Post-Spring Analysis: Miami Hurricanes OL position looks to build on strong 2023 season

With Miami’s 15 spring practices in the rearview mirror, it’s worth taking a position by position look at where things stand, and today we are breaking down the offensive line position:

PROJECTED MIAMI OL DEPTH CHART

LT: First team Jalen Rivers, second team Markel Bell

LG: First team Francis Mauigoa, second team Luis Cristobal

C: First team Zach Carpenter, second team Ryan Rodriguez

RG: First team Anez Cooper, second team Tommy Kinsler

RT: First team Samson Okunlola, second team Matthew McCoy

QB position breakdown … RB breakdown … WR breakdown … TE breakdown

POST-SPRING ANALYSIS

In the big picture, Miami’s offensive line showed vast improvement from 2022 to last season, helping the team go from averaging 3.7 yards per carry to 5.1 while cutting down the sacks total from 36 to 16. The team lost two key starters from that unit – center Matt Lee and LG Javion Cohen both left early to turn pro. That leaves the returning starters as LT Jalen Rivers, RG Anez Cooper and RT Francis Mauigoa. All three are solid. Miami also went out and landed a very capable replacement for Lee in multi-year Indiana starter Zach Carpenter. So the only starting spot open is LG, where in the Spring Game it was Matthew McCoy starting. But don’t read into that too much. Because Samson Okunlola also worked with the ones there and started the Spring Game at RT with Mauigoa out coming off injury. And Luis Cristobal also repped with the ones at left guard. Another possibility is that Okunlola remains at tackle and Mauigoa can start at left guard. Jalen Rivers also is versatile as a guard or tackle. JUCO OT Markel Bell impressed in the spring as well. So this fall it will be very interesting to see which five starters emerge at which spots for Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal.

Regardless, this should again be a line that fares very well. You have to expect a big jump up in year 2 from Mauigoa, who had a strong 2023 season considering he was just a true freshman. And Cooper made good strides from year 1 to 2 and should be even more dominant in his third year as a Cane. Then there is Rivers, who has been consistent whenever he’s played and is a versatile guard/tackle. So along with Carpenter, who shined at Indiana as a multi-year starter, that’s four guys you really feel good about. And there’s quality competition for the fifth spot. So the potential is there for this team to average better than last year 5.1 YPC and fewer than the 16 sacks allowed.

A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD

Let’s turn to the Pro Football Focus grades of the linemen that are on the 2024 roster and played 100 or more reps last season. That shows these guys are a pretty solid group.

*Rivers graded out at 74.1 percent overall (73.5 pass block grade, 70.2 run block grade)

*Mauigoa graded out at 68.1 percent (64.8 pass block grade, 70.7 run block grade)

*Cooper graded out at 65.9 percent (78.4 pass block grade, 63.1 run block grade)

*Carpenter played 804 reps at Indiana and graded out at 65.1 percent overall (71.2 pass block grade, 62.1 run block grade)

*McCoy played 141 reps and graded out at 57.7 percent (65.2 pass block grade, 58.5 run block grade)

Then there’s the former 5-star Samson Okunlola looking to make an impact in Year 2 and JUCO arrival Markel Bell also looking the part. The talent is here for sure, and the future looks good as well with eight linemen on the roster that are in Years 1 or 2 at the program.

THE BOTTOM LINE

On our depth chart at the top of this story we are projecting that Francis Mauigoa moves from starting RT to LG with second-year Samson Okunlola taking the job at right tackle. Our rationale? Well, Alex Mirabal wants to play his best five linemen as starters in the best possible combination. And Okunlola is physically more of a fit at tackle than Mauigoa, who has the body type to excel at either spot. So if you think those are the best five on this line, that is probably the best way to execute it.

But we’ll, of course, have to see how it plays out.

We really like the potential of this line, and with mobile QB Cam Ward behind center it’s going to be hard for defenses to get him on the ground. The depth and potential of this group is outstanding. This line can be better than last season’s if everything comes together and the starters stay healthy.

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