Armed with an explosive roster and a top-scoring track record, Miami Hurricanes' Shannon Dawson plans to unleash deep rotations at receiver and running back to fuel a title run.
MIAMI, Fla. – Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson sees great depth in the wide receiver, running back, and tight end room.
Last season, the 48-year-old primarily relied upon specific personnel. Malachi Toney, Keelan Marion, and CJ Daniels were the team’s leading receivers. In the backfield, Mark Fletcher Jr. and CharMar “Marty” Brown were the only running backs to go over 100 attempts.
Ahead of the upcoming season, Dawson is looking to spread the workload.
“It has to [expand] because we have more capable people,” he said on Monday’s team Media Day. “I think in the running back room specifically, there are probably five guys that you trust. Ultimately, if you look at our skill set room right now, there’s going to be more guys playing than I’ve played for three years.”
The Hurricanes’ wide receiver core is arguably the most talented. Rising star Malachi Toney is the face of the position, joined by Duke transfer Cooper Barkate, Joshua Moore, South Carolina transfer Vandrevius Jacobs, Daylyn Upshaw, West Virginia transfer Cam Vaughn, and freshman Somourian Wingo.
Meanwhile, the running back room primarily features the same personnel as last season. Leading the depth chart is local star Mark Fletcher Jr., followed by CharMar Brown, Jordan Lyle, and Girard Pringle Jr. Each running back possesses different strengths that can be utilized in different situations.
Brown is a powerful running back who is most impactful in short-yardage gains. Pringle Jr. is best known for speed and can run down each side of the field. Fletcher Jr. and Lyle have a combination of both.
Other than junior Elija Lofton, the Hurricanes have an inexperienced tight end room. Regardless, Dawson is confident in what the room can deliver. Sophomore Luka Gilbert will miss the upcoming season with an undisclosed injury. It leaves an opportunity for others, such as freshmen Gavin Mueller and Isarel Briggs, to climb the depth chart.
Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah will have a plethora of options to connect with on the field. He certainly didn’t have this high of offensive potential at Duke or Tulane. It puts him in the best situation to compete, carve out a Heisman Trophy campaign, and cement a promising NFL future with a high stock.
Dawson has experience in putting together an explosive offense. In the 2024 season, he led the Hurricanes to have the highest-scoring offense in the Football Bowl Subdivision – a 43.9-point average in 13 games. Dawson envisions similar results with the current roster.
The Hurricanes have the talent, but it needs to translate on the field. Several new faces, but the goal remains the same: compete for a National Championship. Dawson is one of college football’s best offensive coordinators. He’s tasked with a heavy assignment as fall camp continues.
