30 key Miami Hurricanes for 2025 season: Anez Cooper has evolved into key lineman
The Miami Hurricanes kick off the 2025 season on Aug. 31 with a marquee matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium (7:30 p.m., ABC).
With the calendar officially flipped to August, the Miami Herald is counting down 30 of the most important players on the Hurricanes’ roster, one per day leading up to the season opener, to provide a closer look at the team heading into coach Mario Cristobal’s fourth season.
Today: The No. 6 player on our list, Anez Cooper.
What to know
Position: Offensive lineman
Hometown: Pleasant Grove, Alabama
Year: Senior
How he got to Miami: 2022 recruiting class
Key stats: 36 games played (30 starts) over three seasons with the Hurricanes
In summary: Anez Cooper was one of the final additions to the Hurricanes’ 2022 recruiting class and he quickly found the field once he arrived on campus. He was a starter by the end of his freshman season and has been a steady cog at right guard ever since. Cooper has high expectations entering his final season at UM, and a strong year could elevate his draft stock as well.
What they’re saying
“When I first came in, I didn’t really expect that I was going to end up starting. I just felt like if I was going to have to play and start, it was about me having to grow up fast. I felt like I just had to open up to everybody and just let everybody see the person I was instead of keeping everything in.” - Anez Cooper on how his mindset evolved during his time at Miami
“It’s awesome to watch him go through the development process he’s had. You’ve seen Coop’s transformation. That’s incredible. He’s 345 pounds right now and he can run like a defensive lineman. He’s incredibly smart. ... I think he’s just scratching the surface.” - Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal on Anez Cooper
“He’s always been a really good player, physical player. He’s really an outspoken guy in our room, and I appreciate the leadership position that he has niched out for himself and I do think that he’s going to have that for a long time. He is the guy that when he talks everybody listens and he’s earned that role because of the the way he’s played the game as long as he’s played the game. I appreciate his voice at times.” - Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson on Anez Cooper
The rest of the series
No. 7: Safety Zechariah Poyser
No. 8: Linebacker Mohamed Toure
No. 9: Running back Mark Fletcher Jr.
No. 10: Tight end Elija Lofton
No. 11: Defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor
No. 12: Wide receiver Joshisa Trader
No. 13: Offensive lineman Markel Bell
No. 14: Defensive back Xavier Lucas
No. 15: Defensive lineman Justin Scott
No. 16: Wide receiver CJ Daniels
No. 17: Defensive lineman David Blay
No. 18: Defensive lineman Ahmad Moten
No. 19: Center James Brockermeyer
No. 20: Wide receiver Keelan Marion
No. 21: Defensive back Jakobe Thomas
No. 23: Defensive back Keionte Scott
No. 24: Running back Jordan Lyle
No. 25: Defensive back Damari Brown
No. 26: Defensive lineman Armondo Blount
No. 27: Wide receiver Malachi Toney
No. 28: Defensive back Ethan O’Connor
No. 29: Linebacker Kamal Bonner
No. 30: Running back CharMar Brown
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