Podcast: Miami makes another O-line addition. And reactions to Gators’ Rashada situation
College football season is over after another -- ultimately anticlimactic -- championship for the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, which means it’s fully time for offseason mode on the Eye on the U podcast and the Miami Hurricanes are still hard at work reshaping their roster.
Their latest move is the addition of another offensive lineman, with Matthew Lee coming to Coral Gables after four years with the UCF Knights. It means Miami might be looking at an offensive line with new starters in place at 4 of 5 positions from the start of last season.
David Wilson and Susan Miller Degnan, the Hurricanes beat writer for the Miami Herald, discuss the move and what it means for the Hurricanes’ roster, as well as what it tells us about Mario Cristobal’s philosophies in team building.
Lee makes Miami a lot bigger and should ramp up the competition all over the offensive line, and it’s no secret how much the coach values his linemen.
On the topic linemen, the Hurricanes are going to get another important one on campus this weekend with five-star tackle Francis Mauigoa headlining the group of freshmen set to early enroll after signing their national letters of intent last month. It’s a big opportunity for Mauigoa, edge rushers Rueben Bain and Jayden Wayne, and all of these freshmen to get a leg up on the competition and position themselves to help Miami next season.
Up in Gainesville, it’s not going quite so smooth, though. Elite quarterback Jaden Rashada, who was previously orally committed to the Hurricanes, is now reportedly wavering on his pledge to the Florida Gators -- even after signing last month -- because of issues regarding a name, image and likeness deal. This is only tangentially a Miami story, but it might be the biggest story in college football this week, as a potential turning point in the name, image and likeness era.
As always, thanks for listening and please continue to rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
This story was originally published January 13, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
