ANALYSIS: What Mario Cristobal needs to do to crack list of top college football coaches a year from now
Pro Football Focus recently ranked the top 25 coaches in college football. Not surprisingly, Alabama’s Nick Saban topped the list with Georgia’s Kirby Smart No. 2 and Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh No. 3 followed by Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and USC’s Lincoln Riley. Along with Swinney, two other ACC coaches garnered mention: Wake Forest’s Dave Clawson at No. 22 and Florida State’s Mike Norvell at No. 23. Which leads us to this question: What does Miami coach Mario Cristobal need to do if he’s going to crack the list in 2024?
The good news for Cristobal is there’s another ranking he probably cares about a bit more: His first recruiting class in 2022 was ranked No. 13 in the nation, and last year’s group was ranked No. 6 (and No. 1 in the ACC). Cristobal is also off to a solid start in this cycle with seven commitments so far headlined by 4-star WR Chance Robinson.
Now, with that said, the ultimate goal is always to be one of the nation’s top programs, and being ranked on lists like that of Pro Football Focus also can help in recruiting – it’s a tool that you can show recruits and their families.
Coming off a 5-7 season, perhaps a three-win turnaround would be enough to crack the top 25 next year. And going 8-4 is certainly doable with Miami likely to be favored or at close to even odds in every game other than four – vs. Texas A&M, at North Carolina, vs. Clemson and at Florida State.
Cristobal also has the benefit of a new offensive and defensive system after both sides of the ball faltered last year, bringing in Shannon Dawson from his high-flying Houston offense and Lance Guidry on defense – Guidry’s Marshall defense ranked among the nation’s best.
Remember, this is a Miami team that ranked No. 85 in the nation (out of 130 teams) in total offense with 367.1 yards and No. 96 in scoring offense with 23.6 points. On the other side of the ball Miami was No. 64 in total defense (376.5 yards) and No. 66 in scoring defense (26.8 points allowed).
It’s why Cristobal has revamped the roster, with 20 players transferring out since Dec. 1 and the head man signing a standout recruiting class of 25 players while also adding eight more in the portal … and on the hunt for more including Jaden Davis and Xzavier Henderson, who we’ve reported on in recent days.
The offensive line is a perfect example of the reboot attempt: Starter DJ Scaife and Justice Oluwaseun graduated and starting center Jakai Clark and starting tackle John Campbell transferred. Miami brought in Alabama starting guard Javion Cohen and UCF starting center Matt Lee while also adding a pair of 5-star recruits in Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola. This spring Mauigoa was the starting RT with Jalen Rivers moving from guard to LT. Along with Cohen and Lee the fifth first-teamer was returner Anez Cooper, but that could be shaken up if OT Zion Nelson returns to health this fall – that would allow Rivers to move back to guard.
In many respects it’s a new-look roster with a new-look coaching staff.
So maybe Cristobal can fall into that Norvell category – Norvell had losing seasons his first two years there before breaking through with a 10-win campaign.
Don’t bet against it.
The post ANALYSIS: What Mario Cristobal needs to do to crack list of top college football coaches a year from now appeared first on On3.
