With four starters lost to the NFL, the Miami Hurricanes are betting on elite freshmen and versatile internal talent to protect new quarterback Darian Mensah and defy skepticism.
MIAMI, Fla. – Over the last couple of years – this upcoming season pending – the Miami Hurricanes have found tremendous success with quarterbacks coming from the transfer portal. Both Cam Ward and Carson Beck stepped on the Coral Gables campus, leaving the football program in better shape than when they came in.
It’s Darian Mensah’s turn to take over the reins following an All-Atlantic Coast Conference caliber season with the Duke Blue Devils. He completed 334 of 500 passes, 66.8 percent, throwing for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns, including six interceptions, in 14 games. Mensah delivered the program its first ACC title since 1989.
Following the success at Durham, North Carolina, the 23-year-old was looking for another challenge and found it in South Florida.
However, the Hurricanes’ latest success doesn’t start with the quarterback or wide receivers, but the offensive line. Last season’s group – left tackle Markel Bell, right guard Anez Cooper, center James Brockermeyer, and All-American right tackle Francis Mauigoa – finished among the top 50 in the Football Bowl Subdivision after giving up 20 total sacks.
Following the National Championship game, the Hurricanes lost four key veterans to the NFL Draft – three of whom were selected and Brockermeyer signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. Despite having the transfer portal as a resource, the program is relying on in-house talent to step in and fill the voids.
Matthew McCoy split snaps at left guard with Samson Okunlola, but shared during spring practices that he’ll be moving to right tackle. It allows both of them to start. At center, Miami native Ryan Rodriguez is given a chance to solidify himself as a starter. Despite battling through injuries, the 23-year-old is looking to make this upcoming season count. The projected starting right guard is Max Buchanan, but the most intriguing offensive lineman is Jackson Cantwell.
Arriving on campus as a five-star recruit, the Missouri native is expected to make an immediate impact at left tackle. He’s listed at 6-8, 330 pounds, and recorded 459 pancake blocks at Nixa High School, according to MaxPreps.
Despite the University of Miami having the personnel to develop a well-rounded offensive line – Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal – there are some outside concerns.
Bleacher Report projected the top eight best units – the Hurricanes weren’t mentioned. Plus, in Phil Steele’s annual College Football Preview magazine, the projected group ranked No. 39.
Although the lineup will be relatively new, the Coral Gables program has established a culture specifically around the offensive line – it shouldn’t be as overlooked as it currently is.
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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
