Miami Hurricanes offensive line recognized nationally as it prepares for Clemson
The Miami Hurricanes offensive line has been recognized among the best in the nation.
As the Hurricanes (4-2, 0-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) were preparing for an 8 p.m. Saturday kickoff (ACC Network) against Clemson (4-2, 2-2), the Canes’ offensive line was one 23 teams named to the Joe Moore Midseason Honor Roll.
“The offensive line units on the 2023 Midseason Honor Roll have caught the attention of the committee through the Oct. 14 weekend by demonstrating some or all of the award criteria,’’ said Cole Cubelic, chairman of the Joe Moore Award voting committee. “The bar will raise significantly from here, and the consistency required to earn further recognition will be how the elite units eventually separate themselves.’’
For Miami, the early season consistency needs to begin Saturday against the Tigers. Last week at North Carolina, the Canes allowed a season-high three sacks of Tyler Van Dyke, who was hit hard all game. The Canes have started the same five linemen at the same positions for each of the first six games. From left to right, they are tackle Jalen Rivers, guard Javion Cohen, center Matt Lee, guard Anez Cooper and tackle Francis Mauigoa.
“Put a lot of pressure on those guys — went to a lot of dropbacks, 40-plus,’’ UM coach Mario Cristobal told WQAM earlier this week of the line’s play against North Carolina. “So, there were some really good moments and some tough situations where we got beat. They play with toughness, they play with physicality. I don’t worry much about that group. Whether it was a good day or not so good of a day, they’re always going to play their butts off.’’
Entering the week, Miami was ranked seventh nationally in total offense, averaging 501.8 yards a game — one of only eight FBS programs averaging at least 500 yards. The Canes also rank 22nd in sacks allowed (1.33 per game and eight total).
“It was a lesson we learned,’’ Cooper, a 6-4, 330-pound sophomore, said Wednesday of the 41-31 loss to UNC. “We gotta communicate better. North Carolina, they’re a good blitzing team. Some of the stuff that we tried to pick up we couldn’t really pick up.
“... I’m trying to really improve myself in the run game. But besides that, just picking up blitzes [is] really a good challenge for me. That helped me get better as a player. I can see a lot of stuff that I couldn’t see in the past...’’
Cooper acknowledged the strength of Clemson’s No. 8 run defense, allowing just 86.3 rushing yards a game. UM is 27th in rushing offense, averaging 191 ground yards.
“I know Clemson has a good front seven,’’ Cooper said. “I know it’s going to be tough to run the ball against them. ...I know that If we just communicate, then we’ll be very good this game against Clemson.”
Francis Mauigoa
Mauigoa, a 6-6, 330-pound true freshman and former five-star prospect as the nation’s No. 1 prep offensive lineman, has improved considerably since earlier this season, when he was drawing penalties. Coaches knew it was all part of the growing process, and his older brother, UM linebacker Kiko Mauigoa, spoke about his progress.
“He has grown a lot in the past few weeks,’’ Kiko said. “He’s been very steady. He’s more comfortable now. It’s all part of our preparation, our D-line getting at them and getting him better. That’s what we do at Miami — we practice and we practice hard.”
Cooper said Mauigoa “has improved every game. If he messes up on something, as the game goes on, he adapts to it. Francis is a great learner, a great listener. The farther we get in the season, he just gets better and better.’’
Anez said the Joe Moore honor reflected his position group’s growth. “We’re just growing together,’’ he said. “That was something that was good that we could look at and see that we’ve improved.”
