STATE OF THE U 2023: OL analysis
CaneSport continues its State of The U series with a closer position by position look, unfiltered and objective, based on what Miami has returning, the projections and whether this will be an improved unit or not.
Today’s focus: Miami’s rebuilt offensive line position:
OVERVIEW
If one position failed the Miami Hurricanes offense most in 2022, it was the offensive line. The team returned plenty of experienced starters with guys like DJ Scaife, Jalen Rivers, Zion Nelson and Jakai Clark, with John Campbell expected to break out and Justice Oluwaseun a veteran redshirt senior who had started at UNLV and three games at Miami in 2021. But it all fell apart. Scaife, Campbell and Clark were average performers, and Rivers, Oluwaseun and Nelson were injured. The depth wasn’t good enough, and Miami ranked No. 95 in the nation in rushing offense and No. 108 in sacks allowed. Which brings us to this season. It’s a totally revamped offensive line, with Rivers the only one from the above group likely to start (Scaife and Oluwaseun graduated, Campbell and Clark transferred and Nelson remains iffy with a knee condition). Miami added Alabama transfer LG Javion Cohen and UCF transfer center Matt Lee, plus 5-star tackle signees Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola in a solid OL class. All four are in line to start, if Okunlola can emerge at left tackle after backing up Rivers there this spring. If Rivers remains at LT it’s most likely that Anez Cooper, who got some starts under his belt as a true freshman last year, will start at right guard. The depth, though, remains an issue. There are seven players listed as true freshmen on the roster and six more that are in the sophomore class. So it’s a relatively young group. And some that got opportunities last year didn’t look the part – Laurence Seymore, Jon Denis and Logan Sagapolu. So there need to be some guys ready to step up if injury strikes again. But certainly this should be a much better performing line, and Cohen in particular can be one of the ACC’s best interior linemen with Lee also a big upgrade over Clark, who was outmuscled at the point of attack too often. Mauigoa also looked solid as the first-team right tackle this spring. So there is a lot of room for optimism that this unit will take a big jump up in its play level.
STATE OF THE U: QB ANALYSIS … RB analysis … WR analysis … TE analysis
BIGGEST QUESTION
The biggest question aside from how the new pieces will gel in a new offense is if true freshmen Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola are ready to compete and be solid performers at this level. It’s not often you’ll see a first-year offensive tackle really be a dominant performer, and it’s very possible both these guys will be working against the league’s best defensive ends game in and game out. Tyler Van Dyke has to be able to trust his protection, and until you see them do it you just don’t really know with first-year guys. So that’s going to be a huge question that needs answering entering Game 1.
BOLD PREDICTION
Miami is in the top 40 rushing offenses in the nation this year and cuts down its sacks from 3 per game last year to under 2 a game this season. Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal are the best of the best in terms of understanding what an offensive line needs to accomplish and how to go about doing it. They’ve recruited their needs and added a couple of key pieces in the portal, so notwithstanding injury this should be a solid line. And that’s something we couldn’t say a year ago.
PROJECTION: POSITION WILL BE BETTER/WORSE THAN LAST YEAR?
The offensive line was injury-riddled in 2022 and really had no top performers. So bring on the shakeup, with four new starters compared to Game 1 a year ago. It will be a much different-looking group, and when you’re on the field you notice a big difference just size-wise with Mauigoa, Okunlola and Cohen in the lineup. It’s a bigger, more athletic, more physical-looking position. And that’s why we anticipate a big jump up in playing level up front for Miami and the new offense under Shannon Dawson. 2022 GRADE … D; 2023 PROJECTED GRADE … B+
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