Coach Mario Cristobal expects big things from sophomore wide receiver Joshua Moore, unleashing his physicality and playmaking ability to elevate the Miami Hurricanes' offense.
Coming off a National Championship appearance, the Miami Hurricanes look to be one of the top competitive programs in the nation. As a few players departed through the transfer portal, it will create opportunities for others to step in, such as wide receiver Joshua Moore. Last season, he caught 17 passes for 120 yards, scoring two touchdowns in 14 games as a freshman.
The 18-year-old was part of the same recruiting class as homegrown star wide receiver Malachi Toney, edge rusher Hayden Lowe, running back Girard Pringle Jr., safety Bryce Fitzgerald, quarterback Luke Nickel, and wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw. After limited action, coach Mario Criostbal has “big plans” for the former four-star recruit.
“We’re counting on him [Moore],” he told reporters on Thursday, April 2. “We’ve always felt, all since the day we recruited him, that he was going to be, and is going to be, a big-time player here. Spring will get rolling more and more with him in the coming days. He enjoys getting coached hard and getting pushed. Not really affected by that. He’s not a freshman anymore. We need maturity, physicality, durability, all that good stuff, and use all 6-4 of that body, go up, and make plays. I don’t think he got enough credit for his role in the way he blocked down the stretch in the playoffs.”
The program revamped the wide receiver core with a few additions from the transfer portal, such as All-ACC Cooper Barkate, Vandrevius Jacobs, and Cam Vaughn.
Moore’s talents were on full display in the early portions of last season, specifically against the South Florida Bulls. In the Hurricanes’ 49-12 win, he caught three passes for 61 yards, scoring two touchdowns. The Miami native caught at least one pass in three of the four College Football Playoff Bowl games.
Alongside all the newly-added wide receivers, the Hurricanes brought in All-ACC quarterback Darian Mensah through the transfer portal.
After a short offseason and spring training unraveling, the team’s offense is expected to make a jump in production.
As Moore prepares for a bigger role, the Hurricanes look to remain in contention. After the latest success, the program established a new winning culture, foundation, and standard moving forward.
The Miami native will have more opportunities to impact the team’s chances towards another winning season, potentially competing for a National Championship again. Another homegrown talent coming through the program and emerging into something greater.
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