Hot 11: Fresh faces are set to make major impact on 2023 Miami Hurricanes
In this feature we rank 11 Miami newcomers (true freshmen or transfers) in order of how we think they might make an impact on this year’s team:
11. WR Robby Washington
You want an example of Washington’s ability from high school? In one game he had three TDs – one on a 60-yard kick return, another on a 45-yard reception and a 30-yard rushing score. He’s got explosive speed and ability, and while he was held back much of the spring by injury (he participated in a red noncontact jersey the majority of practices) there’s little doubt he can flourish in Shannon Dawson’s hybrid Air-Raid attack. Washington is a guy you want to get the ball to in space and let him get to work. Washington can work in the slot or outside, and he will have something to prove in fall ball given other receivers looking to break through include Xavier Restrepo, Colbie Young, Isaiah Horton, Jacolby George, Brashard Smith, Frank Ladson, Mike Redding and fellow freshman Ray Ray Joseph.
10. LT Samson Okunlola
Okunlola was a prized 5-star signee in this year’s class who had his pick of programs around the nation. He spent this spring as the second team left tackle, and given his size and athleticism it’s just a matter of time before he makes a big impact. With Jalen Rivers better suited for guard (he was first team left tackle this spring) and LT Zion Nelson’s status unclear off a recurring knee injury, Okunlola could be a guy that gets more and more reps with the ones this fall. At 6-5 and 305 pounds he could also wind up at guard, and regardless he is a lineman you can already tell has an NFL future ahead.
9. DT Branson Deen
Listed at 6-2 and 280 pounds, the Purdue transfer Deen isn’t the most imposing physical specimen. But with Darrell Jackson gone and not much proven depth outside of Leonard Taylor at tackle, coaches were happy with what they saw from Deen this spring. He’s in line to start unless Jared Harrison-Hunte, Ahmad Moten or fellow transfer Thomas Gore really step up this fall. Yes, Deen has graded out below 50 percent per Pro Football Focus in tackling the last two years and he hasn’t put up big numbers, but he was playing in a major conference and started on a team that reached the Big Ten title game. He had a career-high 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season and in Lance Guidry’s attacking style D will have every chance to get after the QB and make plays.
8. DL Rueben Bain
Bain had 3 sacks in the spring game (photo by Neil Gershman)
The 265-pound freshman Bain showed he made a smooth transition from high school sack machine (77 sacks in his high school career that included earning the 2022 Nat Moore Trophy, awarded to South Florida’s top player) to the college level when he had three sacks in the Spring Game. Bain played tackle in passing situations and showed great physicality and burst at both end and inside. While it’s difficult for a true freshman to really make a big impact in Year 1, we think Bain might be the exception to that rule. He’s got a motor that doesn’t quite and outstanding playmaking ability. Look for him to be in the rotation across the line.
What does the freshman Joseph bring to Miami? Look no further than what fans saw with their own eyes in the Spring Game. That day he had five catches for over 100 yards including a 79-yard TD catch and run that ended the game. He was targeted early and often – eight times in all – and his routes ranged from backward tosses to quick hitters to bombs. He’s obviously going to be integrated in all kinds of ways into Shannon Dawson’s new Miami offense and he’s going to be exciting to watch given his speed and athleticism.
6. RB Mark Fletcher
This is the only guy on the list that isn’t actually enrolled at Miami yet. Fletcher, of course, was a former Ohio State commit that the Canes won over, and the expectation given the thin running back depth chart (Henry Parrish and Don Chaney were the only healthy backs this spring) that Fletcher will get every chance to get a sizable chunk of reps this fall. He’s got the power/speed combination that Mario Cristobal loves, and Christopher Johnson will also enroll this summer as more of a speed back. Fletcher’s been compared to a young Derrick Henry by American Heritage coach Mike Smith, to give some idea of his potential.
