Miami football incoming OL transfers and signees among top nationally

Clint Brewster of 247 Sports named the Miami football team as having one of “The top overall position hauls (recruits and transfers) in 2023: Offensive Line.” Miami has significantly improved its offensive line through the transfer portal and 2023 signees. Expect a nearly entirely new starting 2023 Miami OL.

Center Matt Lee from Central Florida has been praised extensively for already becoming a leader on the Miami OL. Guard Javion Cohen stated that the talent Miami has on the OL is close to what he experienced before transferring from Alabama. Cohen and Lee provide Miami with needed experience up front.

Five-star offensive tackles Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola should challenge to be starters in 2023. Miami returns Jalen Rivers who has often been the first-team left tackle during spring practice. Rivers has primarily been a guard during his Miami career who has battled injuries. Zion Nelson has been out with a knee injury.

Miami should have far more depth on the OL in 2023 than during the 2022 season. Mario Cristobal makes the line of scrimmage a priority in recruiting. Alex Mirabal has worked hard in recruiting and development as the OL coach. Staying healthy will also be critical after the OL was decimated by injuries in 2022.

"“Incoming: 5-star recruit Francis Mauigoa (99), 5-star recruit Samson Okunlola (98), 4-star transfer Javion Cohen (94), 4-star transfer Matt Lee (91)Miami needed to bolster its offensive line room and did in a huge way with both transfers and high school signees. Alabama transfer Javion Cohen is the top interior offensive lineman in the transfer portal and picked up valuable experience as a starter for the Crimson Tide.UCF transfer Matt Lee is one of the top center’s (sic) in the transfer portal…He was named second team All-American Athletic conference center in 2022. From the high school ranks, Mauigoa is a 6-foot-6, 330-pound lineman and the second ranked offensive tackle in the 2023 class.He is the nation’s sixth-ranked player overall. Mauigoa has the size and strength to get on the field quickly. The Hurricanes also signed Samson Okunlola from Thayer Academy in Brockton, Massachusetts. Okunlola is a lengthy and athletic offensive tackle with a huge upside on the football field. He’s the No. 20 player (nationally).”"

Mirabal spoke last week about developing the chemistry through weight room workouts, on the Greentree practice fields and how it all starts in the classroom watching film. Although Cohen and Lee are new to the Miami football program, their experience will be critical in developing chemistry on the OL.

Getting Nelson healthy and the return of Rivers this season are also important to the talent and success Speaking about the depth on the OL, Mirabal said Miami expects to have attrition on the OL and it is his job to have players prepared. Mirabal also mentioned that players enter college more prepared in this era.