Hurricane Football: Preview of the Offense

The 2024 Miami offense looks to be explosive and entertaining. Canes Corner is confident this unit will not disappoint.

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR-

Shannon Dawson is back for his second season. The 2022 UM offense averaged 23.0 points per game. In Dawson’s first year at the helm, scoring increased to 31.5 PPG. Dawson has said he will play up-tempo “at times,” but he also likes to huddle.

“Changing tempos is key,” Dawson has said. “But ultimately, I think there’s a high value in huddling as well. If you really want to disguise things the most, you huddle. If you really want to hide what you’re doing, huddle and talk. There’s an element to going fast that’s good, an element to huddling that’s good. Mix it up.” On how this season’s offense might look different, Dawson said, “We now have a QB with the ability to extend plays that’s very unique in college football. We have guys that can stretch a defense down the field. It’ll look different because of the players out there more than the plays.”

QUARTERBACK-

Miami added Cam Ward to the transfer portal. Ward started all 25 games for Washington State in 2022-23. He passed for 6,963 yards and had 48 passing and 13 rushing touchdowns with a 65.5% completion percentage. At the July ACC Conference preseason meetings, Ward was named ACC Preseason Player of the Year. The most important collegiate football awards all have preseason watchlists. Ward has been named to both the Maxwell and Walter Camp Player of the Year lists. Ward has also been named to the top two QB of the Year lists, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm and Davey O’Brian awards. The 6’2,” 223 lb Ward has received the highest compliments from both his coaches and teammates on his work ethic and leadership throughout the fall camp. Cam Ward looks to be a perfect fit for the 2024 Miami offense.

Backing up Ward is sophomore Emory Williams, who led Miami to a win over Clemson last season in his first career start. Williams started against Florida St and threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns before exiting with a season-ending arm injury. Williams has been named to the 2024 Comeback POY Award watchlist. Reese Poffenbarger is a transfer from Albany. In his two years, he led the Great Danes to the FCS semifinals and led all FCS in passing yards and touchdowns in 2023. There is quality depth in the QB room.

RUNNING BACK-

This group is absolutely loaded. The starter will be Oregon State transfer Damien Martinez. The 6’0,” 232 lb Martinez was selected to the All PAC 12 First team in both his seasons with the Beavers. He rushed for 2,167 yards averaging 6.1 yards per carry with 16 touchdowns. He has been named to the Maxwell POY and Doak Walker RB Award watchlists.

Behind Martinez, Mark Fletcher returns. Fletcher 6’2,” 225 lb out of Ft. Lauderdale’s American Heritage was emerging as a feature back as a freshman in 2023. He is recovering from a foot injury and should be ready for the season. Providing depth is redshirt sophomore Ajay Allen, a 2023 transfer from Nebraska. Allen had 350 yards on 67 carries last year. Chris Johnson Jr, a redshirt freshman is a speed blazer out of Ft. Lauderdale. Johnson won Florida’s state titles in the 100 meters, and 200 meters and anchored the 4x100 gold medal team. He chose Miami over Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, and many others. Johnson will be a wild card when on the field and keep defenses honest and very, very scared. True freshman Jordan Lyle out of Ft. Lauderdale’s St Thomas Aquinas has impressed, and will be seen on the field this year.

WIDE RECEIVERS-

There is talent and depth in the WR room. All three of the presumptive starters, returning seniors Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George, as well as redshirt junior transfer from Houston, Sam Brown, have been named to the preseason watchlist for the Biletnikoff Award that goes to the top WR in college football. Restrepo has also been named to the Maxwell Award list. Restrepo was the 2023 All-ACC first-team WR and set the UM record for receptions with 85. His 1,092 yards was only the sixth 1000-yard season by a pass catcher in UM history. George broke out in 2023, ranking third in the ACC and second on the team in receiving yards with 864. His 57 catches for 15.1 yards per catch and team-leading eight TD receptions earned All-ACC third-team recognition. Brown had 62 receptions for 815 yards and three TDs for the Cougars last year. Redshirt sophomore Isaiah Horton played in all 13 games last year and is the next man up. Highly regarded freshmen JoJo Trader and Ny Carr, along with second-year returnees Robby Washington and Ray Ray Joseph provide additional depth.

TIGHT ENDS-

Miami has been called ‘Tight End U,’ with alums Jeremy Shockey, Kellen Winslow Jr, Greg Olsen, Jimmy Graham, Bubba Franks, and many others, including current NFL players Will Mallory, Brevin Jordan, Chris Herndon, and David Njoku. Last season, Miami’s TEs totaled 18 catches for 154 yards and one touchdown. Cam McCormick, who will be returning for his ninth year of college football, and sophomore Riley Williams tied for the team lead, with eight each. Redshirt junior Elijah Arroyo who has been injured for almost all of the last two seasons is fully healthy and will start. Sophomore Williams, McCormick, and freshman sensation Elija Lofton will all play significant snaps in varying sets. Lofton out of the legendary Bishop Gorman highschool in Las Vegas has lined up at TE, H-Back, RB, and WR in practice. The 6’3,” 230 lb Lofton has enormous upside. He is Canes Corner’s pick for the biggest surprise contributor of this year’s Hurricanes. Canes Corner believes all four TEs will each have more than the 18 catches, 154 yards, and one TD that the combined TE room had last year.

OFFENSIVE LINE-

Well, you’ve read a lot about talent at QB, RB, WR, and TE. Miami has a ton of ways to win and it starts with a stout offensive line that gives Cam Ward time to throw and creates holes for the running backs. Miami's head coach was an offensive lineman on two Miami National Championship teams. Offensive line coach Alex Mirabal was his teammate at UM. Both believe in cross-training all offensive linemen at multiple positions and this helps tremendously with depth, especially in injury situations.

The 2024 OL returns three starters, junior Jalen Rivers 6’5,” 325 lb at left tackle, junior Anez Cooper 6’6,” 330 lb at right guard, and sophomore Francis Mauigoa 6’6,” 315 lb, who started at right tackle last season and will start either there or at left guard. If Mauigoa stays at RT, redshirt sophomore Matt McCoy 6’6,” 300 lb or redshirt freshman Samson Okunloa 6’6,” 300 lb will start at LG. If Mauigoa moves to LG then Okunlola will start at RT. Primary backups are sophomore Ryan Rodriguez 6’2,” 285 lb, junior college transfer Markel Bell 6’9,” 340 lb, and senior Luis Cristobal Jr 6’1,” 295 lb. Redshirt freshmen Tommy Kinsler 6’2,” 340 lb and Antonio Tripp 6’3,” 300 lb provide additional depth.

SPECIAL TEAMS-

Andy Borregales who was 22-26 in field goal attempts and 44-45 in extra points will handle kickoff and placekick duties. He has been named to the Lou Groza Award watchlist. Australia native Dylan Joyce will return as a punter. Next week, we will cover the August 31st opener against the Florida Gators. That’s all for now, be well and Go Canes!