Five Hurricanes players to watch, three crucial games and three keys to Miami’s 2023 season
5 PLAYERS TO WATCH:
1. Tyler Van Dyke, Quarterback: Van Dyke is entering his second full season as Miami’s starting signal-caller following a 2022 campaign that was derailed by injuries. Now back at full strength, Van Dyke has learned new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s offense. If he clicks in Dawson’s scheme, Miami’s offense should be vastly improved this season.
2. Kamren Kinchens, Safety: Kinchens, a Miami Northwestern alum, had a breakout 2022 season, earning All-American honors. He was the top-rated player on Miami’s defense and had six interceptions last season. Now that he is an established leader, Kinchens will lead the defense this season.
3. Matt Lee, Center: Lee was a crucial transfer pickup in the offseason. At UCF last year, Lee was one of the top centers in the nation. Now he will be a key part of what appears to be a much-improved UM offensive line.
4. Francis Mauigoa, Offensive Tackle: Mauigoa was the top-rated player in the Hurricanes’ touted 2023 recruiting class. The hulking freshman is already getting work at starting right tackle. It is asking a lot of a freshman to start on the offensive line, but if Mauigoa is up to the task, it will go a long way for UM.
5. Leonard Taylor III, Defensive Tackle: Taylor is an explosive player on the Hurricanes’ defensive line. The former five-star prospect and Miami Palmetto alum had 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in just 329 snaps. If he can get on the field more, he could have a huge impact.
3 crucial games
Texas A&M vs. Miami, Sept. 9: The Hurricanes don’t get much of a warm-up period before one of the most telling games of the season. These two teams had similarly disappointing 2022 seasons, but the Aggies got the better of the Hurricanes in College Station, Texas, last year. If Miami can show they have improved with a win at home early in the year, it could help set the tone for the rest of the season.
Miami at North Carolina, Oct. 14: The Hurricanes will be favored in four of their first games, and if they beat the Aggies, they will likely be 5-0 entering this conference road game. Drake Maye is arguably the top player in the ACC, and the Hurricanes will need to contain him. If they can do it and pick up a win in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the outlook on the 2023 season will be rosy.
Miami at Florida State, Nov. 11: Who doesn’t like payback? The Seminoles blew out the Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium last season, embarrassing Miami on its home turf. Can Miami get some revenge? It is unlikely, as the Seminoles are an ACC favorite and have high expectations this year. But many crazier things have happened.
Three keys to Miami’s season
1. Health: It may seem like a cop-out to pick a team’s health as a key factor, but it is especially true for the Hurricanes. Tyler Van Dyke’s injury last year meant Miami could not fully recover from a poor start to the season, and it doomed them to big losses late in the year. If the Hurricanes get hit by injuries at key positions like quarterback, offensive line and defensive line, it could squash their hopes this year.
2. New schemes: Miami hired new offensive and defensive coordinators and several new position coaches, replacing former offensive coordinator Josh Gattis with Shannon Dawson and former defensive coordinator Kevin Steele with Lance Guidry. How the Hurricanes players learn and adapt to those new schemes will go a long way in determining how the season goes. Dawson had high-powered offenses at Houston, and Guidry’s defense at Marshall last year was among the nation’s best, giving Hurricanes fans hope.
3. Offensive line performance: Mario Cristobal is a former offensive lineman, so he knows how critical those positions are. The Hurricanes overhauled their line from last year, and only one player from Week 1’s offensive line is expected to start against Miami (Ohio) this year. The mix of transfers and promising freshmen should lead to a much improved line, giving the rest of the offense room to work.