Miami DB Kam Kinchens to skip Pinstripe Bowl, enter 2024 NFL Draft
Miami safety Kamren Kinchens will be skipping the Pinstripe Bowl to turn pro, according to the Sun Sentinel’s Adam Lichtenstein. Kinchens is among one of the top safeties in the 2024 NFL Draft class.
The Miami native was an All-American in 2022 after totaling six interceptions before notching five more this season. He started all 26 games that he has played in his three years with the program.
On top of his team-leading interception totals, Kinchens finished the regular season as the team’s third-leading tackler on the season with 59 total tackles to go along with one sack, five pass breakups, a fumble recovery — and that’s not even including one of those interceptions going for a touchdown.
Before committing to the Hurricanes, Kinchens played high school football at Northwestern (FL) High School, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 350 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.
The Hurricanes will move forward without their star safety as they prepare for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during next Thursday’s (Dec. 28) matchup. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. ET and will be aired live on ESPN.
More on the 2024 NFL Draft
The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.
Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.
The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.
To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.
Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.
The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.