Update on David Stone-he is staying at Oklahoma

[Angry Ibis]

Good question which prompted me to go back and compare our LBs from the 2021 roster vs. the upcoming 2025 roster as of today (assuming we will grab another LB from the portal before the start of the season).

2021 Roster LBs:
Keontra Smith - 94
Waynmon Steed - 90
Zach McCloud - 94
Ryan Ragone - Unranked
Corey Flagg - 83
BJ Jennings - 84
Tirek Austin Cave - 88
Sam Brooks - 87
Avery Huff - 93
Deshawn Troutman - 85
Tyler Johnson - 90

2025 Roster LBs:
Wesley Bissainthe - 93
Popo Aguirre - 90
Jaylin Alderman - 87 (as a Transfer)
Malik Bryant - 90
Adarius Hayes - 91
Cam Pruitt - 90
Bobby Washington - 89
Kellen Wiley Jr - 91
Ezekiel Marcelin - 89

The only one who overlaps from Manny’s tenure is Chase Smith so we will consider him a push.

I think we can all agree that not a single one of Manny’s LBs from the 2021 team had any business on a P4 Top 25 roster save for maybe Zach.

The rest were jags or guys who played out of position.

Mario still has a ways to go with the LB room, but let’s not act like the guys we have now are no better than what we had four years ago.

Year 4, still a weakness. That is on Mario, not Manny. "Better than Manny" should not be the bar for greatness at Miami --- especially with the massive increase in resources...

That we are even having this discussion is indicative of the underachieving.

 

[grover]

Plenty of time to complete the roster. That said, Mirabal is the same guy that said if the OL is ever a weakness he would chew his own arm off or something tough and physical ... and then our OL was swiss cheese after he only brought in Sagapolu and Denis ... when everyone on this board knew it would be a weak spot and those two weren't enough. So, while I agree, we have time, the Mario/Mirabal regime also has been a day late and a dollar short 3 straight seasons...

Let's lock up the roster and win games.

You're stating facts but it's not the full picture. Yes Mirabal said that and then they sucked in 2022. But they were quality in '23 and great in '24, projecting to be great again this season. And "a day late and a dollar short for 3 straight seasons ignores the trajectory which has been promising. He's Mario's right hand man and basically his spokesman. If he's saying that stuff publicly, Mario's saying that stuff constantly privately.

But the holes haven't been filled yet, so I get your concerns. We both agree, the Canes need to make the ACCCG and playoffs.

 

[Asa0909]

I’m told Miami has interest in Oklahoma DT transfer David Stone but, as with Trebor Pena, this is not as far along as is being reported.

In terms of allocation, the focus remains on adding an impact WR with speed, a starting safety, and retaining our own impact players amidst aggressive bids from other schools.

​

Do you have an idea of who the impact guy may be

 

[Calinative]

From my understanding, the Sec doesn't allow in conference transfers.

They can't stop it, all they can do is say he is ineligible for conference play.

But that's why i said return to OU as the sec option

 

[Page305]

They can't stop it, all they can do is say he is ineligible for conference play.

But that's why i said return to OU as the second option

I think the whole hype of playing in the Sec is for conference play lol. But yeah, you're right.

 

[DadeBaby]

David Stone is the #1 DT and #10 overall in 247 transfer portal rankingsView attachment 323414

A guy who has done nothing in college, same amount of snaps as JScott. Sounds like he’s another SOkunlola.

 

[CANESCANES]

A guy who has done nothing in college, same amount of snaps as JScott. Sounds like he’s another SOkunlola.

Except he was the most improved DT in the spring, and changed his body

Don’t be so short sighted with 5 stars, this was Jihaad Campbell career, now he’s going to be a 1st round pick

 

[The Sphinx]

Year 4, still a weakness. That is on Mario, not Manny. "Better than Manny" should not be the bar for greatness at Miami --- especially with the massive increase in resources...

That we are even having this discussion is indicative of the underachieving.

Won’t argue you that. LB is not where it should be in Year 4.

I feel the same way about the DT room.

I think Mario has done a good job overhauling the talent on the team. Where he needs improvement is balancing his focus better so that certain groups are not so far behind talent-wise than others. We should be a more talent-balanced team.

Portaling for impact DTs in Year 4 is not good.

But I give Mario credit for what he has done with the OL, CBs, RBs and DEs. Still has a ways to go with DT, LB, QB and S.

 

[ST26]

A guy who has done nothing in college, same amount of snaps as JScott. Sounds like he’s another SOkunlola.

So Scott and Stone are busts because they didn’t start freshman year? It’s very difficult too see significant playing time as a freshman DT

Secondly, everyone knew when Okunlola committed that we would be more a project. He’s on track to start in 26

 

[DadeBaby]

Except he was the most improved DT in the spring, and changed his body

View attachment 323500

Don’t be so short sighted with 5 stars, this was Jihaad Campbell career, now he’s going to be a 1st round pick

View attachment 323501

I get it, you guys want it to work out for the kid. We’re spending money though, the kid from Syracuse has already done it. He hasn’t been patted on his back side during spring to keep him from pouting.
Bring me the Kidd from Syracuse who is a lot closer to being a “first round pick” than the most improved rotational DT who you want to come here and be Lenord Taylor 2.0

 

[CANESCANES]

 

[DadeBaby]

So Scott and Stone are busts because they didn’t start freshman year? It’s very difficult too see significant playing time as a freshman DT

Secondly, everyone knew when Okunlola committed that we would be more a project. He’s on track to start in 26

I never stated that Scott was a bust,I pointed out that they had the same amount of snaps last season.
As for your difficulty statement, his high school 3* teammate started for OU last season.
NOBODY thought 5 star Okunlola would be in project mode in year 3. We imagined orange and green pancake parties on the field.
Stone didn’t commit out of high school, we moved on. He is a project and we already have projects that want to be here, we need to focus on those.
We need to spend big $ on proven difference makers only.

