ANALYSIS: Five Miami freshmen that HAVE to step up for Hurricanes
It’s unusual for true freshmen to have an outsized impact at a program of Miami’s level, but coming off a 5-7 season and with a team loaded with young talent the 2023 season might not be the norm for the Canes. With that in mind, we take a look at five freshmen that very well may have to step up for the team if Miami is going to surprise and push to that double-digit win total that’s been so elusive (once in the last 19 years).
Your key Miami true freshmen:
5. P DYLAN JOYCE
When Miami put together the nation’s No. 6 ranked class in 2023, Dylan Joyce probably wasn’t a guy that fans put at the top of their “I’m most excited about him” list. But make no mistake about it, Joyce will have a big impact on the Canes’ win-loss column in 2023. He is penciled in as the starting punter and has huge holes to fill with Lou Hedley gone. Like Hedley, Joyce comes out of Australia and has a strong leg. He has all the tools to be a guy who can immediate flip the field, but it wasn’t all that long ago that Zach Feagles came in with high accolades and flopped. So the team needs Joyce to be mentally and physically ready for this level. That’s a must. Joyce is a 6-2, 213-pound punter with the leg strength to put the ball 60 yards downfield in the air.
4. RB MARK FLETCHER
Mark Fletcher wasn’t at Miami in the spring, but given his talent level there’s every reason to believe he’s in store for a big immediate role in year 1 at Miami. Certainly the Canes need him to be ready to step up given the question marks surrounding the team’s more physical backs on the roster. The 4-star signee who weighs in at 225 pounds joins Don Chaney and TreVonte’ Citizen as the “big” backs on the roster. But Chaney’s suffered injuries dating back to high school, including costing him all but one game last year, and Citizen is likely to remain out this season coming off a major knee injury suffered prior to last year. The team does return starter Henry Parrish, but he never really got much going last year. Otherwise there’s just fellow true freshman Christopher Johnson, who is a lighter, speedy weapon, along with redshirt freshman transfer Ajay Allen. So the door is very much open for Fletcher, and he might be the best back with the ball in his hands if Miami is trying to be a power running team. His combination of size and speed is outstanding. “They want me to come in there and be that guy,” Fletcher tells us. “That’s the message I’m getting from players and coaches. Everybody wants to see what I can do.”
3. OL SAMSON OKUNLOLA
A prized 5-star OL signee, the 6-5, 305 pounder enrolled early and spent the spring as the backup left tackle behind Jalen Rivers. But if Okunlola picks up the know-how needed, don’t be shocked if he sneaks right into that starting LT role this fall. Miami needs that to happen, since that would allow Rivers to move back to his more natural guard position. A lot will also hinge on the health of Zion Nelson, who has started over 30 games but with recurrent knee issues remains a question mark for his longevity this season. Because Okunlola’s high school program in Massachusetts didn’t play a high level of competition there’s a learning curve involved for him, and he needs to have the big picture adjustments made by the end of summer. The offensive line was a major weak area last season, costing Miami games, and the team has totally reshaped the group with the transfer portal (LG Javion Cohen from Alabama, C Matt Lee from UCF) plus the 5-star additions of Okunlola and OT Francis Mauigoa. The team needs both Okunlola and Mauigoa to be ready to make immediate impacts given the lack of top end talent/depth at tackle.
2. WR RAY RAY JOSEPH
Miami’s Spring Game gave a pretty good idea of the outsized impact speedy wideout Ray Ray Joseph can have – he was targeted eight times and had five catches for over 100 yards. That included a 79-yard TD that ended the scrimmage. The 5-10, 175-pound 4-star had offers out of Miami Edison from Clemson (where he was committed at one point), Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M, among others. Everybody recognized his talent. Now the only question is how much he’ll be used, and where. With Xavier Restrepo the anticipated starter in the slot, perhaps Joseph will be used as an inside threat in four-receiver formations. He’s a guy that new coordinator Shannon Dawson can line up all over the field … assuming joseph understands what he’s doing and is consistent with it. Miami’s top wideout last year was Colbie Young with only 376 yards. So new blood was needed, and Joseph is joined by Robby Washington as another freshman speed option. The other new faces are outside receiver transfers Shemar Kirk and Tyler Harrell. We think Joseph and other new guys will have every opportunity to reshape this wide receivers room and put up big numbers.
1. OT FRANCIS MAUIGOA
Mauigoa began the spring as the backup right tackle. That lasted all of one day. By practice No. 2 Mauigoa was in the starting lineup, and it remained that way for the next 14 practices. We anticipate that remaining the case when the season kicks off, as well. Mauigoa is a rare 5-star talent out of a top IMG Academy program that helped prepare him mentally and physically to step in and be a Day 1 starter at this level. Will there be growing pains? Of course, as is the case for any true freshmen. But we were impressed by what we saw from Mauigoa this spring, and the team desperately needs him to step up at an OL spot that struggled mightily a year ago. It’s also worth noting that On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power saw Mauigoa’s emergence in Year 1 a while back. He wrote earlier this year that “Based off what we’ve seen throughout the cycle, Francis Mauigoa looks like the most ready to play offensive lineman in 2023. That’s just what the doctor ordered for Miami as Mario Cristobal looks to build up his offensive line and establish a big, physical presence on offense. Mauigoa has the look of a foundational piece on the Hurricanes’ front and it would be an upset if he didn’t start as a true freshman. At 6-foot-5, 325-pounds, Mauigoa has readymade size. There’s little projection there. He’s also been honing his skills against top competition at IMG Academy for the past two years. Not only did Mauigoa face some top pass rushers on Friday nights, he went up against blue-chip talents at practice every day. Given his size, play strength, quickness and experience against top competition, Mauigoa is a safe bet to see the field when the Hurricanes kick off next fall.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
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