Miami Hurricanes 2024 Position Review: Offensive Line

THIS is what a Miami Hurricanes Offensive Line should look, and play, like.

As we continue our 2024 position recaps, it’s time to turn our attention to the unit that Mario Cristobal used to play, views as foundational to the success of any team, and one that’s been rebuilt from atrocious to excellent in his time at Miami: Offensive Line

Starters

LT Markell Bell — 12 games, 5 starts

LT/LG Jalen Rivers — 8 games, 8 starts, Honorable Mention All-ACC

LG Matthew McCoy — 11 games, 11 starts

C Zach Carpenter — 13 games, 13 starts, Honorable Mention All-ACC

RG Anez Cooper — 13 games, 13 starts, Honorable Mention All-ACC

RT Francis Mauigoa — 13 games, 13 starts, 2nd Team All-ACC

Miami’s offensive line was among the best in the country throughout the 2024 season. Paving the way for the nation’s top offense — one that averaged 537.2 yards and 43.9 points per game — the OL was a tough, physical, dominating group in every situation they faced.

And, before you run to the comments, I know there are 6 players listed for 5 starting spots. But it makes sense, I promise.

The headliner of the group was RT Francis Mauigoa. A former 5-star recruit, the 6’6” 325lb tackle is a dominant player at the point of attack. He was the only Miami lineman to make an All-ACC team, and he’s unquestionably the lynchpin player for Miami up front.

Along with Mauigoa, C Zach Carpenter — a transfer from Indiana — and RG Anez Cooper started every game of the year. And, with precious few exceptions, that trio played every snap along the way. That consistency, and the excellence of all 3 players, was a major factor in Miami’s offensive success in 2024.

On the left side, Matthew McCoy took over at LG after the opener. He started 10 of the next 11 games, and really grew into his role over the course of the year. There were some issues at times, but McCoy has prototypical size at 6’6” 290lbs, and fits the physical profile of what Miami and Cristobal desire to have up front.

At left tackle, returning starter Jalen Rivers started the opener — a 41-17 beatdown of the rival Florida Gators in their beloved on-campus stadium — but got injured in that game and missed the next 5. His absence opened the door for 6’9” 340lb Juco transfer Markel Bell to hit the field. Bell held down the LT spot until Rivers’ return, and then continued to play about half the snaps at that spot off the bench once Rivers returned.

With both Rivers and Bell more than capable LTs, Miami had 2 different offensive line groups throughout the second half of the year:

• Starters: LT Rivers, LG McCoy, C Carpenter, RG Cooper, and RT Mauigoa and
• Starters part 2: LT Bell, LG Rivers, C Carpenter, RG Cooper, and RT Mauigoa

With Rivers leaving after the 2024 season, and with Bell having played well (not perfectly, but well) in his absence, the desire to get Bell more snaps in preparation for the future was clear. And, when you consider Rivers could potentially end up back at Guard in the NFL, getting him some snaps there this season was a good move for his pro potential (can you tell I’ve been playing a lot of CFB25? lol).

Did Bell’s snaps come at McCoy’s expense later in the season? Yes. But Rivers was good enough to be a nailed on player along the line, and rotating between the 2 OL groups listed allowed both Bell and McCoy to play plenty alongside Rivers-Carpenter-Cooper-Mauigoa, and perform well along the way.

Grades:
Bell — B+
Rivers — A-
McCoy — B
Carpenter — A
Cooper — A-
Mauigoa — A

Contributors

G Ryan Rodriguez — 1 game, 1 start

G Luis Cristobal — 7 games

T Tommy Kinsler — 6 games

T Samson Okunlola — 9 games

Rodriquez started the opener ahead of McCoy and played the whole game until the bitter end. He was injured in that game and missed the rest of the year. He probably fits best as a backup due to his lack of prototypical size. And, while you never want to lose a starter, McCoy more than made up for Rodriguez’s absence.

Cristobal is the nephew of HC Mario, and played a handful of snaps, some meaningful. He, struggled in his time on the field, however.

Kinsler and Okunlola were both blue chip recruits, with Okunlola coming in as a 5-star. At this point, Kinsler seems closer to the field than Okunlola, but both provided quality depth when called upon.

Grades:
Rodriguez — B+
Cristobal — D+
Kinsler — C+
Okunlola — C-

The Rest of the Room

Nino Francavilla, Antonio Tripp Jr, Frankie Tinilau, and Deryc Plazz were other young players who played in early-season blowouts. Tripp and Tinilau have both transferred elsewhere, and that’s fine. They were likely years from significant playing time, if they ever would have cracked the rotation.

Overall, this year was a massive offensive success for the Canes due to the elite performance of the offensive line opening holes for the running game, and pass protecting for the best QB in the country: Cam Ward.

Bravo, offensive line.

Bravo.

Go Canes