CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal is a former Miami offensive lineman, so it is not surprising when he spends a lot of his time working with the players in the trenches.
“If you’re an offensive lineman and you come here, I’m just telling you the head coach is with you most of practice,” rising sixth-year offensive lineman Justice Oluwaseun said. “I’ve never seen it. I’ve never had a head coach who is literally doing individual drills, and he’s literally teaching me the technique I’m supposed to do. And it just shows you what type of coach he is.”
Assistant head coach Alex Mirabal is also the offensive line coach. The combination of the two experienced former linemen has the offensive line improving steadily as spring practice progresses.
“It’s nice having this many coaches out there and being able to get that individual coaching and development that you need, especially for the younger guys,” center Jakai Clark said. “I feel like in past years we didn’t really have that, and this year it’s just been a big improvement.”
Players have pointed to Cristobal’s and Mirabal’s teaching abilities as a major plus through the first eight spring practices.
“[Mirabal] does a good job of teaching,” Clark said. “To me, that’s the biggest difference is he’s a natural teacher. He takes the time to make sure that you understand concepts. His big emphasis is taking what you learn in the meeting room and taking it onto the field. To me, that’s made the entire group better.”
Miami does not have its full assortment of offensive linemen ready for spring ball, as rising fifth-year junior John Campbell Jr. and rising third-year sophomore Jalen Rivers are limited during practice due to injuries. Fourth-year junior tackle Zion Nelson has anchored the group, and Clark has been entrenched at center.
“I think Jakai Clark could be one of the upper-echelon centers in the ACC,” Mirabal said. “That’s my opinion on it. I think it’s my job to keep helping him get better, and he’s done a tremendous job. ... He’s starting to display the leadership that you need when you have your hand on the football.”
Oluwaseun, fifth-year junior Ousman Traore, fifth-year senior DJ Scaife Jr., third-year sophomore Logan Sagapolu and redshirt freshman Laurance Seymore have been among those who have gotten into the rotation at different spots on the line, as well.
“I think that’s the strength of the whole O-line,” Oluwaseun said. “I feel like any O-lineman that we have can play anywhere. We’ve got a bunch of people who’s playing center who plays tackle, we’ve got guys who play guard who play tackle. That’s just how coach Mirabal is. He’s trying to make us get right everywhere, and I feel like just as a group that’s why I really like the group is how versatile we are.”
Clark said Sagapolu, a newcomer to the Hurricanes who transferred from Oregon, brings a lot of energy to the offensive line.
“Strength, power, explosiveness, everything,” Clark said. “Logan is a real dog. He’s obviously a very strong guy, good with his feet, good with his hands. He brings kind of like an energy piece to us, too. ... If we have a big play, Logan’s the first guy to start hyping everybody up, put his hands up and start celebrating, so he brings a big energy piece.”
Now that UM is about halfway through spring practice, Oluwaseun said he’s getting excited thinking about the coming season and how the line will perform this year.
“We’re starting to jell and we’re starting to dominate, as an offense should,” Oluwaseun said, “and I’m real excited for that.”
