July Player Performance Index top 30 deep dive: No. 24 OL Samson Okunlola

CaneSport is breaking down the top 30 Miami players on the roster, and today we’re at No. 24, OL Samson Okunlola.

THE BIG PICTURE

Are you perhaps surprised to see a top 25 player on here that’s a true freshman and wasn’t even with the ones to start practices in the spring (with left tackle Jalen Rivers ahead of him)? Well, don’t be. Okunlola is a 5-star signee who we think has a great chance of emerging in fall drills as the first team LT, which would allow Rivers to move to his more natural guard position opposite Alabama transfer Javion Cohen. That would give the Canes a stacked interior on the O line that would also include UCF transfer center Matt Lee and have Anez Cooper (started games at guard last season) as a solid depth guy. It makes sense … if Okunlola can show he’s ready. We think he will. Okunlola has a great mixture of size (6-5, 305) and athleticism. The biggest issue for him as opposed to fellow 5-star signee Francis Mauigoa (who was the first team RT in the spring) is that they come from very different high school programs. Mauigoa was essentially at a college prep school, a top IMG program, while Okunlola was used to going against smaller, less powerful defensive linemen in Massachusetts. So there was a little more of a curve for Okunlola, but he had the spring’s 15 practice and now the off-season to get ready. Miami needs him to step up. A wildcard here will also be the health of former LT starter Zion Nelson (has started over 30 career games), who has dealt with recurring knee issues.

THE ANALYSIS

They don’t call Okunlola the “Pancake Honcho” for nothing. He’s used to pancaking opposing defenders into the dirt, and the 5-star signee simply has to perfect some aspects of his game to emerge as the starting left tackle for the team this year, which as mentioned above would allow Miami to move Jalen Rivers back to his more natural guard spot. While it can be a scary proposition to start a true freshman on the QB’s blindside, but also remember it wasn’t that long ago Zion Nelson started every game at left tackle in Year 1 as a Hurricane. Okunlola spent the spring as the second team left tackle behind Rivers but he has the size/strength/athleticism to be an outstanding lineman.

THE PROJECTION

Given his size and athleticism it’s just a matter of time before Okunlola makes a big impact. And that impact could come in Year 1. With Zion Nelson’s status unclear off a recurring knee injury and Rivers better suited as a guard, Okunlola will have every chance to prove he should start in fall drills. You can already tell has an NFL future ahead and he should be a valuable piece of the line who gets better and better as the season goes along.”

THE JUMP HE NEEDS FROM SPRING TO FALL CAMP

Okunlola comes from a high school program in Massachusetts that didn’t play top national competition, so there was quite a bit of a learning curve for him this spring just in terms of going up against so much faster, stronger, athletic defensive linemen. That adjustment should be made by fall camp, and he just has to show he’s ready on the practice field. We’ve heard positive feedback about his summer workouts and it does appear he’s poised to make a jump up the depth chart. So stay tuned.

THE QUOTE

“I think Samson’s technique is very close to being pro. I tell him that almost every day, which is why I’m on his tail a lot. I want him to be great.” –Miami OG Javion Cohen

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