Miami Hurricanes assistant head coach Alex Mirabal speaks to reporters after football practice at the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility in Coral Gables…
On Tuesday, the local media was given access to the fast-talking viewpoint of one of the nicest, most enthusiastic, and well-respected college football assistants regarding the University of Miami’s bodyguards for its new quarterback, Cam Ward. O-line coach Alex Mirabal, who is also probably the smallest O-line coach at 5-4, stated that players are cross-training to be proficient at all five positions, as has been the case at Miami for years, even though the team had an unusual 2023 season in which the same five starters started all 12 games. The only position coach, Mirabal, arrived in Miami with head coach Mario Cristobal from Oregon. He stated that the Canes can currently “trust to play in a game against another opponent” with “maybe eight or nine” of his linemen.
“It’s not because they’re lucky, it’s because they’re tough. Trust me, all five of those guys at some point of the season were injured, were hurt, were beat up,” Mirabal said of his veterans from the previous campaign, which included left tackle Jalen Rivers, right guard Anez Cooper, and rookie All-American right tackle Francis Mauigoa.” Ambidextrous Indiana transfer Zach Carpenter will take the place of former center Matt Lee, and left guard Javion Cohen will be temporarily replaced by a rotating cast that includes Cristobal’s nephew Lou Cristobal, former five-star freshman Samson Okunlola, who is now a redshirt freshman recovering from a meniscus knee injury; Matthew McCoy, who is playing right tackle while sophomore Mauigoa recovers from double-shoulder surgery; and Cristobal’s nephew Samson Okunlola.
Who is taking the lead? 6-4, 338-pound junior Cooper and 6-5, 330-pound fifth-year redshirt junior Rivers, according to Mirabal. Mirabal commended Cooper for “his transformation” from the three years ago when he arrived on university with his hair falling over his eyes. He was uneasy while addressing groups of people, but he is now “a leader.” “He used to weigh about 400 pounds, but now he just weighs 338 pounds. Other guys get to grow because of his assurance, his leadership, and the fact that Javo and Matt are progressing to new heights. It might be challenging to grow in the shade at times. The sun appears after the bush is removed, allowing other men to grow.
