
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Miami wrapped up its second spring under Mario Cristobal on Friday night, and it didn’t take the 52-year-old coach very long to make a bee-line for the area where dozens of big-bodied, elite recruits were waiting to chit-chat with him and the rest of the coaching staff.
As well as Miami did in Cristobal’s first full recruiting cycle reeling in high-end transfers and some valuable pieces for the future with the nation’s seventh-ranked high school class, Nick Saban’s former lead recruiter also went 5-7 in his debut season.
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Selling a vision of the future can take you only so far with a room full of blue-chippers. Seeing some positive results helps, and Cristobal felt the need to cash some chips in on the heels of what felt like a pretty good night from the guys he’s recently brought into the program.
What he told those 2024, 2025 and 2026 recruits in attendance wasn’t very different from what he said to a sideline reporter after the game. Cristobal needs more help to turn Miami in the right direction.
“There’s progress, but still a ways to go,” Cristobal said after a 70-play live scrimmage and a second half of “thudding” aimed at preventing injuries. “Our roster could look significantly different when we start camp in the fall. I’ve been very fortunate to have coached and played for some very good coaches, and that blueprint has stood the test of time. To make that blueprint work, we still have to enhance the caliber of talent on our roster.”
Cristobal has made it no secret the Canes will look for some immediate help at receiver, cornerback, safety and defensive tackle when the transfer portal reopens for business this weekend. But as for the guys he’s already added since December … well, some of those dudes looked pretty good Friday night.
Before we get to some Miami recruiting nuggets, here’s a list of 10 standouts from the game.
1. Freshman defensive lineman Rueben Bain produced three sacks — one against the first-team offensive line when he ran around left tackle Jalen Rivers — and showed everyone why he was a top-100 recruit in the 2023 cycle.
“It felt good to put on that Hurricane uniform, fly around and make plays,” Bain said.
Bain won four consecutive state titles at Miami Central and had 77 sacks in his high school career.
“He does not shy away,” Cristobal. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a senior offensive lineman or a freshman that came in with him — that guy is gonna get after somebody’s butt.”
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2. Linebacker Francisco “Kiko” Mauigoa, the older brother of 2023 five-star offensive tackle signee Francis Mauigoa, recorded four tackles, including one for loss on the opening drive when he sped right through a hole and met Henry Parrish Jr. in the backfield for a 3-yard loss on third-and-short.
“Very instinctive, fast linebacker — that’s we needed,” Hurricanes All-American safety Kam Kinchens said. “He’s always around the ball every play.”
3. Parrish and Don Chaney Jr. didn’t have huge nights running the ball behind Miami’s starting offensive line of Rivers, Laurence Seymore, Matt Lee, Logan Sagapolu and Francis Mauigoa.
Parrish tallied 26 yards on seven carries, and Chaney finished with 17 on four carries plus a 6-yard catch out of the backfield. But Chaney did score on a long run in the second half and showed some nice cuts eluding players.
Miami had Alabama transfer Javion Cohen and sophomore Anez Cooper starting at left and right guard, respectively, most of camp, and both dressed in pads for Friday’s game. But Cohen was a late scratch after he tweaked his knee in warmups and Cooper was also held out for an undisclosed reason. Cristobal said afterward there were not any significant injuries in the game.
4. Miami’s coach also had some praise for redshirt freshman defensive tackle Ahmad Moten (6 feet 3, 325) after the game. He ran with the first team in part because Leonard Taylor, Jared Harrison-Hunte and Purdue transfer Branson Deen were all held out of the game.
How ‘bout that dime from @Tyler_Van_Dyke to @Jaco1byg 👀
📺: ACCNX pic.twitter.com/wfaVTEmTFL
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) April 15, 2023
5. Tyler Van Dyke struggled through injury and inconsistency a season after winning the ACC’s Rookie of the Year in 2021, but he looked very comfortable in Shannon Dawson’s offense, completing 13 of his 19 attempts for 184 yards and a touchdown when there was tackling in the first half.
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Although Miami played man-to-man coverage most of the night without bringing a lot of exotic pressures, Van Dyke put the ball where it needed to be and allowed his receivers to make runs after the catch.
He said what he’s enjoyed most about playing in Dawson’s offense is the freedom he has to make changes to routes and play calls at the line of scrimmage based on what the defense is showing him. When Van Dyke hit Colbie Young on a go-route in the second half, he said it was on a check he made at the line of scrimmage. His 15-yard touchdown pass to Jacolby George also came on a play he changed at the line.
“Just a lot of freedom for the quarterback,” Van Dyke said. “If you have one-on-one chances, just throw it back shoulder, over the top, give those guys a chance to go up and get it. It’s like what we ran with Coach (Rhett) Lashlee. It’s good to have that and not be stuck on one play.”
Miami’s offense also played with tempo. After big plays, Van Dyke hurried the offense to the line of scrimmage to try to catch the defense gasping for air. It’s something Shannon said during camp we’d see during the season.
“These two coaches are studs,” Cristobal said of his two new coordinators. “I think their personalities really blend well with their ability to coach. They each have a high level of expertise. When you can connect and have a really good personality and you care, it works.”
