18 | 2023 SOUTHERN FOOTBALL GUIDE
MIAMI
HEAD COACH: Mario Cristobal OC: Shannon Dawson DC: Lance Guidry
Coral Gables, FL
2022 RECORD: 5-7 (3-5) FOUNDED: 1925 STADIUM: Hard Rock (65,326)
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
While injuries certainly affected the offensive consistency last season, the poor offensive line play was the root of all the Hurricanes’ troubles. With Zion Nelson recovered from his nagging knee injury, five-star tackles Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola, and transfers Matt Lee (UCF) and Javion Cohen (Alabama), the line should be a strength this season. That’s welcome news for quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, who was upright for just nine games last season, and Henry Parrish Jr. Both expect to rebound from subpar statistical seasons a year ago. The receiving corps is stocked with untapped potential. Colbie Young must have a breakout season for Miami to generate a productive passing attack. He had 32 catches for 367 yards last season, and those totals must at minimum double this season. Tight end Cam McCormick will be a threat on check-downs.
Last season lots of excitement happened when opponents dropped back to pass. The Hurricanes picked off 14 passes and sacked quarterbacks 37 times. But opponents also hit 20 touchdown passes and averaged a whopping 8.4 yards per pass. Meanwhile, Marshall’s defense allowed just 16 points a game and led the nation getting off the field on third down. So, enter Marshall’s defensive coordinator Lance Guidry. Akheem Mesidor led the Canes with seven sacks and Jahfari Harvey added 5.5. Both return along with Leonard Taylor III (10.5 tackles for loss) to create havoc once again. Kamren Kinchens and James Williams are arguably the best safeties in the ACC. The addition of Jaden Davis from Oklahoma is a huge boost to an already talented secondary. Inexperience at linebacker could spell trouble early in the season.
DEPTH CHART NO 9 21 15 7 4
DEPTH CHART
POS QB RB WR WR WR TE LT LG C RG RT
HT 6-4 5-10 6-0 5-10 6-5 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-6 6-6
WT 224 190 176 195 215 260 312 305 295 350 320
CLASS JR JR JR JR JR SR JR JR SR SO FR
NO 12 81 56 3 51 31
16 8 0 80 63 50 56 64 79
Jacurri Brown QB Mark Fletcher RB Isaiah Horton WR Frank Ladson Jr. WR Brashard Smith WR Elijah Arroyo TE Samson Okunlola LT Laurance Seymore LG Jonathan Denis C Jalen Rivers RG Michael McLaughlin RT
6-4 6-1 6-5 6-3 5-10 6-4 6-6 6-2 6-3 6-5 6-7
210 220 205 205 194 235 300 315 320 325 300
SO FR FR SR JR SO FR SO SO SO FR
13 55 58 9 4 11
30 94
Andres Borregales K Dylan Joyce P
170 220
JR FR
60 70 55 73 61 11
PLAYER Tyler Van Dyke Henry Parrish Jr. Jacolby George Xavier Restrepo Colbie Young Cam McCormick Zion Nelson Javion Cohen Matt Lee Anez Cooper Francis Mauigoa
SPECIAL TEAMS 5-11 6-2
2023 SCHEDULE S.1 .................... Miami (Ohio)
O.21 .........................Clemson
S.9 .........................Texas A&M
O.28 ........................... Virginia
S.14 ..... Bethune-Cookman
N.4 ....................... at NC State
S.23 ........................at Temple
N.11 ............ at Florida State
O.7 ................... Georgia Tech
N.18 ........................Louisville
O.14 ........at North Carolina
N.24 ....... at Boston College
PLAYER POS Jahfari Harvey DE Jared Harrison-Hunte DT Leonard Taylor III DT Akheem Mesidor DE Francisco Mauigoa LB Wesley Bissainthe LB Jaden Davis CB Davonte Brown CB James Williams S Kamren Kinchens S Daryl Porter Jr. NB
HT 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-1 5-10 6-2 6-5 5-11 5-10
WT 252 285 305 280 230 205 185 185 215 202 185
CLASS JR SO SO JR JR SO SR JR JR JR JR
16 27 15 0
Chantz Williams Jacob Lichtenstein Branson Deen Nyjalik Kelly Keontra Smith Corey Flagg Jr. Damari Brown Malik Curtis Brian Balom Markeith Williams Te’Cory Couch
6-4 6-5 6-2 6-4 5-11 5-11 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-2 5-10
255 270 280 240 205 230 180 170 200 175 170
JR SR SR SO SR JR FR JR SO FR SR
5
Christopher Johnson KR Nathaniel Joseph PR
178 176
FR FR
7 20 5 2
DE DT DT DE LB LB CB CB S S NB
SPECIAL TEAMS 5-11 5-10
NEWCOMERS Mark Fletcher, RB — The powerful runner can make defenders miss in the open field, but doesn’t shy away from contact. He will be eased into the rotation early this season. Francis Mauigoa, T — The five-star tackle was ranked No. 1 at the position and fifth overall in the nation by ESPN. He will be a building block on the offensive line. Samson Okunlola, T — Another five-star tackle ranked among the top three in the nation, Okunlola will team with Francis Mauigoa to form terrific bookend tackles.
