The Miami football team will host Miami (Ohio) in their season opener on Friday night. Pro Football Focus named five Miami football players to its Preseason All-Mid American Conference team. Quarterback Brett Gabbert was named second-team All-MAC and four players earned PFF third-team All-MAC.
Tight Jack Coldiron, edge rusher Corey Suttle, defensive flex position player Michael Dowell and kicker Graham Nicholson were all named third-team All-MAC by PFF. Gabbert was named the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2019 and earned Third Team All-MAC in 2021. Gabbert only played in four games in 2022.
Gabbert has completed 58.8 percent of his career pass attempts for 6,259 yards, 45 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with 336 rushing yards and another five TDs. Similar to Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke, Gabbert hopes to have a redemptive season in 2023 after struggling with injuries during the 2022 season.
Coldiron has become a key contributor for Miami (Ohio) in the last two seasons after not playing much in his first two years with the Redhawks. Coldiron has combined for 40 receptions for 579 yards and two TDs in the last two seasons. Despite only five career starts, Coldiron projects as the starting TE for Miami in 2023.
The real Miami is in Ohio says Brett Gabbert.
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) August 28, 2023
And he’s gonna prove it Week 1. pic.twitter.com/EAneaEUrXU
Suttle transferred to Miami (Ohio) from Iowa State during the 2022 offseason. Suttle had 31 tackles, six tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception, two passes defended and one forced fumble in 2022. Miami (Ohio) is projected to have one of the best defensive lines in the MAC in 2022 led by Suttle.
Dowell is a defensive back who transferred to Miami (Ohio) from Michigan State during the 2022 offseason. Dowell has 179 career tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 11 passes defended, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and a TD. In his first season for Miami (Ohio) in 2022, Dowell had 97 97 tackles, 5.0 TFLs, two sacks and six PBUs.
Dowell is listed as a nickelback on the Miami (Ohio) roster. Miami will have to account for Dowell who was one of the best playmakers for Miami (Ohio) in 2022. Dowell is the second-leading returning tackle for Miami (Ohio). Linebacker Matt Salopek is the leading returning tackler for Miami (Ohio) with 124 in 2022.
Nicholson has made 33 of his 43 career field goals. Entering his junior season, Nicholson has made 11 of his 12 attempts under 30 yards, 10 of 13 from 30 to 39 yards, 12 of 16 from 40 to 49 yards and missed both from 50 plus. Nicholson has struggled occasionally making only 62 of his 67 extra point attempts.