Patience paying off for these Miami Hurricanes, with Gators set to visit
In this instant gratification generation, when some players change schools on a whim, there are fewer long-term developmental success stories in college football.
That’s why it’s encouraging to see UM defensive lineman Ahmad Moten, in Year 4, and linebacker Chase Smith, in his fifth year as a Cane, stick it out at Miami and fulfill the expectations of the coaching staff.
That’s why it’s heartening to see third-year offensive lineman Samson Okunlola, the former five-star recruit, giving UM consistently good snaps in his first extended playing time.
Through three weeks, Moten is playing the way coaches envisioned when they recruited him out Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons in 2022.
He has a sack and tackle for loss and has been a key part of a run defense that’s holding teams to 2.6 yards per carry.
Pro Football Focus rates him the fourth-best player on Miami’s defense this year. The talent has always been there; UM defensive line coach Jason Taylor has said he has the ability to be the best defensive lineman in the country; he started ahead of Justin Scott last weekend.
“Moten played a really, really good game” vs. USF, Mario Cristobal said on his coach’s show this week. “Now [he’s] starting to really understand what it’s like to do this on a weekly basis. I’m really proud of him.
“You are never sure when a guy is going to pop, take that next step. We felt schematically [that this system] would help them.”
Smith was limited to 31 games during his first four seasons because of injuries. But he has carved out a role in Year 5 and has two fumble recoveries and a pass defended.
“Chase Smith worked himself back from a really tough injury a couple years back,” Cristobal said. “Watching him to be able to function fully without any hesitation shows his ability, his want to, his care factor. It’s really starting to pop through.”
As noted in this piece in August, Smith has good length and is around the ball a lot. New defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman harps on takeaways, and Smith is adept at punching the ball out of the hands of running backs and receivers.
Okunlola, meanwhile, hasn’t allowed a single sack or quarterback hurry in 59 pass blocking snaps while playing 120 snaps, mostly at left guard. PFF says he has been Miami’s best offensive lineman among players who have logged at least 100 snaps.
“Sometimes guys walk in the door and it clicks right away,” Cristobal said. “Other times, guys like Samson, he is playing as good as anyone on our team. That’s development. That’s one of the best parts of the game… I can’t develop you for you. You have to want to develop yourself.”
This and that
The Gators’ defense will pose considerable challenges when the teams meet at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium on ABC.
UF has allowed just 13 points per game (26th in the country) and 264 yards per game, which is 28th.
Among the standouts: safeties Jordan Castell and Bryce Thornton; defensive end Tyreak Sapp (a sack), and linebackers Myles Graham (team high 17 tackles, two tackles for loss) and Jaden Robinson (two tackles for loss and a forced fumble).
Conversely, UF has scored just two touchdowns in the last two games (losses to USF and LSU), and ballyhooed quarterback DJ Lagway threw five interceptions against LSU.
Cristobal said Lagway “is one of the best players in the country.. He can run the ball as well as anyone out there.”
But he has only 18 rushes for 31 yards this season, to go with five TDs and six interceptions throwing the ball.
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 12:05 PM.
