(WR Xavier Restrepo – Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB Ajay Allen, RB Mark Fletcher Jr., WR Jacolby George, WR/PR Xavier Restrepo, OG Anez Cooper, OT Jalen Rivers, DE Rueben Bain Jr., LB Wesley Bissainthe, LB Francisco Maulgoa, CB Daryl Porter Jr., PK Andres Borregales, and PT Dylan Joyce.
Key Players Departing:
QB Tyler Van Dyke (Wisconsin transfer), RB Donald Chaney Jr., RB Henry Parrish Jr. (Ole Miss transfer), WR/KR Breshard Smith (SMU transfer), WR Colbie Young, OC Matt Lee (Browns R7), OG Javion Cohen, OT Zion Nelson, DT Jared Harrison-Hunte (SMU transfer), DT Leonard Taylor III, NT Branson Deen, NT Thomas Gore (Georgia Tech transfer), LB KJ Cloyd, LB Corey Flagg (Missouri transfer), CB Jaden Davis (Cardinals R7), NB Te’Cory Couch, FS Kamren Kinchens (Rams R3), and SS James Williams (Titans R7).
(DT Justin Scott – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
Blue Chip Recruits: DT Justin Scott (Chicago, Illinois).
4 Star Recruits: DE Armondo Blount (Miami, Florida), EDGE Marquise Lightfoot (Chicago, Illinois), ATH Zaquan Patterson (Hollywood, Florida), WR Joshisa Trader (Hollywood, Florida), WR Ny Carr (Moultrie, Georgia), EDGE Booker Pickett Jr. (Tampa, Florida), QB Cam Ward (Washington State transfer), RB Damien Martinez (Oregon State transfer), and EDGE Tyler Baron (Louisville transfer).
2023 Results:
G01 MIAMI (OH) W 38-3
G02 #23 TEXAS A&M W 48-33
G03 BETHUNE-COOKMAN W 48-7
G04 @ Temple W 41-7
G05 GEORGIA TECH L 20-23
G06 @ #12 North Carolina L 31-41
G07 CELMSON W (2OT) 28-20
G08 VIRGINIA W (OT) 29-26
G09 @ NC State L 6-20
G10 @ #4 FSU L 20-27
G11 #10 LOUISVILLE L 31-38
G12 @ Boston College W 45-20
BOWL vs. Rutgers L 24-31
Misc. Team Information:
2023 Record: 7-6 (9th in ACC)
Home: 5-2
Away: 2-3
Neutral: 0-1
ACC: 3-5
Non-AAC: 4-1
Head Coach: Mario Cristobal
Miami(FL): 12-13
Career: 74-73
Bowls: 3-4
(RB Mark Fletcher Jr. – Getty Images)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Emory Williams (44-71, 470 yards, 62.0%, 6.6 avg., 3 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Mark Fletcher Jr. (105 car., 514 yards, 4.9 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Xavier Restrepo (85 rec., 1092 yards, 12.8 avg., 2 TD)
TDs Scored: Xavier Restrepo (6)
Sacks: Rueben Bain Jr./Francisco Mauigoa (7.5)
Tackles: Francisco Maulgoa (82)
Tackles For Loss: Francisco Maulgoa (18)
Interceptions: Francisco Mauigoa/Ahmad Moten Sr. (1)
Pass Deflections: Daryl Porter Jr. (4)
Forced Fumbles: Rueben Bain Jr. (3)
Kick Returns: Ray Ray Joseph (9 ret., 185 yards, 20.6 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Xavier Restrepo (7 ret., 39 yards, 5.6 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Andres Borregales (22-26 fg/fga., 85%, 44-45 xp/xpa., 110 pts.)
Punting: Dylan Joyce (43 punts, 1882 yards, 43.8 avg., 15 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 1 Cam Ward (SR/TR)
RB: 0 Damien Martinez (JR/TR)
WR: 0 Samuel Brown (RS SR/TR)
WR: 3 Jacolby George (SR)
WR: 7 Xavier Restrepo (RS SR)
TE: 8 Elijah Arroyo (RS JR)
LT: 64 Jalen Rivers (RS JR)
LG: 63 Samson Okunlola (RS FR)
OC: 50 Zach Carpenter (RS SR/TR)
RG: 73 Anez Cooper (JR)
RT: 61 Francis Mauigoa (SO)
KR: 5 Ray Ray Joseph (SO)
PK: 30 Andres Borregales (SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 4 Reuben Bain Jr. (SO)
NT: 5 CJ Clark (RS SR/TR)
DT: 0 Simeon Barrow Jr. (RS SR/TR)
DE: 0 Tyler Baron (RS SR/TR)
LB: 31 Wasley Bissainthe (JR)
LB: 1 Francisco Mauigoa (SR/TR)
NB: 0 Mishael Powell (RS SR/TR)
CB: 6 Damari Brown (SO)
CB: 2 Daryl Porter Jr. (RS SR/TR)
FS: 28 Isaiah Taylor (RS JR/TR)
SS: 7 Jaden Harris (RS SO)
PR: 7 Xavier Restrepo (RS SR)
PT: 94 Dylan Joyce (SO)
(LB Francisco Maulgoa – USA Today Sports)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: A
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 @ Florida Gators | Miami leads the series 29-27. The Hurricanes lost (20-24) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
09/07 FLORIDA A&M RATTLERS | Miami leads the series 10-1. The Hurricanes won (70-3) the last meeting between schools in 2016.
09/14 BALL STATE CARDINALS | First meeting between schools.
09/21 @ USF Bulls | Miami leads the series 5-1. The Hurricanes won (49-21) the last meeting between schools in 2013.
09/27 VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES | Miami leads the series 13-8. The Hurricanes are 7-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (28-30) was in 2021.
10/05 @ California Golden Bears | The series is tied 2-2. The Hurricanes lost (17-24) the last meeting between schools in 2008.
10/19 @ Louisville Cardinals | Miami leads the series 11-4-1. The Hurricanes are 2-2 since 2014, and their last series win (47-34) was in 2020.
10/26 FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES | Miami leads the series 35-33. The Hurricanes are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series win (52-10) was in 2020.
11/02 DUKE BLUE DEVILS | Miami leads the series 15-5. The Hurricanes lost (21-45) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/09 @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | The series is tied 14-14. The Hurricanes are 5-4 since 2014, and their last series win (35-14) was in 2022.
11/23 WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS | Miami leads the series 8-3. The Hurricanes won (24-21) the last meeting between schools in 2013.
11/30 @ Syracuse Orange | Miami leads the series 16-7. The Hurricanes won (27-19) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Road: 5-1
Neutral: 0-1
ACC: 6-2
Non-ACC: 4-1
Overall: 10-3 (3rd in ACC/11th Seed – Eliminated in First Round)
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