Miami Hurricanes 2023 season preview: Game 7 Clemson
It has been over a decade since the Miami Hurricanes last defeated the Clemson Tigers – that was all the way back in 2010. But come Oct. 21, UM head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff hope to see a different outcome this time around at Hard Rock Stadium.
If the Hurricanes hope to snap their four-game losing streak, in which they have been outscored 178-30, slowing down the Tigers’ offense, which returns seven starters from last year, will be one of the keys.
Under new offensive coordinator Garret Riley, who coached Heisman Trophy finalist Max Duggan at TCU last year, Clemson will hope to get the same level of production from former five-star sophomore quarterback Cade Klubnik.
After sitting behind former Tigers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, Klubnik took over the starting job at the tail end of the season, and he led Clemson to an ACC Championship title over UNC as he threw for 279 yards on 20 of 24 completions with a TD and no interceptions, adding 30 yards and another TD on the ground. In the team’s following contest against Tennessee in the Orange Bowl, he threw for 320 yards and ran for 51 with a TD, but he was intercepted twice as the Tigers fell to the Volunteers, 31-14.
Behind Klubnik in the offensive backfield is veteran running back Will Shipley, who rushed for 1,202 yards and 15 TDs in 2022. Up front, the Tigers return four offensive linemen, while at receiver sophomore Antonio Williams looks poised to have a breakout year after hauling in 604 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman.
While Clemson may have lost a few major contributors on the offensive side of the ball in WR Joseph Ngata (526 yards, 2 TDs), LT Jordan McFadden, and TE Davis Allen (443 yards, 5 TDs), they return a load of talented athletes under a proven offensive coordinator in Riley, which will present new Miami defensive coordinator Lance Guidry with a real challenge.
On the other side of the ball, under second-year defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin, the Tigers bring back the majority of their unit, with eight starters from 2022 returning this season. Although Clemson suffered some big losses up front with the departures of DEs Myles Murphy (6.5 sacks) and KJ Henry (3.5 sacks) as well as DT Bryan Bresee (3.5 sacks), they do return DE Xavier Thomas (2 sacks), DE Justin Mascoll, DT Tyler Davis (9.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks) and DT Ruke Orhorhoro (8 TFL, 4 sacks), who are all seniors.
In the second level, the Tigers also have back linebackers Barrett Carter (77 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 2 INTs), Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (team-high 92 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 2 INTs), and Wade Woodaz (5.5 TFL).
At defensive back all four starters from last season return, as safeties Andrew Mukuba (50 tackles, 4 PBU) and Jalyn Phillips (82 tackles, 4 PBU) plus CBs Nate Wiggins (12 PBU) and Sheridan Jones (31 tackles) make up one of the best secondaries in college football.
If Miami hopes to end its struggles against the Tigers, the Hurricanes will need to play some of their best football on both sides of the ball against a Clemson team that has won 10 or more games in each of the last 12 seasons.
How do they go about that? Being efficient on offense during crucial downs and limiting turnovers, while on defense getting off the field in third down situations, minimizing penalties and big plays. If the Hurricanes can play a clean game in all three phases of the game, Miami fans can hope UM will send the Tigers back home with their first loss against Miami since 2010.
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