Former Alabama starter: Cristobal’s blueprint ‘and swag’ returning Miami to prominence
Miami starting left guard Javion Cohen, 21, in his fourth year of college football, previously started for Nick Saban at Alabama and won a national championship there in 2020. Miami starting tight end Cam McCormick, 25, in his eighth year of college football, played for Mario Cristobal at Oregon and won two consecutive Pac-12 titles in 2019 and ‘20.
Both players are thrilled with their transfer decisions to head to the U this past spring as Cristobal was preparing for his second season leading the Hurricanes.
The 6-5, 260-pound McCormick, whose numerous injuries (a broken ankle and two torn Achilles heels among them) derailed much of his seven-year career with the Oregon Ducks, might even try for a ninth year if the Atlantic Coast Conference gives him permission.
“I have not decided,’’ McCormick said Tuesday of possibly returning for another season in 2024 if the league gives him the option. “I’m still kind of in the process of petitioning for it, because it was accepted in the Pac-12. As for the ACC, I have to repetition for it, so that’s in the works right now to see if I will be able to get that or not.”
As the 20th-ranked Hurricanes prepare to travel to Philadelphia to face the Temple Owls (2-1) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2) for their first road game, McCormick and Cohen have done their part to contribute to a 3-0 season.
Pro Football Focus ranks McCormick 11th among 339 FBS tight ends this season as a run blocker — No. 1 among Miami starters. PPF ranks Cohen a strong 77.5 pass-blocking grade for the nation’s No. 13 passing offense (322 yards a game) and No. 15 overall offense (511).
“When I got to college I knew that being physical and run-blocking would be a quick way to get on the field,’’ McCormick said Tuesday, adding that he plays “with great effort.”
“So, that’s kind of what I molded my game around,’’ he said. “When I first got to my previous school there were a lot of older guys ahead of me and it was always ‘blocking, blocking, blocking.’ And that’s what I molded my game after, that’s where I started.
“Obviously, in the passing game, things will come as they come. I am definitely a blocking tight end, but I also have the capability to run routes to catch the football.”
Does McCormick’s eighth-year status ever come up on the field or in everyday life?
“Not really,’’ McCormick said. “On the field you’re in your own zone. At the end of the day we’re just playing football. It comes up sometimes outside of football. ‘Oh, hey, I read about your story.’ But it’s not really a big deal other than [to] people who really don’t know the story.
McCormick said he has been warmly welcomed by coaches players, supporters and fans.
“Everything has been going right just being closer to the group of guys here,’’ McCormick said. “There’s change going on around here, and it’s great to be part of that change.”
Javion Cohen
Cohen (6-4, 305 pounds), who transferred in December, told reporters in March that he practiced for the national championship game in UM’s indoor practice facility when he was a freshman.
“I actually remember standing right over there under that U,’’ he said after a spring practice session, starting at the massive, neon orange-and-green U affixed to the wall inside the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility. “It was just a surreal feeling. I remember telling myself that same day that ‘Wow! It must be awesome to practice here!’
On Tuesday, Cohen was asked about Cristobal being a former assistant at Alabama under Saban, and if Cohen could describe how some of Saban’s “blueprint’’ has “translated over to Miami this year?”
“It’s really Coach Cristobal and his swag,’’ Cohen said. “He went here. He has seen all the tradition. I feel like this is strictly a Miami blueprint he’s placing on us. It’s getting us to return back to national prominence — and bringing the culture back to what it was as well.”
Cohen said UM’s success in pass blocking “starts in practice.’’
“Coach Cristobal and [offensive line] coach [Alex] Mirabal drive us a lot in practice, and it allows us to make that transition over to the game. Also, the receivers get open and the get the ball. It’s not just us.’’
Like McCormick, Cohen said his UM experience has been “awesome.’’
“These guys welcomed me into their family and we hit the ground running. We all just have a goal to be 1-0 at the end of the week.’’
This story was originally published September 20, 2023 at 11:27 AM.
