Despite losing four starters, quarterback Darian Mensah trusts coach Alex Mirabal’s development of elite recruits and battle-tested veterans to protect him during the Miami Hurricanes' championship pursuit.
MIAMI, Fla. – Ahead of fall camp, the Miami Hurricanes’ offensive line remains the biggest question. Losing four starters – including All-American right tackle Francis Mauigoa – is not usually an easy void to fill. Mario Cristobal is confident in the talent looking to step up, but what about Darian Mensah?
Transferring from Duke, the All-Atlantic Coast Conference quarterback was sacked 28 times last season. Despite not having elite protection, he still managed to be effective. Mensah completed 334 of 500 passes (66.8 percent) and led the ACC with 3,973 passing yards and 34 touchdowns, including six interceptions in 14 games.
When asked about the new offensive line on The Joe Rose Show, Mensah expressed confidence for one main reason.
“As far as protection goes, coach [Alex] Mirabal, he’s always going to have the offensive line coached up,” he said. “I’m not worried about true freshmen [starting]. If coach Mirabal thinks he can play, he can play. I trust him with my life.”
Although new faces will emerge, the Hurricanes have some familiarity with a few projected starters.
Looking to take over at center and lead the unit is Ryan Rodriguez. This will be the Miami native’s sixth and likely final season with the program. Despite battling injuries, Rodriguez has the opportunity to end this chapter on a high note.
Matthew McCoy and Samson Okunlola shared snaps at left guard last season. However, both veterans will have separate starting spots for next season. McCoy revealed in spring practices that he’s moving to right tackle – filling the Mauigoa void. Okunlola is projected to stay at left guard.
The three leaders have the experience to produce on the field and deliver leadership for the young talent being inserted.
Freshman and five-star recruit Jackson Cantwell is projected to start at left tackle. He was ranked the nation’s top-10 best recruits across several outlets. In four seasons at Nixa High School, Cantwell logged 459 pancake blocks.
The 18-year-old is expected to deliver an immediate impact for a National Championship contender.
Sophomore Max Buchanan is the projected starting right guard. He appeared in five games last season as a reserve. Buchanan was a four-star recruit coming from Seminole High School.
The Hurricanes’ success starts by winning matchups in the trenches. Losing four starters can be a major blow, but it’s an opportunity for others to shine in the Coral Gables program. If the quarterback isn’t worried, perhaps the fans and skeptics can catch a breather.
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Anthony Aguirre is the Miami Hurricanes beat writer for Roundtable Sports. Contact info: [email protected] | 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
