By Scott Salomon
When you look at the Miami Hurricanes now, do not look at their December loss to Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl. That is not indicative of how good these Hurricanes have the capability of being in 2024.
Their 7-6 record is in the rearview mirror, and they are looking forward to the 2024 season with their new imports from the transfer portal and the freshman that they signed en route to the number-four ranked recruiting class for the 2024 cycle.
The key is player personnel, and no one recruits like Mario Cristobal, who was the National Recruiter of the Year during his days at Alabama when he worked under Nick Saban.
Miami’s starting lineup next season will feature many of the recruits that he obtained in his first two classes as Hurricanes coach and additions made through the portal.
To begin with, enter former Washington State Cougars quarterback Cameron Ward, who committed to Miami Saturday night after spurning the National Football League while he looks to continue to put up big numbers with Miami’s speedy playmakers next season. It will only help his draft stock for 2025. Miami will be a much different team than they were with Tyler Van Dyke and Jacurri Brown.
Cam Ward is so good with eye discipline. He knows exactly where he’s going with this ball, holds the single high safety, opens up for Josh Kelly to run the post for a TD. pic.twitter.com/Cb6PPz18Ke
— Jeremy Marks-Peltz (@JMP1063) January 14, 2024
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Cristobal has always built his teams from the trenches out. This Miami team is no different.
In 2023, he added blue-chip offensive tackles Samson Okunlola and Francis Mauigoa. Okunlola missed most of the season with an injury, while Mauigoa started every game and earned Freshman All-American status. Okunlola will battle Jalen Rivers for playing time at the left tackle position, while Mauigoa is in a class by himself at the right tackle position.
Miami Hurricanes OL Coach @CoachMirabal had some great things to say about freshman tackle @FrancisMauigoa today. Watch the full media session here: https://t.co/bPErxewH79 pic.twitter.com/JbIouYIYZF
— Locked On Canes (@LockedOnCanes) March 30, 2023
Miami also added the gigantic former Hoosier center Zach Carpenter, who stands at a mammoth 6-5, 295 pounds. He brings 1,895 career snaps at center as Miami looks to replace Matt Lee, who bypassed his final season for the NFL.
At the two guard positions, Miami will feature Anez Cooper and Mike McCoy. They round out one of the best offensive lines in the entire NCAA and should protect Ward very well, despite Ward’s ability to extend plays with his legs. Look for Miami to utilize Ward as a dual-threat quarterback behind this Great Wall of Mirabal. The line is named for offensive line coach Alex Mirabal.
When you have as dominant an offensive line as Cristobal has, it makes it much easier to run the ball. Former Ohio State commit Mark Fletcher, Jr. came in and wrestled the starting job away from former Ole Miss running back Henry Parrish, Jr. Fletcher will lead a group of talented runners that also feature 2024 signees Jordan Lyle, another Ohio State flip, and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey who shared High School Offensive MVP honors in Broward County, Florida.
This will give Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson the balance that he needs to exercise his Air Raid offense with Ward, who is foaming at the mouth knowing that he has 1,000-yard receiver Xavier Restrepo coming back with Jacolby George, Nathaniel “Ray Ray” Joseph, and Isaiah Horton. Miami added speedsters Joshisa Trader, Ny Carr, and Chance Robinson during the 2024 recruiting cycle. Ward will have many options to choose from and plenty of weapons to utilize in Dawson’s offense.
Jacurri Brown & Xavier Restrepo #GoCanes 🙌🟧🟩 pic.twitter.com/gF3WY37eDO
— CB (@ChalupaBatmaan) January 9, 2024
You cannot mention the trenches without looking at the Miami defensive line that spotlights another 2023 Freshman All-American, Rueben “Hurricane” Bain.
Bain terrorized opposing quarterbacks and ball carriers from his interior defensive line position. Bain moved inside due to injuries to Hurricane starters. He returns with Akheem Mesidor, who transferred in from West Virginia, and creates all sorts of havoc. Miami added 2024 recruit Armondo Blount, who they flipped from Florida State after first losing his commitment to the Seminoles.
https://twitter.com/CanesTodays/status/1742584119769362836
Defensive Line coach and NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor has been a terror on the recruiting trail and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Recruiter of the Year.
He also caused another Ohio State commit, Justin Scott, to switch his commitment to Miami, and he looks to be another year one starter, or at least work his way into the rotation at the defensive end position, with Marquise Lightfoot, who was also committed to the Buckeyes but expressed a desire to play for Taylor and the Canes. Booker Pickett, Jr. also had a feast in the post-season All-Star game circuit and should factor into the rotation in 2024. He was a big catch for Taylor in the 2024 recruiting cycle.
As if that firepower was not enough, Miami added a former disciple of defensive coordinator Lance Guidry in Marshall defensive end Elijah Alston. They also added more veteran presence in defensive tackle Marley Cook, who transfers in from Middle Tennessee State.
In the defensive backfield, 2024 saw Miami sign a full gambit of talent. First, they signed the starting cornerbacks from state champion St. Thomas Aquinas. Romanas Frederique, Jr. and Rod Mack look to be challenging for starting roles. Miami also added another state champion in Chaminade-Madonna safety, Zaquan Patterson. Patterson was an Under Armour All-American and had a breakout all-star game.
Miami also added former Arizona safety Isaiah Taylor, who also happens to be Coach Taylor’s son.
For the above-stated reasons and additions, the Hurricanes should be a much different team in 2024 and Cristobal is building back the winning tradition that Miami enjoyed from 1983-2001. Cristobal himself won two national titles while anchoring the offensive tackle position at Miami in the 1990s.
