Biggest spring question for each Miami football offensive position

The Miami Football program enters spring practice with huge turnovers on its roster and staff. Miami will look very different in scheme under new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. Miami has added key transfers on the offensive line through the transfer portal and in their 2023 freshmen class.

Each position offensively has different questions entering 2023 spring practice. Miami begins spring practice on Saturday. The Hurricanes will almost definitely add a handful of transfers when the second window opens in April. Miami has questions at every position as they begin spring practice on Saturday.

How well will Tyler Van Dyke grasp the new offense?

Tyler Van Dyke returns in 2023 as the starting quarterback after playing in eight games in 2022. Miami needs Van Dyke healthy and productive in 2023. A shoulder injury and poor fit to the previous offensive scheme limited Van Dyke in 2022. The modified air raid Dawson will run should cater better to Van Dyke’s strengths.

Will Miami have enough running backs during spring football?

Henry Parrish returns for the Miami football program as the starting running back. The question will be who will get reps behind him this spring. Don Chaney Jr. and Tre’Vonte Citizen are returning from injuries and their availablity is not known this spring. Mark Fletcher and Chris Johnson are 2023 signees who are not early enrollees.

Parrish will clearly receive the vast majority of the reps during spring. Expect several walkons to work in behind Parrish this spring. August training camp will have a very different looking backfield than spring. Improving the running game will be a priority for Miami during spring football.

Can Miami develop a playmaking WR?

Kevin Beard returns to Miami where he was a starting wide receiver on the 2001 national championship team and was a coach in 2015. Beard and new RB coach Tim Harris Jr. have big tasks to find play makers. A healthy season from Xavier Restrepo should help the Miami passing game in 2023.

Restrepo is a clutch player in the slot, but the Hurricanes have to develop an outside wide receiver who can catch contested passes or add one through the transfer portal. Mario Cristobal stated at his early national signing day press conerence that signing defensive tackles and outside WRs were the 2023 transfer priority.

Miami has added two DTs but none of the incoming transfers for the Hurricanes are WRs. The Hurricanes did not have enough production at WR in 2022. Graduated tight end Will Mallory led Miami in receptions in 2022. Colbie Young and Restrepo will be the receivers to watch for Miami this spring.

How much will tight ends be used in the new offense?

The Dawson offense is touted as an evolved version of the air raid. Miami has talented TEs Elijah Arroyo and Jaleel Skinner plus 2023 four-star signee Riley Williams. Under Dawson at Houston last season TE Christian Trahan had 23 receptions for 237 yards and three touchdowns. TE is a position to watch this spring.

How much of an impact will five-star 2023 signees Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola make for Miami on the offensive line. Mauigoa and Okunlola are the two highest rated 2023 Miami signees. Many projections have Mauigoa and Okunlola challenging to become starters in 2023. Can the earn first team this spring?

Summarizing Miami offense entering spring practice

By any measurement the Miami football team was anemic offensively in 2022. Dawson brings a more modern offense to Miami in 2023. Can Dawson transfer his success with a Group of Five program in the ACC? In order for Miami to be successful this fall, Dawson needs his scheme and players to develop.