A note on Zion Nelson

Jul 9, 2023

There has been a lot of speculation and mystery surrounding Zion’s health. I am told he looks phenomenal doing football movements and is expected to be full-go in camp.

Jim Nagy (former NFL scout and current head of the Senior Bowl) and several scouting sources quoted by On3 identified four future NFL players on Miami’s line: Zion Nelson, Javion Cohen, Matt Lee and Jalen Rivers. That doesn’t include Anez Cooper, Francis Mauigoa, Samson Okunlola and Matthew McCoy (who someone on staff described to me as “an NFL dude”).

This could be one of the best OLs in the entire nation.

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B
Bluboi1914

Jul 9, 2023

Ghandi said:
I haven’t seen the new guys just yet (Campbell, Horton)…but Gore and the others…**** it.

You guys see them and decide.

Man Ghandi what about Moten?

CaneBear0207

Jul 9, 2023

If we could have confidence in the health and durability of Nelson, Chaney, Citizen, and Chase Smith, I'd take a sip of that Kool-aid.

k9cane

Jul 9, 2023

SayWhat said:
It would certainly be great to see him get back to it. That would be awesome for us, but more importantly for him.

His story here is one of the strangest and most secretive I remember though. That's from things I've read here and others I trust. I hope it turns into success and one day we get the entire story.

Zion has become the UM version of Big Foot or the Lochness Monster

Brains

Jul 9, 2023

Cohen, Lee (lower rounds), Mauigoa, Okunlola, maybe Rivers. Those are the future NFL prospects.

Cooper has the right body, so it's possible, but a lot of improvement will need to be made.

C
canadacanes

Jul 9, 2023

When does fall camp begin?

D_G87

Jul 9, 2023

canadacanes said:
When does fall camp begin?

They haven’t sent anything out but if I had to guess, Aug 5th.

Y
Yoyo82

Jul 9, 2023

Ghandi said:
Because the WR still can’t shake free.

The DB’s are still a huge question mark.

There is no depth at DT.

Those are all huge questions that need to be answered. And we won’t know the answers until ACC play starts.

The schemes on offense and defense may help the WR/DB’s, but you can’t mask physicality on the LOS from the DT’s.

DT is going to be a problem for years... Can't believe all we signed was Horton last year...Deen will help too but we should have signed multiple top 250 players at DT last year.

Hurracanes

Jul 9, 2023

I hope I’m dead wrong but I’m not believing the hype. Just a guess but I wouldn’t be surprised he ends up in portal.

Brains

Jul 9, 2023

Hurracanes said:
I hope I’m dead wrong but I’m not believing the hype. Just a guess but I wouldn’t be surprised he ends up in portal.

Correct.

MarshallCane

Jul 9, 2023

FromDeeeeep said:
Campbell was at Tennessee last year

Just transferred there in January this year.

FromDeeeeep

Jul 9, 2023

MarshallCane said:
Just transferred there in January this year.

**** your right. Could have swore he transferred in 2022

Jul 10, 2023

Papo said:
Cooper was very impressive when he was on the field last year. Five to ten yards down the field mauling whatever body was in front of him.

Absolutely but rivers is probably our best olineman including zion cohen and lee

Bender

Jul 10, 2023

Swampcity said:
The same thing was said previously regarding Zion ... " only some minor knee stuff to clean up". As for Lee, go back and watch the Spring game. Lee was getting "pushed around" sometimes even " manhandled".

I hope he can be an improvement, but I watched the film. Film don't lie.

It's good you're watching film, its a shame you're watching a Spring Game and go:

Leonardo Dicaprio Reaction GIF by Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Plus, I don't think your opinion is validated on who is good at who isn't. I don't even know you.

FrancisSawyer

Jul 10, 2023

DMoney said:
Everything is a competition, but I would say yes.

If Zion starts at LT then Rivers moves to LG and Cohen moves where? The bench? It would seem that we are 8 deep at OL with Cohen, Okunlola and McCoy being the depth if Zion is indeed back at LT. I'm thinking Kinsler has a shot to get into the 2 deep this season.

This looks to be a deep and talented OL. How deep and talented we will see this fall.

WeBallinBoyz

Jul 10, 2023

E1k said:
Absolutely but rivers is probably our best olineman including zion cohen and lee

This made me crack up lol. Run game sure, very good run-blocker on the interior and a bit nasty. Operated the best when in a phone booth. Pass blocking…**** no. Especially on the outside.

Jul 10, 2023

WeBallinBoyz said:
This made me crack up lol. Run game sure, very good run-blocker on the interior and a bit nasty. Operated the best when in a phone booth. Pass blocking…**** no. Especially on the outside.

Well why would I judge him on the outside when majority if not all of his real game snaps have been at guard? And at guard he is a good pass blocker so yea..

WeBallinBoyz

Jul 10, 2023

E1k said:
Well why would I judge him on the outside when majority if not all of his real game snaps have been at guard? And at guard he is a good pass blocker so yea..

I got no problem with seeing him work inside there. But I’m telling you from what I watched, especially at the GT game…Cooper was moving dudes and he was a freshman. He’s got an absolute mean streak shoving guys 10 yards down field for no reason other than “f^ck you, that’s why”.

I think we hit a home run here. He’s going to battle for that spot and I think at worst, it’s a very heated competition.

Ghandi

Jul 10, 2023

Ironmanfootball said:
You thought Ivey and Campbell played well last year?

They weren’t fantastic, but the schemes on both sides of the ball would’ve made the 2003 Canes defense look like ****.

Jul 10, 2023

WeBallinBoyz said:
I got no problem with seeing him work inside there. But I’m telling you from what I watched, especially at the GT game…Cooper was moving dudes and he was a freshman. He’s got an absolute mean streak shoving guys 10 yards down field for no reason other than “f^ck you, that’s why”.

I think we hit a home run here. He’s going to battle for that spot and I think at worst, it’s a very heated competition.

Might have been watching someone else because if im not mistaken rivers was already out by the gt game lol but either way I like cooper too and if they think he should start then start him im all for competition