Head Coach Mario Cristobal, linebacker Francisco Mauigoa, left tackle Jalen Rivers and quarterback Cam Ward, QB will represent the Miami football program at ACC Kickoff on July 24 in Charlotte. Mauigoa and Rivers are coming off All-ACC second-team seasons. Ward could be the first-team preseason All-ACC QB.
The times have not been announced yet for ACC Kickoff. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Florida State, Georgia Tech and SMU will meet the media on July 22. California, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Virginia and Virginia Tech are up on July 23. Boston College, Duke, Louisville, Miami and Wake Forest are on July 24.
Clemson, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Syracuse finish up ACC Kickoff Days on July 25. Following ACC Kickoff days, the media will release the predicted order of finish, conference player of the year and all-conference teams in early August. Miami had three players picked preseason All-ACC in 2023.
Mauigoa led the ACC with 18.0 tackles for loss, tied for fifth with 7.5 sacks, was 16th with 82 tackles and had 2.0 forced fumbles, four pass breakups and an interception in his first season with Miami in 2023 after transferring from Washington State. Mauigoa and Ward were teammates at Washington State in 2022.
See ya in the Queen City next week 🫡
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) July 15, 2024
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Ward led all returning passers in college football in 2021 averaging 311.3 passing yards per game in 2023 and had 25 touchdowns seven interceptions and eight rushing scores in 2023 for Washington State. Ward will throw to Xavier Restrepo who led all returning WRs in the ACC with 85 receptions and 1,092 yards.
Rivers has played 32 games with 25 starts in four seasons at Miami. Rivers is entering his fifth season after receiving extra seasons for Covid in 2020 and a redshirt year due to playing in three games in 2021 because of an injury before being shut down.
Rivers is one of three returning starters on the Miami offensive line with right guard Anez Cooper and right tackle Francis Mauigoa. Indiana transfer Zach Carpenter will start for Miami at center in 2024 with left guard to be decided during training camp. Francisco Mauigoa, Rivers and Ward will be Miami team leaders in 2024.