Miami football could be leading for Alabama transfer OL Javion Cohen
Brad Crawford of 247 Sports summarized a monologue by his colleague Josh Pate that there is “smoke around Miami” for Alabama transfer offensive lineman Javion Cohen. Cohen is the 11th-ranked transfer overall and second-best OL in the portal per the 247 Sports rankings. Cohen would be a big add for the Miami football team.
Cohen has 25 career starts per the Alabama website. In 2021, Cohen started all of the 14 games he played in at left guard. Per the Alabama website Cohen had 10 2022 starts and was a reserve in two more. In 554 snaps, Cohen had 17 knockdown blocks, 1.5 sacks allowed, four pressures, four QB hits and penalized only three times.
Miami only loses OL D.J. Scaife from their 2022 roster. At 6’4, 305 pounds, Cohen has the potential to play tackle. Cohen primarily played on the interior of the OL at Alabama. Miami was depleted by injuries on the OL in 2022. In 2020 Cohen was named to the SEC All-freshman team on the national championship Crimson Tide.
Cohen announnced he was transfering on December 4, a day before players could officially enter the transfer portal. Cohen has two years of eligiblity remaining. As a four-star signee with Alabama in 2020, Cohen was the 333rd ranked player, 25th offensive tackle and 16th in Alabama in the 247 Sports composite rankings.
"“He’s played at ‘Bama a couple of years…There’s some smoke around Miami right now. That’s the program I’ve heard most often. Sometimes with these portal guys, you never know until they pull the trigger and sometimes it’s out of left field. It’s much harder to get intel on portal moves than it is traditional recruiting…He’s 6-4, 305, and he’s the No. 10 overall player in the portal and he’s got two years of eligibility left. I can speak glowingly of this guy without having to tell you things like he had zero sacks in his career at Alabama. I know that stat’s flying around. That’s not an accurate stat. Let me just leave it there."
Crawford summarized the comments from Pate. The media outlets who reported that Cohen did not allow a sack in 2022 contrast with the official stats from the Alabama website. The fact there is smoke around the Miami football porogram is a good sign, but the compeititon will be fierce to sign an experienced Power Five OL.
Miami sets visits with high profile transfer defensive linemen. dark. Next
Cohen is expected to visit Miami this week per multiple reports. After being decimated by injuries on the OL in 2022, the Miami football team needs far more experience upfront in 2023. Expect head coach Mario Cristobal who is a former Alabama OL coach and Miami OL coach Alex Mirabal to be busy scouting potential OL transfers.