 

[EudocimusAlbus]

wonder what the off-field stuff is about that he refers to

 

[ST26]

I never stated that Scott was a bust,I pointed out that they had the same amount of snaps last season.
As for your difficulty statement, his high school 3* teammate started for OU last season.
NOBODY thought 5 star Okunlola would be in project mode in year 3. We imagined orange and green pancake parties on the field.
Stone didn’t commit out of high school, we moved on. He is a project and we already have projects that want to be here, we need to focus on those.
We need to spend big $ on proven difference makers only.

Let me ask you this, would you rather have Stone, or the Boise State kid? I think that’s an easy decision. I get you want a proven different maker, but we spent a lot of money Blay, who is the number two portal DT. Who’s number 1, it’s Stone. He also has multiple years left in eligibility, which is a plus considering the lack of depth in that room

I always thought there was a chance that Samson could have been ready to start in year 3, but we do have a high end NFL talent with Markel Bell. Ask the staff and others close to the program, they all knew Samson was more of a project. That isn’t a bad thing. He still has a lot of eligibility left and has a chance to make a big impact here in the future

 

[DemCanes10]

We’re not competing with these bags, but good for him.

We are looking for a 4th DT...He aint coming to sit

 

[Damiencane86]

When was recruiting LB's this difficult? lol Wasn't Miami a hot bed for LB recruiting?

Coach Macho has a very in depth thread that addresses this topic (spoiler: SoFLA kids aren't properly coached to play the position)

 

[DadeBaby]

Let me ask you this, would you rather have Stone, or the Boise State kid? I think that’s an easy decision. I get you want a proven different maker, but we spent a lot of money Blay, who is the number two portal DT. Who’s number 1, it’s Stone. He also has multiple years left in eligibility, which is a plus considering the lack of depth in that room

I always thought there was a chance that Samson could have been ready to start in year 3, but we do have a high end NFL talent with Markel Bell. Ask the staff and others close to the program, they all knew Samson was more of a project. That isn’t a bad thing. He still has a lot of eligibility left and has a chance to make a big impact here in the future

In my world Blay would be ranked higher than Stone, Blay actually has tape. I don’t care about the multiple years we recruited young hs guys for that. In the portal I care about impact players. So the Syracuse DT would also be higher than the former IMG stud who has yet to crack the rotation at his current school.
I don’t see Markel Bell being a projected high end NFL talent nowhere but on cis. If we knew that Sampson would be a starter in year 4 or 5, then we should have spent the money other places like DB than pleasing star whores.
It doesn’t make sense bro.
Do you know how many 5 stars flame out? Check SampsonOka

 

[Hurracanes]

So if you go around the ncaa and poll the top 10-15 programs what they pay their rosters, what we pay is seriously out of whack. It’s helped us “win” a bunch of recruitments. Your assessment is otherwise spot on. Every team has holes, my fear is we have an inverse of last years. Very good defense, and slow and prodding offense behind a solid but not elite OL.

Not to be that guy but I’ll be surprised this defense reaches “very good ” level. DL and LB rooms have not improved from last year. Secondary looks better but still need a safety and nickel.

 

[ST26]

In my world Blay would be ranked higher than Stone, Blay actually has tape. I don’t care about the multiple years we recruited young hs guys for that. In the portal I care about impact players. So the Syracuse DT would also be higher than the former IMG stud who has yet to crack the rotation at his current school.
I don’t see Markel Bell being a projected high end NFL talent nowhere but on cis. If we knew that Sampson would be a starter in year 4 or 5, then we should have spent the money other places like DB than pleasing star whores.
It doesn’t make sense bro.
Do you know how many 5 stars flame out? Check SampsonOka

First off, we’re looking for a DT3/ DT4. The Syracuse kid isn’t coming here lol. Unless he’s asking for a ridiculous amount of money, passing on Stone would be beyond stupid. He has the frame and size to be a stud DT. He also has multiple years of eligibility, which is important considering we’re losing Blay and Moten. Also if you’re calling Stone a bust, wouldnt Scott be one too? They had identical stats

I’m not going to sit here and argue with you on Bell. I’m just telling you what NFL scouts say lol

 

[GojiraCane]

Has Mario really improved the LBs over Flagg? It is one of our biggest weaknesses.Totally misread how bad the defense was in 2024, to the point we literally had the same guys getting dominated with no answers from USF until the final game...

Mario had multiple opportunities to flip the roster, but was incomplete every time. Multiple blowouts in 2022 were not due to Manny, never kneel torpedoing 2023 was not Manny, losing 3 of our last 4 games in 2024, including blowing a 21-0 lead with the playoffs on the line -- also, not Manny.

Total Composite Score

• 2025 Miami Hurricanes: .9038
• 2021 Miami Hurricanes: .8916

Total CFB Experience

• 2025 Miami Hurricanes: 1.51 years
• 2021 Miami Hurricanes: 1.78 years

2025 vs 2021 Position Group Advantage:

• WR: 2025: .9257 2021: .9102
• HB: 2025: .9166 2021: .8928
• OL: 2025: 8939 2021: .8878
• DT: 2025: .9162 2021: .9046
• DE: 2025: .9274 2021: .8967
• LB: 2025: .9070 2021: .8672
• CB: 2025: .9098 2021: .8931

2021 vs 2025 Position Group Advantage:

• TE: 2021: .8913 2025: .8837
• QB: 2021: .9096 2021: .9025
• S: 2021: .9204 2021: .9132