RG transfer Sagapolu: Ready to turn strength into football skills and be a people mover for Gattis offense

The Miami Hurricanes want a strong, powerful offensive line. And one of the strongest physical linemen on the roster? That’s Oregon transfer right guard Logan Sagapolu. It was Sagapolu along with Justice Oluwaseun that broke the school record in the squat this offseason by each hoisting an amazing 700 pounds.

“(The weight room is) where you’re supposed to just be angry and let everything all out,” Sagapolu says. “But at the same time we have to enjoy it. I love working out with these guys. Just the energy they bring, all the hype. It’s awesome.”

Players and strength coach Aaron Feld celebrated around Sagapolu after he did 700 pounds, a byproduct of starting to work out with his power lifting father back in seventh grade.

“But I never really took it seriously until my sophomore year of high school,” Sagapolu said. “That’s when I got passionate about it, really had fun with it.”

A 6-2, 340-pound lineman from Lehi, Utah, Sagapolu is a former 3-star recruit. He’s now a third-year redshirt freshman and was a backup for two years under Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal at Oregon. But the coaches thought highly enough of Sagapolu that they gave him the opportunity to transfer to Miami.

As for why he wanted to come to UM, Sagapolu said, “Just the relationships. Since Day 1 since they recruited me it’s always been (a tight relationship). I wanted to still continue my career with them. Coach  Mirabal and Cristobal are top coaches when it comes to the O line. I just couldn’t leave them.”

The transition to the coaches was easy. To a new city? Well, perhaps not quite as smooth.

“I’ll be honest, it’s a bit of an adjustment coming over here,” Sagapolu said. “Everyone thought I was Cuban, started speaking Spanish. I’ve adjusted. When I first came it was like `What the hell?’ Now it’s funny – I tell them `I don’t speak (Spanish).’”

In the end Sagapolu’s first language is football, anyway.

He missed last season with a torn triceps suffered in fall camp, and was the second team right guard at that time. At Miami this spring he began as a backup at right guard, but was promoted to first team early in drills.

This fall he’ll compete with Oluwaseun to start at RG.

“(Starting) has been a goal of mine, a real goal,” Sagapolu said. “I want to start and play. Just got to grind and keep working. But at the same time also be a good teammate, that’s the No. 1 thing.

“I’m going to just go out there and do my best. That’s all I’m going to do. All of us work really hard. Just going to go out there and do my best. Have fun, grind with the guys.”

Sagapolu’s physical strength level can bring major value for an offensive line that was pushed around too often last season at Miami.

Leave it all on the line. pic.twitter.com/AOof771syA

— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) February 25, 2022

New coordinator Josh Gattis wants a powerful unit up front in a balanced offense, and Sagapolu is definitely a people mover.

“I love to run the ball,” Sagapolu said. “That’s one of my biggest things. We haver to just put in the work, do our stuff and we’ll run the ball for sure. Just whatever coach Gattis calls, we have to be ready.”

With fall camp here, Sagapolu knows it’s his chance to finally get a starting role.

It’s something he’s waited for since leaving high school.

“I can’t wait to show what I’ve got, just grind and have fun,” he says. “I’m going to continue the journey, keep going. Excited to not only play but be able to play with these guys.”