Chris Fowler praises Miami football following practice visit

ESPN lead college football play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler observed practice for the Miami football team on Monday. In a tweet posted with himself talking to ESPN College Gameday analyst Desmond Howard and Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, Fowler discussed how the Hurricanes looked and their outlook.

Cristobal has hired a staff that has been praised nationally. Fowler exalted the Miami coaching staff for being impressive and energized. Fowler went on to mention that the Miami football roster has holes, but standouts to build around. Cristobal is not done in the transfer portal as observed by Fowler.

The final observations by Fowler were that Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke look commanding and that it was “good to hang” with Howard. Fowler and Howard are Miami residents. Fowler and his college football announcing partner Kirk Herbstreit will announce Miami at Texas A&M on September 19.

Fowler and Herbstreit could very likely be on the call for Miami at Clemson on November 15. The biggest games to challenge the Hurricanes and Tigers to be played in ABC Primetime College Football that week are Oklahoma at Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Game and USC at UCLA in the battle for the Victory Bell.

The Miami football staff has been well documented this offseason with different personalities. Offensive line coach Alex Mirabal has been classified as one of the most energetic new Miami assistant coaches. Tight ends coach Stephen Field is the one returning assistant on the Miami coaching staff.

Josh Gattis is the new Miami offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. Kevin Steele is the co-defensive coordinator with Charlie Strong hired as the linebackers coach to share DC. Steele and Strong are the two most experienced coaches on the Miami staff. Both have been power five head coaches.

Cristobal and his staff have done an outstanding job attempting to fix the holes on the roster. Miami has added eight transfers during the 2022 offseason. The Hurricanes have signed two offensive linemen and three defensive linemen through the transfer portal. Miami is likely not finished fortifying its lines.

Van Dyke immediately showed he was a leader when he became the starting QB last September Most preseason watch lists have Van Dyke among their Heisman Trophy candidates. This spring Gattis and Van Dyke need to work on creating chemistry and getting the new offense set in place.

Van Dyke will have multiple standouts to work with on offense. The Hurricanes return leading rusher Jaylan Knighton and added Mississippi transfer, Henry Parrish. Tight end Will Mallory is the leading returning receiver entering his fifth season with Miami. Miami also has several impact players on defense.

Defensive tackle Leonard Taylor and safeties Kamren Kinchens, Avantae Williams and James Williams provide Miami are players who should stand out on defense. The challenge for Steele and Strong will be to get Kinchens and Avantae and James Williams on the field together while putting them in a position to succeed.