With CJ Daniels out with an injury, the Hurricanes have needed wide receivers to step up. Transfer wide receiver Keelan Marion has been doing just that.
The veteran receiver has played his two best games as a Hurricane the last two weeks, becoming a key part of No. 15 Miami’s offense as it looks to finish the season strong.
“Just with CJ being out, we just know (it’s the) next guy up, having that next-guy-up mentality,” Marion said. “Just keeping my head down, staying down, working, putting in the work through the week.”
Through the Hurricanes’ first seven games, Marion was not particularly productive. He had 176 yards on 18 catches in those seven games.
But starting with Miami’s loss to SMU, Marion has become an important member of the receiving corps. In the last two games, Marion has 193 yards on eight catches, and he scored his first touchdown as a Hurricane in the win over Syracuse.
“I always had it in me,” Marion said. “I just do what I need to do for my team (and) be ready with my number’s called.”
The improved play has shown in the advanced metrics. Marion had one game with an offensive grade above 70 in his first seven games, according to Pro Football Focus. In the last two weeks, he has offensive grades of 74.2 and 77.7, with the latter being his season
high. He has caught eight of the nine passes Carson Beck threw his way, and he has no drops.
Marion has also gotten into space, where he has the ability to turn on the jets and utilize his speed. He has 115 yards after catch in the last two games after notching just 45 in Miami’s first seven games.
Many of those yards came on his 61-yard touchdown catch last weekend. Marion beat a defender on a slant and sprinted past defenders to the end zone. Reel Analytics clocked Marion at 20.5 miles per hour on the play.
Top 10 Fastest College Football Players of Week 11
T8⃣ 20.5 – Keelan Marion (@keelanmarion1) WR Miami
NFL Draft Guide Previewhttps://t.co/GR0kAOcmns pic.twitter.com/dmW9Ffemqs
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) November 10, 2025
Marion has also been clutch on third downs. Three of his five catches against SMU were on third downs, and he converted all of them for first downs.
“It does take a lot of trust because a lot of the (third-down) throws, there’s pressure,” Beck said. “They’re bringing five, six people. They’re trying to mix up the coverages and trying to confuse me. So having that trust and knowing that those guys are going to be in the right spots to where I’m throwing it with anticipation where they can catch it in the area that they’re supposed to and that I’m not late on certain throws is a huge part.”
Miami’s coaches attribute Marion’s breakout to the hard work he puts in on the practice field. Both head coach Mario Cristobal and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said Marion brings energy and a positive attitude to the field every day.
“He’s an awesome kid to be around,” Dawson said. “His attitude every day is off the chart. And so that part of it is probably the reason why the other stuff is showing up like it is.”
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/11/12/hurricanes-marion-receiver/