6. Freshman Emory Williams was Miami’s third-team quarterback most of the spring, but he played better than sophomore Jacurri Brown in the first half. Brown, who led Miami to its fifth and final win at Georgia Tech last year, missed on his first four pass attempts against the second-team defense and finished 5-of-11 for 55 yards passing in the first half. He missed some open receivers deep a few times. Williams was only 4-of-4 for 42 yards but made some excellent decisions and pinpoint throws. He also had a long touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
“He’s a special kid — did a really good job,” Cristobal said. “Jacurri was off tonight, but that guy has had an unbelievable spring.”
Now that’s how you end a game 😳😳😳@EmoryWilliams11 ➡️ @rayraythaboy
79 yards to the house 👀 pic.twitter.com/EroINbhEDb
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) April 15, 2023
7. Freshman receiver Nathaniel “Ray-Ray” Joseph was on the receiving end of that long touchdown pass from Williams against the backups on defense. He also flashed speed and wiggle in the first half when guys were trying to tackle him.
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“Ray-Ray is a diehard Cane through and through — a must-have guy,” Cristobal said. “You see the catches, but you should see him block, throw his body around. He’s a tremendous competitor and he’s an elite, awesome, incredible human being that has an incredible impact on this team.”
8. Of all the receivers he played catch with this spring, Van Dyke said he’s established his best chemistry with Young. The 6-5, 215-pound 2022 signee from Lackawanna College had three catches for 38 yards in the first half.
“(Young) and Xavier (Restrepo) are my safety nets,” Van Dyke said. “I’m glad Colbie is on our team. He’s making a lot of plays for us.”
Cristobal praised all of his receivers for their play, including George, who had two catches for 46 yards and his touchdown in the first half. Redshirt freshman Isaiah Horton had two catches for 41 yards.
“Our receivers are playing faster,” Cristobal said. “Their minds aren’t cluttered. There’s a lot of clarity right now and even though we had some mistakes, there’s progress.”
9. Cornerback Daryl Porter Jr., a 2022 West Virginia transfer, gave up George’s touchdown catch but had two pass breakups in man-to-man coverage. Porter, UCF transfer Davonte Brown and nickelback Te’Cory Couch started in Miami’s secondary along with Kinchens and redshirt freshman safety Markeith Williams.
Brown had a PBU when he knocked the ball out of Young’s hands in the end zone on the opening drive.
10. Junior Andy Borregales booted field goals from 27 and 51 yards in the first half and had a better night than Miami’s punters.
Recruiting nuggets
• Miami picked up its third commitment of the 2024 cycle when four-star receiver Chance Robinson from Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas announced his pledge at the end of the spring game. Robinson is ranked No. 144 overall and the No. 23 receiver in the 247Sports Composite.
When U see the big picture- and U can be the star of the movie! U give them a blockbuster!! Miami let’s make an Oscar!! Staying HOME 🙌🏾🙌🏾@coach_cristobal@canesfootball@thekevinbeard@coachdawson_um@dtrain2901@coachfield pic.twitter.com/WDcaW1Ja7p
— Chance J Robinson (@ChanceJRobinso1) April 15, 2023
“I know that I can come in and be a dog right away,” Robinson said. “I know I can come in and just put on for my city. I love it here. I was at the CanesWear store today and kids were just coming up to me. You just can’t beat that. Nowhere else felt like home, and nobody was like Coach (Kevin Beard). … I know this staff wants and needs me here.”
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Robinson, who showed up to Friday’s game with South Florida Express teammate and 2024 five-star receiver JoJo Trader as his wingman, visited Alabama, Auburn and a slew of other SEC schools during the spring and said he’ll still take official visits to Auburn and Penn State to plot out a Plan B in case things change. Robinson and Trader both said they were very impressed with Miami’s offense on Friday and the way Dawson tries to get his receivers in space.
• Cristobal has put a lot of focus on landing elite defensive linemen in Miami’s 2024 class and hosted most of the top recruits in the country this spring. He had three top-100 defensive linemen in attendance Friday for the game: five-star edge rusher Colin Simmons from Duncanville, Texas, five-star defensive tackle Justin Scott from Chicago (Ill.) St. Ignatius and four-star defensive tackle Aydin Breland from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei.
Four-star defensive lineman Jericho Johnson of Fairfield (Calif.) Armijo was also there.
“Really good week here,” Scott said. “I have three officials in June: Georgia, Miami and Ohio State. I have an idea to announce over the summer, but I’ll let everything fall in place. What I like about Miami is the opportunity to come in and play young and have an impact as a freshman. They’ve been emphasizing how they need young guys to rebuild Miami back to the way it was.”
Scott (6-5, 290) said he squats over 500 pounds and bench presses 275 pounds. He said Miami’s coaches want him to play a three-technique.
Johnson (6-4, 320) said he could see himself moving across the country and playing in South Florida. His other top schools include Oregon and Washington. He had 32 tackles and 10 sacks as a junior. He benches 345 pounds and reps 225 pounds about 20 times.
“Miami’s coaches watched my film and described me as versatile,” Johnson said. “I think I can play all over the line.”
(Photo of Tyler Van Dyke courtesy of Miami Athletics)
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