Mario Cristobal tweets Miami football full pads Tuesday resuming spring practice

The Miami football team will resume spring practice in full pads after being off last week for spring break. Miami will practice every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through the April 16 Spring Game at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Expect more physicality and tackling in practice this spring with Cristobal as the head coach.

Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal have stated the importance of the Miami football program emphasizing physicality at the line of scrimmage. Miami has quickly added potential impact players on the line of scrimmage in the four months since Cristobal was hired in December.

Miami signed four-star defensive ends Nyjalik Kelly and Cyrus Moss. Defensive linemen Jacob Lichtenstein and Antonio Moultrie have been added as transfers from USC and UAB. Offensive lineman Logan Sagapolu transferred to Miami from Oregon joining Cristobal and Mirabal. Miami also signed two OL and one DL in the 2022 Class.

The Hurricanes have to replace their entire starting DL for 2022. Miami returns three starters on the OL. Experience in the trenches is important for any team, especially on offense. Multi-year starters Jakai Clark, Zion Nelson and D.J. Scaife return for Miami on the OL. Jalen Rivers projects to start for Miami at left guard.

The fifth starter for Miami on the OL is more likely to be open between John Campbell, Sagapolu and Ousmane Traore are likely to compete to be the fifth starting OL for Miami in 2022. Under new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, Miami is expected to combine elements of a fast tempo system with greater physicality.

Miami often struggled last season in short yardage. The Hurricanes were 109th in stuff rate according to Football Outsiders in 2021 with 21.2 percent of their running playing being stopped for one of two yards. Expect that number to change with Cristobal, Gattis and Mirabal leading the Miami coaching staff.