lead changed seven times during the game, and Miami won 38–34. The outcome was in doubt until the final play of the game when a pass from Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder bounced incomplete in the Hurricanes' end zone. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris, in only his third career start, completed 21 of 34 passes for 386 yards and 2 touchdowns against 2 interceptions. In the process, Harris set the record for most passing yards by a Miami quarterback against Florida State. Harris also rushed for a touchdown.