Udynasty
Redshirt Freshman
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2012
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There are moments in life that foreshadow what the future holds. For the Miami Hurricanes, that moment came on October 4th in Tallahassee, as the undefeated 4–0, then No. 3–ranked Canes played their archrival Seminoles.
It happened in the blink of an eye. True freshman Bryce Fitzgerald intercepted Tommy Castellanos and set up the Canes near midfield. That is when Carson Beck found Malachi Toney in stride and hit him for a 44-yard bomb that led to a 14–3 Canes lead, a lead the Canes would never relinquish as they beat their rivals for a second year in a row. Two true freshmen making an incredible play in back-to-back fashion.
Fast forward to December 20th. Miami playing in front of 104,000 at Kyle Field in their first playoff game in program history in the CFP Playoff era. It’s a defensive battle into the fourth quarter with the score tied at 3–3. Toney had a crucial fumble that gave the ball to the Aggies at midfield. Not only were the Canes able to get a stop, but then Mark Fletcherbroke off a 56-yard run that put the Canes in the red zone. That’s when Dawson dialed up a run play for Toney, who took it outside and used his speed to score the go-ahead touchdown and give Miami the 10–3 lead.
Later, with less than 30 seconds remaining, Marcel Reed, who had marched the Aggies inside the 10-yard line, threw a pass to one of their tight ends that was just a bit late. In the last possible second, the true freshman Bryce Fitzgeraldappeared out of nowhere for the game-sealing interception. Just like that, 104,000 people were quieted. Just like Florida State, Malachi Toney and Bryce Fitzgerald, two true freshmen, had put the game away, except this time with stakes much, much higher.
This is a testament to the job Mario Cristobal has done with the Canes. Miami is a national championship contender. They bullied Texas A&M, the top defense in the SEC. The Canes have been powerhouses in recruiting, and they are not afraid to play young players. Bryce Fitzgerald, who was a talented safety but by no means a top-100 player in his class, had two interceptions in the game and now has six on the season, leading everyone in the Power 4.
Malachi Toney, a high four-star who reclassified and was pegged by some as a “three-star,” broke Miami’s all-time receiving records and became an outright All-American, establishing himself as one of the best players in the nation. Both of those guys developed in a big way this year, showing that beyond stars, senior film and coaching matter. It is a testament to the impact recruiting still plays for the Canes.
Outside of Toney and Fitzgerald, the Canes had three other players who were recruited and developed by Miami and played huge roles. Consensus All-American Rueben Bain Jr. had a monster game against one of the premier left tackles in the SEC. He finished with seven pressures, five tackles, four TFLs, three sacks, and a huge blocked field goal. In essence, he was unblockable and looked every bit like the top-five pick he is projected to be.
The other key cogs were Mark Fletcher and Francis Mauigoa. Mauigoa was one of two blue-chip offensive tackles the Canes landed in the 2023 class, a monster who has solidified the right tackle position and worked his way into a consensus All-American and sure-fire first-round pick. He was huge in opening holes for Fletcher, who destroyed the Aggies’ run defense with 17 carries for 172 yards (10.1 YPC).
Cristobal had high praise for Fletcher’s performance:
“He’s just the heart and soul of our football team. Everything he does is dedicated to his teammates getting better, to the team winning, and to see him just—he took over. He took over the ground game in a game where we were having a real tough time moving the football.”
These were home-grown recruits who were crucial in Miami’s most important game since the 2002 Fiesta Bowl. But Cristobal hasn’t only identified and developed high school talent, he has also done it through the transfer portal. Keyon Scott, returning from injury, showed why he might be the best DB in college football with 10 tackles, three TFLs, two sacks, and one forced fumble. Jakobe Thomas had a monster game as well with nine tackles, half a sack, and half a TFL, continuing to make the case that he is among the best, if not the best safety in the nation.
And what about one of Cristobal’s first transfers, a DT-turned-DE in Akheem Mesidor, who was just as terrifying as Bain? He balled out with 11 pressures, 10 hurries, five tackles, 1.5 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks. One of the plays of the game was made by Mohamed Toure, who saved a touchdown with a key pass deflection just before the Fitzgerald interception. Another transfer linebacker brought in by Cristobal, he made huge plays when they mattered most.
Mario Cristobal has built through both the transfer portal and high school recruiting, a championship-caliber team. A team that is bigger and stronger than every team in the SEC. A team with the best OL/DL combo in the nation. A team ready to take on Ohio State, the defending national champions and the program that sparked Miami’s decline 23 years ago. Now Miami faces them as a 10-point underdog, with the roles reversed.The hunter becomes the hunted.
The Canes have a championship unit, developed by Cristobal and his staff, built with the DNA of smash-mouth football. A mix of elite recruiting and elite portal evaluations. These Canes are different. They won’t quit. They will fight until they break you.
“There’s no flinch in these guys, and the way that they train, the way that we train collectively as a group, the belief in each other is extremely strong. We train and wire our team to be confident and aggressive in everything that we do… We have guys that are about that life, that truly enjoy the situation that calls for them to be at their best against great players,” Cristobal said.
And now for the first time since 2002, Miami has a real chance to change their destiny from a middling ACC team to the Kings of College Football once again.Just like that electric October night foreshadowed the greatness of two young true freshmen, This Texas A&M win might be a foreshadowing of Miami's return to the throne.
