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Pro Football Focus ranks Rueben Bain as 6th best-returning edge rusher

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If Akheem Mesidor can return to his form from 2022 and stay healthy the entire season, Miami has a chance to be the best pass rush in college football.

Mesidor was often doubled during the 2022 season, and Bain started to see double-teams toward the end of the season.

People may have forgotten that Mesidor was an All-ACC honorable mention in 2022 and defensive player of the week for his 3.5-sack performance against Virginia Tech.

With both on the field, two players will have one-on-one matchups. Blitzes and stunts can confuse opposing offensive lines.

For this line to advance to the next level, it needs big jumps in production from budding stars Nyjalik Kelly and Jayden Wayne. Kelly is returning from injury, and Jayden Wayne is positioned to step up in year two. Elijah Alston is a vital addition to this line and should contribute early and often.

In the middle, I expect veteran Jared Harrison-Hunte to get plenty of reps at D-Tackle. Fans hope transfers C.J. Clark, Marley Cook, and Ahmad Moten will be the answer going into year three of the program.

Add the addition of the best defensive line class of 2024, and this could be the most vaunted pass rush in the CFB.

The backup QB Role may be a tight race


The clear-cut favorite quarterback that Miami will trot out is Cam Ward for game one versus Florida, but if Ward goes down, many assume it will be Reese Poffenbarger.

I'm not totally convinced of that notion.

Poffenbarger put up big numbers against FCS competition (3,603 yards passing, 36 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions last season), but the FBS and Power Five levels will be a different story.

What's concerning is his completion percentage. At Morgan State, he completed 11-of-25 (44%); at Hawaii, he completed 10-31 (32.3%); and in a home game against Richmond, he completed 12-of-23 (52.2%) of his passes.

Many players have made the jump form FCS to FBS and had success. Last season, two players had much success- Jared Verse - Albany to Florida State, DJ Coleman - Jacksonville State to Missouri, and Cam Ward - Incarnate Word to Washington State.

Ward did have one game under 55 percent completion, 13-30 (43.3%) against Nicholls State, but Ward threw for more yards 4,648, more touchdowns (47) and less interceptions (10) in his final year in FCS.

Jacurri Brown finished one game under a 55 completion percentage - 46.2% in a 40-10 road loss to Clemson, his second start of his career. Emory Williams's only game under a 70 percent completion percentage was 34.8 percent against FSU last year.

From a sheer size and athleticism perspective, Brown has the edge over Poffenbarger. Brown is 6-4, 220 pounds while Poffenbarger is 6-0, 208, and Williams is similar to Brown in size 6-5, 220 but not nearly close in athletism. Brown is widely known as one of the fastest players on the team.

We are hearing that Jacurri Brown is making progress and is certainly pushing both Poffenbarger and Emory Williams for QB2.

Who do you think should be the backup quarterback?

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Nick Saban comments on the state of College Football on Capitol Hill


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Seems like a salty Saban that couldn't keep with the times here.

All of a sudden student-athletes are legally getting a piece of the pie and Saban wants out?

Thoughts?

Notable Quotes from Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal on local radio

Head Coach Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal were guests on local radio 560 on the Joe Rose Show before spring practice No. 3.

Here were some of the most notable comments:


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Cristobal also said:

- quarterbacks are embracing competition and that they are pushing each other
- there's been an emphasis on adding guys that look like Jason Taylor
- it's time for safety Jaden Harris' to start earning a bigger role
- Safety transfers Powell and Riley have learned the system quickly
- Bringing back the coordinators in huge for the continuity
- Ward is accurate, a leader and gets the ball out quick
- Wide receiver Trader is a natural talent, but needs to develop his body
- Tight end Arroyo looks like Elijah Arroyo again
- Tight end Riley Williams is up to 260 pounds, has taken another step
- Armondo Blount has a minor shoulder injury


Alex Mirabal also said:

- he looks for offensive linemen with long arms
- Rivers will be the starting left tackle unless someone beats him out
- Anez Cooper needs to be credited for the development of Francis Mauigoa
- Ward took to O-Linemen to Fogo de Chao for dinner

Women's Basketball needs a strong showing in ACC Tournament to make NCAA Tournament

Miami is on the bubble going into the ACC Tournament, which starts Thursday.

According to ESPN's Women's Bubble Watch: March Madness Bracket Predictions Miami needs to win its first game against North Carolina and its second game to leave no doubt of its NCAA Tournament hopes.

Last weekend, Miami beat Pitt but dropped a heartbreaker against Georgia Tech at home. The Hurricanes' SOR dropped five spots to 71, and their BPI dipped out of the top 50. In Charlie Creme's latest Bracketology, they slid from a 9-seed to a 10-seed and are on the verge of dropping into the Last Four Byes.

Miami, a No. 9 seed in the ACC tournament, opens against UNC, and BPI gives the Hurricanes just a 33% chance to win. If they have a disappointing showing and lose in their final opportunity to impress the committee, do they have enough on their résumé to survive a few upsets in the mid-major tournaments? BPI gives the Hurricanes a 6% chance to win two games in the ACC tournament, but a run like that would likely solidify Miami's NCAA tournament bid.
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