CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The biggest question mark, but the least amount of concern from the Miami Hurricanes, has been its offensive line entering this season.
Moreover, the group has been bonding and gelling together as most do during Fall Camp, but this team has seen some of the best out of the defensive line this season.
It has strengthened a bond between the players, and now they are starting to see that progress on and off the field.
“We always hang out with each other,” Matthew McCoy said. “We watch film together, so it’s always a bond, every day. It’s not like we get done with practice, we go home, and we wake up the next day. It’s just always like we’re always together. We’re watching film together. We’re communicating with each other.
“So, we’re really close as a whole line. And of course, before camp, we always hung out together. … Even though we have young guys that haven’t been here as long as me, Ryan and Samson [Okunlola], it’s like we’ve been together for years. It’s a great group of guys.”
Furthermore, ahead of their Sept. 4 matchup against Stanford, the offensive line has some new star talent growing and performing.
Nixa High School offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 ranked high school football recruit for the class of 2026, announced he will play football at Miami during a ceremony on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
“[They] are continuing to grow,” Veteran offensive lineman Ryan Rodriguez said about the two projected starting freshmen. “[Ben Congdon] and Jackson [Cantwell] are continuing to grow. They’re learning our system.
“They’re learning how we do things, our standard, and they’re just falling right into place. They’re always excited to learn. They’re eager to learn. They’re great students of the game and I’m excited to see them develop.”
Defensively, star players love the challenge that is being brought to them from the o-line. It has helped them grow while also seeing what the Canes can be on the other side of the ball.
“We’ve got a little competition going on right now, and [those] guys are very physical,” linebacker Chase Smith said. “We’ve definitely been forcing each other to get better each and every day. And iron sharpens iron, man. Our o-linemen, they’re playing physical; they’re playing fast and that’s exactly what we need on the defense to make us extremely better as well.”
Miami’s battles with each other have become legendary and have prepared the team for many successful games and clashes. The offensive line still has some veterans on the roster who are leading the charge.
Miami has shifted into an NFL offensive line pipeline, and with some new faces and opportunities, the group will be one of the best in the country by the end of the season.
Follow all social media platforms to stay up to date with everything Miami Hurricanes-related: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and BlueSky.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow