Game Day Notes: Miami Hurricanes vs. Texas A&M

MIAMI HURRICANES (1-0, 0-0 ACC)

HEAD COACH: Mario Cristobal (Miami, 1993) | CAREER: 68-67 (12th season) | AT MIAMI: 6-7 (second)

VS.

#23 TEXAS A&M AGGIES (1-0, 0-0 SEC)

HEAD COACH: Jimbo Fisher (Samford, 1989) | CAREER: 123-44 (14th season) | AT TEXAS A&M: 40-21 (sixth)

THE GAME

• The Miami Hurricanes continue their second season under the direction of head coach Mario Cristobal on Sat., Sept. 9 against #23 Texas A&M at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Kickoff for the Hurricanes’ second game of 2023, slated for broadcast on ABC, is set for 3:30 p.m. ET.

• The game will be broadcast on ABC with Joe Tessitore (pxp), Jesse Palmer (color) and Katie George (sideline) on the call. Joe Zagacki (pxp) and Don Bailey, Jr. (color) are in the 560 WQAM radio booth for their 22nd season together. americaradio 1260 AM and WVUM 90.5 FM will also broadcast.

THE SERIES

• The series between the Hurricanes and Aggies is tied, 2-2, in history; Texas A&M came out on top in the 2022 matchup in College Station, Texas, 17-9.

• Texas A&M is making its first trip to Miami to play the Hurricanes since 2007 – a 34-17 win by the Canes at the Orange Bowl. Miami and Texas A&M had a home-and home series in 2007 / 2008; the Hurricanes also captured the return road contest, a 41-23 win over host TAMU in 2008.

THE HURRICANES

• The Miami Hurricanes continue Year 2 of the Mario Cristobal era on Saturday when the Hurricanes host #23 Texas A&M at Hard Rock Stadium.

• Miami opened its season with a resounding 38-3 win over visiting Miami (Ohio) on Fri., Sept. 1. The Hurricanes outgained the RedHawks, 493-215.

• Cristobal, a double alum of the University, was named the 26th head coach in program history by school president Dr. Julio Frenk on Dec. 6, 2021.

• Cristobal returned home after spending the previous four seasons as head coach at Oregon, where he won two Pac-12 titles and captured a Rose Bowl.

• Cristobal is regarded as one of the nation’s top recruiters, and in his first recruiting cycle as Miami head coach, the Hurricanes signed the best class in program history according to the 247Sports Composite; it was the top-ranked class in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the top class in the state.

• The second-year Miami head coach hired Shannon Dawson from the University of Houston as the team’s new offensive coordinator and Lance Guidry from Marshall as the team’s new defensive coordinator entering 2023. In total, there are new faces in seven of 10 assistant coach roles; in addition to Dawson and Guidry, Cristobal hired Derek Nicholson (from Louisville) to coach linebackers, Tim Harris, Jr., (UCF) to coach running backs, Kevin Beard (Toledo) to coach wide receivers and elevated both Jason Taylor (defensive line) and Cody Woodiel (tight ends) from analyst roles.

• QB Tyler Van Dyke enters his second full year as a starter with high expectations after an injury-riddled 2022 season. Van Dyke, named to the watch list for the Johnny Unitas Award, earned ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors as a second-year freshman in 2021.

• After a breakout season where he earned All-America honors, Kam Kinchens was named to the watch list for nearly every major defensive award, including the Bednarik Award, the Nagurski Trophy and the Thorpe Award. He was also named a Preseason All-American by the Associated Press.

• TE Elijah Arroyo (Mackey Award), K Andy Borregales (Lou Groza Award), OL Javion Cohen (Outland Trophy), OL Matt Lee (Rimington Award) and DL Leonard Taylor (Bednarik) were also among those recognized with preseason watch list selections for major awards entering 2023.

• In addition to a talented group of returners and a highly regarded freshman class, the Hurricanes feature a 2023 transfer portal class that ranked among the best nationally; it includes potential starters OL Javion Cohen (Alabama) and Matt Lee (UCF), LB Francisco Mauigoa (Washington State), DB Davonte Brown (UCF), RB Ajay Allen (Nebraska), DB Jadais Richard (Vanderbilt) and DB Jaden Davis (Oklahoma), among others.

MIAMI HOSTS #23 AGGIES SEPT. 9

• The Miami Hurricanes continue their second season under Mario Cristobal on Saturday, Sept. 9 against Texas A&M. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ABC.

• The Aggies’ visit to Hard Rock Stadium is only the second ever by an SEC team to play the Hurricanes in the venue and the first since the Florida Gators’ visit in 2013.

• In the last Thursday night game ever at the Orange Bowl, the Hurricanes upset No. 20 Texas A&M, 34-17 on September 21, 2007 – A&M’s last visit to play the Hurricanes.

• Texas A&M won the front end of the home-and-home in 2022, 17-9, in College Station on Sept. 17 in front of 107,245.

KINCHENS ONE TO WATCH

• One of the nation’s top returning defensive backs resides in Coral Gables, as QB Kam Kinchens prepares for his second full season as a starter in 2023.

• An NCAA All-American after a breakout 2022 campaign, Kinchens finished with six interceptions and led the Hurricanes in tackles with 59 a season ago. He was named to the All-ACC First Team.

• Kinchens, one of the team’s most vocal leaders, was selected to the watch list for several major awards in the preseason, including the Bednarik Award, the Thorpe Award and the Wuerffel Trophy. He was also an AP Preseason All-American.

1983 NATIONAL CHAMPS TO BE HONORED

• 65 members of the Miami Hurricanes’ 1983 national championship team – including coaches, staff and student-athletes – will be recognized as part of Saturday’s festivities.

• Those members of the team in attendance will run “through the smoke” at halftime for a ceremony at the 50-yard line.

• Iconic head coach Howard Schnellenberger, who passed away in 2021, will be represented by his wife, Beverlee. Players in attendance are slated to include Alonzo Highsmith and Bernie Kosar, as well as several assistant coaches.

• The 1983 Miami Hurricanes knocked off Nebraska in the 1984 Orange Bowl 31-30, to win the program’s first national championship.

HURRICANES CONTINUE YEAR 2 UNDER CRISTOBAL WITH #23 A&M

• Miami continues its second season under the direction of head coach Mario Cristobal on Sat., Sept. 9 against #23 Texas A&M. Kickoff for the matchup is slated for 3:30 p.m. national broadcast on ABC.

• Cristobal was named the 26th head coach in the history of the program on December 6, 2021 after spending the previous four years at the helm of the Oregon Ducks. Cristobal is a two-time UM alum.

• Joining Cristobal on the sidelines are seven new faces in full-time assistant coach roles, including both coordinator roles – offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson from the University of Houston and defensive coordinator Lance Guidry from Marshall are both in their first seasons with the Hurricanes.

• The Hurricanes are matching up with the Aggies for the fifth time in history; the series is tied, 2-2, all-time. UM fell in last year’s matchup in College Station, 17-9, but won in A&M’s last visit in 2007.

• Miami’s game vs. the Aggies is also slated for broadcast on 560 WQAM and americaradio 1260 AM.

A LOOK BACK: MIAMI TROUNCES REDHAWKS, 38-3, IN SEASON OPENER

• The Hurricanes delivered a strong season debut on Sept. 1, toppling the visiting RedHawks of Miami University, 38-3. Miami piled up 493 yards in a well-balanced offensive attack, and held MU to just 215.

• Behind a dominant offensive line, the Canes finished with 243 passing yards and 250 rushing yards.

• Miami was one of only 16 teams in FBS to rush for 250 yards or more in their season opener last week.

• The Hurricanes had four running backs with at least eight carries, with RB Henry Parrish, Jr., leading the way at 90 rushing yards and one score. RB Mark Fletcher added 76 yards and one TD in his debut.

• QB Tyler Van Dyke finished with 201 passing yards and one touchdown, while WR Jacolby George had a career-best six catches for 56 yards. WR Colbie Young had 79 yards and a 44-yard touchdown.

• LB Francisco Mauigoa led Miami with five tackles, while DL Jahfari Harvey and LB Wesley Bissainthe each had a sack. The RedHawks averaged 2.0 yards per rush, totaling 51 rushing yards on 25 carries.

NEW FACES ABOUND IN 2023, BOTH ON THE FIELD AND ON SIDELINES

• Among the many storylines of the offseason was the revamping of the Hurricanes roster entering Year 2 under Mario Cristobal – both on the sideline with assistant coaches and on the field with players.

• Cristobal’s first full recruiting class was the best-ranked class in program history according to the 247Sports Composite; UM’s class was the top-rated group in both the ACC and in the state of Florida.

• The Hurricanes also brought in several transfers who started in Miami’s season opener; OL Javion Cohen (Alabama), OL Matt Lee (UCF) and LB Francisco Mauigoa (Wazzu) are included in the group.

• In total, the Hurricanes have 40 scholarship players who were not on the team in 2022, including a recruiting class featuring 24 true freshmen, headlined by five-star offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa.

• The Hurricanes new look coaching staff includes seven faces who were not on the full-time staff as assistants a season ago; offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, defensive coordinator Lance Guidry, wide receivers coach Kevin Beard, running backs coach Tim Harris, Jr., defensive line coach Jason Taylor, linebackers coach Derek Nicholson and tight ends coach Cody Woodiel. Taylor and Woodiel spent the 2022 season as analysts on the Hurricanes staff, while both Beard and Harris are UM alumni.

HOME SWEET HOME OPENERS: UM CONTINUES RUN OF SUCCESS AT HRS

• The Miami Hurricanes opened their 16th season at world-class Hard Rock Stadium on Sept. 1 vs. Miami-Ohio with a 38-3 win; UM holds a 16-0 all-time mark in home openers at the stadium, having outscored opponents 727-122 for an average margin of victory of 37.8 points in those 16 games.

• The Hurricanes have not lost a home opener since 2006, when they fell to Florida State 13-10 at the Orange Bowl on Sept. 4, 2006. Miami has won 17 straight home openers since – each one since 2007.

• Since joining the ACC prior to the 2004 season, Miami has played a conference opponent in only three of its 20 home openers: Florida State twice (in 2004 and 2006) and Georgia Tech once (2009).

• In the modern era of Miami Hurricanes football (since 1979), UM has opened the season at home 19 times and is 17-2 in those games. The Hurricanes are 33-12 in regular season openers dating to 1979

TYLER VAN DYKE LOOKING FOR REBOUND SEASON ENTERING 2023

• QB Tyler Van Dyke is looking to a return to form in 2023 after putting together an ACC Rookie of the Year campaign at Miami in 2021. Van Dyke’s 2022 season was marred by injury, forcing him to miss significant action during the second half of the year while battling thourgh a right shoulder injury.

• Van Dyke became the third Miami Hurricane to win ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors when he did so in 2021, joining QB Brad Kaaya (2014) and RB Duke Johnson (2012).

• Van Dyke has throw multiple interceptions in a game just three times in his 19 career starts at The U.

• Van Dyke took over starting duties three games into the season in 2021 and ended the year with 2,931 yards, 25 passing touchdowns and just six interceptions. He completed 62.3 percent of passes in 2021.

• Thanks largely due to talent acquisition via the transfer portal and recruiting, Van Dyke will be the benefit of a new look offensive line that could include three starters who were not with the Hurricanes a season ago; left guard Javion Cohen (Alabama), center Matt Lee (UCF) and freshman right tackle Francis Mauigoa, who was the top-ranked offensive tackle in the high school class of 2023.

MIAMI PLACES THREE ON PRESEASON ALL-ACC FOOTBALL TEAM

• Among Miami’s preseason honorees were DB Kam Kinchens, OL Javion Cohen and K Andy Borregales, who were all selected to the All-ACC Preseason Team in a poll of conference media.

• Kinchens enjoyed a breakout 2022, where he was selected to the All-ACC First Team and earned All-America honors from multiple outlets. Kinchens led the Hurricanes with 59 total tackles, starting all 12 games and totaled six interceptions. He is a candidate for multiple major awards.

• During his time with the Crimson Tide, Cohen started 24 games and earned 2022 All-SEC secondteam honors. Cohen started 14 games as a sophomore in 2021 and spent 10 games as a starter on 2022. Cohen was ranked as one of the top players in the transfer portal before arriving in Miami.

• Cohen was named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy honoring the nation’s top lineman.

• A semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2022, Borregales delivered another strong campaign for his his hometown Hurricanes a season ago. The junior kicker converted on all 32 extra point attempts and went 17 for 20 on field goals, including a season-long 49-yard boot against FSU.

• Borregales’ older brother, Jose, is the lone Groza Award winner in UM history, winning it in 2020.

BROTHERLY LOVE IN CORAL GABLES, SEVERAL WITH FAMILY TIES

• The Miami Hurricanes will feature a number of family ties on the sideline this fall across the roster.

• Newcomer OL Francis Mauigoa and older brother LB Francisco Mauigoa will feature prominently for Miami this season. Another set of newcomers could line up on the same side of the ball, in freshman DB Damari Brown and junior DB Davonte Brown. The elder Mauigoa arrived from Washington State via the transfer portal, as did the elder Brown, who came to Miami from UCF.

• Two sets of twins populate the freshmen ranks, as well; Miami natives WR Robby Washington and LB Bobby Washington, Jr., as well as QB Riply Luna and WR Kolby Luna, who are from Idaho.

• The older brother of freshman DL Rueben Bain, Jr., one of the top-ranked freshman defensive lineman, is offensive graduate assistant Reggie Bain. In addition, the nephew of head coach Mario Cristobal – Luis Cristobal, Jr. – transferred to Miami from Georgia State prior to the season.

DAWSON BRINGS ‘AIR RAID’ OFFENSE TO CORAL GABLES IN YEAR 1

• Shannon Dawson, who was named offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach at Miami in February 2023, spent the past four seasons at the University of Houston (2019-2022).

• In Dawson’s three seasons as quarterbacks coach with the Cougars (2020-22), Houston quarterbacks combined to throw 87 touchdown passes (13th nationally) behind a 65.3 completion percentage (19th) and 10,008 passing yards (21st). Dawson tutored signal caller Clayton Tune to a record-setting career. In 2022, Tune set the American Athletic Conference single-season touchdown passes record (40). The first-team all-conference honoree ranked third nationally in passing touchdowns, third in total offense (355.2) and fifth in passing yards per game (313.4).

• Dawson’s Cougars ranked eighth nationally in passing offense (314.0) in 2022. Houston wide receiver Nathaniel Dell led the nation in receiving touchdowns (17) and receiving yards (1,398) while Matthew Golden set a Houston true freshman record with seven receiving touchdowns.

• Other impressive numbers: Houston ranked 15th nationally in scoring offense (35.6), 22nd in first downs offense (314), 23rd in passing offense (271.6) and 25th in red zone offense (.891).

• Dawson linked up with former Kentucky coach Hal Mumme, considered a godfather of air raid, in 2003-04 to help revive a program at Southeastern Louisiana that had been dormant for 17 years.

GUIDRY’S DEFENSE WAS DOMINANT AND MULTIPLE AT MARSHALL

• Lance Guidry, who was named defensive coordinator at Miami in February 2023, spent the previous two seasons as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Marshall University.

• Marshall’s defense ranked in the top five nationally in FBS in several key statistics, including third down defense (first), stop rate (second), pass efficiency defense (third), defensive efficiency (third), yards per play (third), turnovers gained (fifth) and rushing defense (fifth).

• In a dominant 2022 campaign at Marshall, the Thundering Herd also finished the season ranked sixth in scoring defense (16.0) and passes intercepted (18), eighth in total defense (294.5), ninth in first down defense (200), 12th in defensive touchdowns (3), 16th in team sacks (2.92), 19th in red zone defense (76.7) and 22nd tackles for loss (6.9) and fumbles recovered (11).

• Guidry has said his first game as an assistant coach at the collegiate level was as defensive backs coach at his alma mater, McNeese State, against the Miami Hurricanes in 2000 at the Orange Bowl.

REVAMPED OFFENSIVE LINE PLAYING A BIG FACTOR IN OFFENSIVE SUCCESS

• Three of the Miami Hurricanes’ starters on the offensive line were not on the roster a season ago, as Miami went to work to upgrade the trenches under the direction of offensive line coach Alex Mirabal in Year 2.

• According to the ESPN300 rankings, Miami added both the top-ranked offensive tackle (Francis Mauigoa) and the top-ranked offensive guard (Samson Okunlola) in 2023. Both were five-star high-school prospects.

• In addition to Mauigoa and Okunlola, the Hurricanes signed three other freshman offensive linemen – Tommy Kinsler IV, Frankie Tinilau and Antonio Tripp, Jr. The fivesome rank among the best freshman groups in FBS.

• In addition to Mauigoa, who could start at right tackle, Miami added two other players through the transfer portal that have already made their presence felt; Javion Cohen is a projected starter at left guard after a standout career at Alabama, while Matt Lee is the team’s projected starter at center after finishing at UCF.

• Lee was named to the watch list for the Rimington Trophy, honoring the nation’s best center, while Cohen was named Preseason All-ACC and a candidate for the Outland Trophy, which recognizes the nation’s top lineman.

TAYLOR III, MESIDOR LOOKING TO ANCHOR DISRUPTIVE DEFENSIVE LINE

• If the Hurricanes are looking to cause havoc under defensive coordinator Lance Guidry, two defensive linemen that will play an important role are Leonard Taylor III and Akheem Mesidor, who ranked among the most disruptive defensive linemen in the ACC a season ago. Both project as starters for Miami entering 2023.

• Mesidor, who transferred to Miami after two seasons at West Virginia, has 25 career tackles for loss in three seasons in college to go along with 16.5 sacks. Mesidor was an All-ACC Honorable Mention pick a year ago after he finished with a team high-tying 10.5 tackles for loss, a team-best seven sacks and 38 total tackles.

• Taylor III had a similarly productive year for the Hurricanes en route to 2022 All-ACC Honorable Mention honors; Taylor, a third-year player, tied Mesidor with 10.5 tackles for loss. He added three sacks and totaled 24 tackles.

• Miami will also benefit from strong edge play from second-year defensive end Nyjalik Kelly (4.5 sacks in 2022).

• DL Jahfari Harvey recorded his first sack of the season on Friday night against the Miami RedHawks.

KINCHENS, WILLIAMS MAKE UP ONE OF THE TOP SAFETY PAIRINGS IN FBS

• Two of Miami’s closest teammates on and off the field are two of its best players in safety pairing Kam Kinchens and James Williams. The two third-year players make up one of the most highly regarded safety duos in FBS.

• Kinchens, an All-American a season ago, was named to the All-ACC First Team in 2022 after finishing with 59 total tackles and a team-high six interceptions. He was one of three players to represent UM at ACC Media Day.

• Another impactful player in his own right, the 6-foot-5 Williams made 10 starts and ranked second on the team with 58 tackles a season ago. Both players are South Florida natives who grew up rooting for the Hurricanes.

MIAMI’S SIGNING CLASS, RANKED AS THE BEST IN HISTORY, MAKES ITS DEBUT

• Miami’s 2023 recruiting class included 15 players ranked in the ESPN 300, including one of the top five, two in the top 20 and six in the top 100. The Hurricanes signed two players who were considered consensus “five-star” players by every recruiting service – Miami had three five-star signees in the last eight classes combined

• 15 players in the class made their debut, headlined by Francis Mauigoa, who started at right tackle in his debut.

• Mauigoa (#7) and Samson Okunlola (#18) represent two of the top 20 players that Miami has ever signed since 247Sports began their rankings in the year 2000. The Hurricanes signed five players who earned All-American Bowl invitations and five players who earned Under-Armour All-America Bowl invitations

• 15 of Miami’s freshmen joined the program for the spring and competed in spring practice as “early enrollees.”