By Scott Salomon
With the signings of quarterback Cam Ward and running back Damien Martinez, there is a special buzz around the Greentree Practice Field this spring.
The Miami Hurricanes are back… at work.
After an impressive high school signing class, Mario Cristobal took the transfer portal by storm this spring. Miami’s crown jewel was Ward who transferred in from Washington State and bypassed the NFL Draft to come light up the Miami skies with his bona fide missiles.
The portal assault did not stop with Ward. That was just the beginning. Miami also signed former Oregon State running back Damien Martinez, the first weapon to sign after Ward. Ward also attracted former Houston wide receiver Sam Brown to the University after spring workouts.
For good measure, they added quality rotational players in former Marshall cornerback Dyoni Hill and former Michigan State defensive tackle Simeon Barrow.
Hill played for defensive coordinator Lance Guidry when Guidry was at Marshall and Brown played for offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson at Houston when he was the offensive coordinator there before both came to Miami.
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This past fall, Miami added Zach Carpenter, who looks to take over for Matt Lee at center. The Canes could start as many as five transfers when the season opens up in Gainesville on August 31.
The Canes also return slot receiver Xavier Restrepo who led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 85 receptions for over 1,000 yards last season despite a carousel of quarterbacks. Look for Restrepo to have a breakout season with Ward as his gunslinger and Brown and Jacolby George lined up on the outside. It’s almost pick your poison as Miami can beat you in so many ways.
The top 10 returning WR’s this coming college football season via PFF. 👀 pic.twitter.com/SCAN8iLmnj
— College Football Alerts (@CFBAlerts_) March 3, 2024
Chris Hummer of 247Sports said that Miami was the winner of the transfer portal this season.
“Miami added the cycle’s No.1 available running back in Damien Martinez and wide receiver Sam Brown,” Hummer said. “That duo adds to what projects as an absolutely loaded offense that will feature the nation’s eighth leading passer from a year ago (Ward), a 1,000 yard runner (Martinez) a trio of 800-plus yard receivers (Brown, Restrepo, George) and what’s considered the best offensive line in the ACC. What was already a top-25 Miami offense should take a leap in 2024 due to those transfer additions.”
The Canes were worried that Restrepo would either declare for the NFL Draft, or transfer out with Miami’s quarterback position unsettled before Ward announced his decision. Restrepo’s best friend on the team and former roommate, Tyler Van Dyke, left for Wisconsin and there was worry in Coral Gables that Restrepo might exit stage left.
Restrepo put an end to that with the introduction of Ward to Coral Gables.
GOD THE GREATEST!! What do you say Miami‼️✝️ pic.twitter.com/i4R0Uj1pxf
— Xavier Restrepo (@XavierRestrepo1) December 29, 2023
Cristobal and Miami needed a talent infusion after losing players to the NFL and the transfer portal this spring. The Hurricanes lost two cogs in their offensive line when Javion Cohen and Lee left a year early, making the OL transfer additions all the more important.
Cohen and Lee were both transfer recruits of Cristobal and the Miami staff and the poor draft showing leaves people wondering whether or not Cristobal can develop players. Some are questioning who are advising these players to leave early when they are late-round picks at best.
The main factor here is that it is not Cristobal’s fault (yet) that Miami players do not translate into high-round draft choices. Cristobal is still graduating former coach Manny Diaz’s players. And while Cohen and Lee were his finds in the portal, he only had them for one season.
Cohen was projected as a day-two draftee and instead signed an undrafted free-agent contract with the Cleveland Browns. Cohen played better than that during his career and had a decent combine and Pro Day.
James Williams was projected to be drafted in the second or third round and went late on day three. There has to be a reason why Canes players don’t figure into the early rounds of the draft.
Some players read their own press clippings, get bad draft advice and take the bait from bad agents. A player like Cohen or Lee likely would make more money in NIL by staying in college than they stand to make in the NFL as their salaries are far from being guaranteed.
Kamren Kinchens left a year early and was once projected as a first-round selection and the top safety in the country. He had a poor combine, running the slowest 40-yard dash time of all safeties, falling to the third round and the Los Angeles Rams.
Carpenter will take over for Lee at center, but Lee was All-ACC and is not easy to replace. Samson Okunlola, who was injured most of last season after coming in as the number-one guard in the country, will take over for Cohen. While he played admirably, Okunlola is the real deal and will start as a redshirt freshman.
The Canes also welcome back heralded sophomores defensive end Reuben Bain and right tackle Francis Mauigoa. The trenches will remain to be deep for the Hurricanes. Miami lost Leonard Taylor III, who declared early and was one of those juniors who went undrafted. He will have a cup of coffee with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent and projects to land on the practice squad so he can develop and make up for the year that he lost by leaving college early.
Questions still need to be answered about Cristobal’s player development and results on the field. Still, it appears Miami is on the right path, and we’ll start seeing more players flash The U on the NFL Draft stage soon.
