Miami’s offensive line has been pushing opponents’ defensive lines out of the way.
The No. 4 Hurricanes (3-0) currently rank 11th in Pro Football Focus’ run-blocking grade, forcing defenses out of the way when they want to run the ball. They will try to continue doing that when they face Florida (1-2) at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday.
“The physicality of the game and the ability to take over the game and really impose our will running football,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “They’ve done a great job.”
Right tackle Francis Mauigoa has been Miami’s top-rated offensive lineman through three games, leading UM’s linemen with an 81.4 offensive grade from PFF and an 83.8 run-blocking grade. He also has the second-best marks for pass blocking (77.7).
The leading pass blocker among linemen with 100 more snaps has been former five-star Samson Okunlola, who has a 90.4 pass-blocking grade this season. That grade is fourth in the nation among linemen with 100 or more snaps.
The Hurricanes do not have as high a grade as a team for pass blocking, ranking 35th nationally with a 76.1 grade. However, UM has allowed only four sacks through three games, and starting quarterback Carson Beck has only faced pressure on 11 of his 86 dropbacks, according to PFF.
“It doesn’t matter who you are,” Dawson said. “Tom Brady down to me — which is a big difference — my point is no quarterback can play with people like around them and hitting them. So it’s vital to our pass game, obviously, that our protection and those guys do an excellent job in front, and they do.”
The Gators’ defensive front has not performed well this year, and their pass rush has not gotten to quarterbacks. UF has only two sacks in three games. Florida’s pass-rush grade of 68.5 ranks 75th nationally.
Unfortunately for the Gators and the Hurricanes’ future opponents, the offensive line may only get better.
“I think the physicality of the defensive line and the offensive line is improving every week,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “We progress a lot. We’re not where we want to be yet.”
Where Toney can improve
Miami freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney just turned 18 years old this week, and he has been garnering national attention for his performance in his first three games.
Toney leads UM with 228 receiving yards on 18 catches, but there is a part of his game that still needs work: special teams.
Toney has been the Hurricanes’ punt returner, and while he has shown big-play ability — breaking off a 21-yard punt return vs. USF — he has also made some questionable choices on when to field punts. He has caught some punts that he would have been better off letting bounce into the end zone.
“Not good enough,” Cristobal said. “Certainly, some good decisions, and some other ones where he could make a better decision and not put ourselves at risk of turning the ball over or putting ourselves in poor field position.”
Cristobal said Toney, who reclassified to the 2025 recruiting class so he could enroll at UM sooner, has plenty of football IQ. He just needs to keep working at punts.
“He understands the game really well, and we have worked him — we will continue to work him — hard to make sure we get better at decision-making processes.”
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/18/hurricanes-offensive-line/