5. CB Davonte Brown
Davonte Brown (photo by Neil Gershman)
Brown arrived from UCF and spent this spring as the main first-teamer along with Daryl Porter, Jr. The 6-2, 185-pounder comes in with 36 games of playing experience, and in his time at UCF he had 91 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, a sack, 21 pass deflections and a forced fumble. He had 30 tackles, two INTs and four PBU this past season, and he also started every game as a sophomore in 2021 and ended with 13 PBU and an interception. In 2020 as a freshman backup he had 23 tackles while starting five games. The transition to Miami has gone well, and while he hasn’t starred to this point in college he has all the tools to excel in Lance Guidry’s defense. Also of note: Last year in 711 reps he graded out at 65.5 percent (70 is considered good) with a 63.6 cover grade and 46.7 tackle grade. In 2021 he had 763 reps at UCF and graded out at an elite 82.3 percent overall (84.0 cover grade, 55.7 tackling).
4. OG Javion Cohen
When is the last time an Alabama starter transferred to Miami? Yeah, that’s a rhetorical question. Cohen is one-of-a-kind as a Hurricane, and he stepped right in as the first team left guard this spring and should be a major force this coming season. Cohen arrived at Alabama as a true freshman in 2020 and only played 28 reps, then became a full-time starter at left guard in 2021 and this past season started 10 games and earned second team All-SEC honors. In 2022 he played 554 total snaps and had 17 knockdown blocks with 1.5 sacks allowed, four pressures, four quarterback hits and three penalties called against him. Per Pro Football Focus he graded out at 72.5 percent last season including a stellar 80.5 pass blocking grade (and 68.9 as a run blocker). At 6-4 and 305 pounds he’s agile and strong enough to bully defenders in the run game and keep the QB clean in the pocket.
3. LB Francisco Mauigoa
A year ago Miami brought in Caleb Johnson with the idea he’d beat out returning starter Corey Flagg. It didn’t happen. This time around, though, it appears that Miami has a bigtime playmaker in Mauigoa, who earned first team reps over Flagg this spring. Mauigoa showcased his ability in the Spring Game. He showed a great nose for the ball, attacked gaps and even tracked down speedy Jacolby George when he broke free by taking a good angle. Otherwise it’s a long TD. Mauigoa also had a key tackle for a loss when the offense was in the red zone, one of his two TFLs on the day. He was named one of On3’s national top 15 spring practice performers, and last year starting at Washington State he had 60 tackles, 5.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks, also forcing three fumbles (tied for the Pac-12 lead) with an interception. That interception was, interestingly enough, against Mario Cristobal’s former team – he took it back 95 yards for a TD against Oregon Sept. 24. Mauigoa’s Pro Football Focus grades: In 457 reps last season he graded out at a solid 75.7 percent (70 is considered good). He had a 74.1 run defense grade, 69.9 tackle grade, 64.6 pass rush grade and 76.3 cover grade. So all around pretty solid. Mauigoa is in line for a very good season as a Miami Hurricane and should be one of the team’s tackle leaders.
2. OT Francis Mauigoa
Another Mauigoa gets the No. 2 spot on this list, and that’s 5-star true freshman RT Francis Mauigoa. Francis came in and was a backup for all of one practice this spring, quickly getting elevated to first team and then proving he belongs there. With a blend of strength, power, athleticism and size, Mauigoa is still refining technique here and there but already has the look of a future high NFL draft pick. He will be a big contributor in his first year at Miami.
1. C Matt Lee
Entering spring maybe Lee would have been somewhere on the middle of this list, but it was evident off the spring’s 15 practices that he’s as invaluable to Shannon Dawson’s attack as QB Tyler Van Dyke. Lee makes sure everyone is on point and lined up correctly, and his work ethic is second to none. He’s a lead by example guy in the mold of KC Jones, for those old school Miami fans out there. Whatever it takes to get the job done and win, he’ll do it. And yes, the Canes need a lot of help up front after the group struggled last season with a run game that ranked No. 95 in the nation (128.1 rush yards per game) and a team that ranked No. 108 in the nation in sacks allowed (3.0 per game). A two-year starter at UCF before transferring to Miami, his Pro Football Focus grades say all you need to know: He was at an elite 90.6 pass blocking level this past season with a very strong 80.6 run blocking grade and 83.7 overall offensive grade in 1,059 reps (70 is considered a good grade).
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