Miami football: 2024 freshmen offensive lineman expectations
The Miami football program signed an elite offensive line in the 2023 class led by five-star tackles Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola. Four-star interior OL Antonio Tripp and three-star tackles Tommy Kinsler and Frankie Tinilau also signed with Miami in the 2023 class. Mauigoa is projected as the starting right tackle.
Mauigoa has made an instant impact since he began earning snaps with the first-team offense in the second practice this spring. Multiple media outlets, teammates and the Miami football coaching staff have praised Mauigoa. Mauigoa was named a Preseason Freshman All-American and ACC Impact Freshman by 247 Sports.
Okunlola projects as a backup on the OL who will be in the rotation in 2023. Mauigoa was the sixth-ranked prospect, second OT and second in Florida in the 2024 Class. Okunlola was 20th overall, the fourth OT and the top signee out of Massachusetts in 2023. Mauigoa and Okunlola upgrade the talent and depth of the Miami OL.
Tripp played at IMG Academy with Mauigoa and Miami freshmen, edge rusher Jayden Wayne and tight end Riley Williams. Tripp was the 709th-ranked player, 60th IOL and 111th in the 247 Sports Composite rankings. The composite has Tripp as a three-star prospect. Tripp sat out in the first Miami scrimmage last Saturday.
Tripp is not currently listed on the unofficial three deep depth chart. Anez Cooper, Jonathan Denis and Logan Sagapolu are experienced interior offensive lineman who project ahead of Tripp on the depth chart. Denis played in five games in 2022 with two starts. Sagapolu played in five games with one start.
Cooper played in 10 games with four starts in 2022. At the least Cooper projects as a major part of the OL rotation for Miami in 2023 with the potential to start. At 6β6 and 340 pounds, Kinsler is the second biggest Miami player to Cooper. The Miami coaches are high on Kinsler, but with experience in front of him expect a redshirt.
At 6β6 and 325 pounds, Miami OL coach Alex Mirabal loves the upside for Tinilau. Tinilau has only been playing football since he was 14. Growing up in Australia, Tinilau was a rugby player. Tinilau played left tackle at Miami La Salle in his senior year of high school. Timilau will almost definitely redshirt in 2023.