Has Mario Cristobal overhauled the roster? (OFFENSE)

Miami didn’t sign Mario Cristobal because he was an Xs and Os wizard. He was brought in to build a winner through culture-building and talent acquisition. The jury is still out on the first part. While I think some fans overlook his on-field success at Oregon (73% winning percentage), the reality is he has a 12-13 record in the Orange and Green.

So what's the best hope for that number changing? Roster overhaul. Let’s take a look at how the roster stands in Year 3, as compared to what he inherited on December 6, 2022, starting with the offense:

QUARTERBACK

Then:

Tyler Van Dyke
Jake Garcia
Jacurri Brown (commit)

Now:

Cam Ward
Reese Poffenbarger
Emory Williams
Judd Anderson

I actually thought QB was a strength when Mario took over the roster. Tyler Van Dyke was on fire the last six games of the season, and Jake Garcia had shown flashes in spring and garbage time (11/14, 2 TDs). We know how that turned out.

The difference with this year’s group is that Cam Ward has sustained, star-caliber production over multiple seasons. And the backups have both won games at the college level. Poffenbarger carried Albany to the FCS Playoffs, and Emory (albeit with a way-scaled down gameplan) managed the game well enough against the two best defenses on Miami’s schedule. I’m not sure the QB of the future is on the roster, but that may not matter in the Portal era.

This is a major upgrade.



RUNNING BACK

Then:

Jaylan Knighton
Don Chaney
Thad Franklin
Cody Brown

Now:

Damien Martinez
Mark Fletcher
Chris Johnson
Ajay Allen
Jordan Lyle
Chris Wheatley-Humphrey

Both rooms are stocked with blue-chip South Florida RBs, but the region has been in a slump since James Cook signed with Georgia. Knighton, Chaney and Franklin were disappointing, with various degrees of work ethic questions.

The big difference is the proven production of Damien Martinez. He's already a Top 10 back nationally (39 runs over 10 yards last year as a 220+ pound teenager) and should thrive behind a Miami line that was Top 3 in yards before contact. I also believe Fletcher, when healthy, is the best of the recent South Florida backs. Lyle and Johnson are intriguing talents, and Allen has gone over 5 yards per carry both seasons of his young career.

Major upgrade.



WIDE RECEIVER

Then:

Keyshawn Smith
Xavier Restrepo
Brashard Smith
Jacolby George
Romello Brinson
Mike Redding
Dee Wiggins
Isaiah Horton (commit)
Landon Ibieta (commit)

Now:

Xavier Restrepo
Jacolby George
Sam Brown
Isaiah Horton
JoJo Trader
Ny Carr
Robbie Washington
RayRay Joseph
Mike Redding
Shemar Kirk
Chance Robinson

Some big names appear on both lists, but guys like Restrepo and George are now fully-formed uppperclassmen and top-shelf ACC receivers. Sam Brown is also a proven addition who still has significant athletic upside. The real differentiator may be the signees from the last two classes: can JoJo Trader, Ny Carr, Chance Robinbson, Robby Washington and RayRay Joseph emerge as needle-moving NFL talents?

Still, this is an upgrade.



TIGHT END

Then:

Will Mallory
Kahlil Brantley
Elijah Arroyo
Dominick Mammarelli

Now:

Elijah Arroyo
Riley Williams
Cam McCormick
Elijah Lofton
Jackson Carver

This is the one position where, on paper, you can’t say there has been significant improvement. Will Mallory is an NFL tight end who looks like he’ll be part of the Indianapolis Colts’ future (18 catches as a rookie, 11.5 ypc).

The current group rises and falls with Elijah Arroyo. One prominent observer at practice (who has coached dozens of first round picks) believes Arroyo is the best prospect on the team. But he has to prove he can stay healthy and produce. Riley Williams (who chose Miami over Ohio State and Alabama) and Elija Lofton (the breakout star of spring) add some young upside to the group. I expect we'll look back on this group and say there was a significant talent upgrade, but they need to prove it on the field.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Then:

Jalen Rivers
Jakai Clark
Justise Oluwaseun
Delone Scaife
Jonathan Campbell
Chris Washington
Ryan Rodriguez
Michael McClaughlin
Laurence Seymore
Zion Nelson
Osuman Traore

Now:

Jalen Rivers
Anez Cooper
Francis Mauigoia
Zach Carpenter
Samson Okunlola
Matthew McCoy
Markel Bell
Tommy Kinsler
Ryan Rodriguez
Lou Cristobal
Deryc Plazz
Nino Francavilla
Antonio Tripp
Zion Nelson

On the other hand, this is one position where we can safely say there has been a talent overhaul. There is a staggering difference in size, numbers, talent and production. The unit Mario inherited had too many center bodies. Now, we have a surplus of tackles- a much better situation. Rivers, Cooper and Mauigoa are elite talents and there is more in the pipeline.