What we’re hearing through 10 sessions of Miami Hurricanes spring football practice

With 10 Miami Hurricanes spring football practices completed, 10 takeaways after speaking with people who have attended practice:

▪ The two Mauigoa brothers are going to be impactful, and quickly. One UM practice observer said freshman Francis Mauigoa has seized the right tackle job and would be surprised if he gives it up.

“He is legitimate,” that source said. “A legit five-star football player who will positively contribute this year.”

His brother, Francisco, the former Washington State linebacker, has looked good this spring and made a case for the middle linebacker job.

Last year, UCLA’s Caleb Johnson could never overtake Corey Flagg Jr., at least for any extended period of time. Francisco Mauigoa — who had 60 tackles, 3.5 sacks, an interception and three forced fumbles at Washington State last season — has a better chance of achieving that.

Francisco Mauigoa “is athletic, has good size, is productive,” the source said. “He’s going to play.”

▪ One observer said do not assume that left tackle Zion Nelson will automatically get back in the starting lineup when he returns from knee/health issues.

Nelson has been participating in meetings but isn’t practicing this spring; Coach Mario Cristobal said Nelson should be ready to play by the start of the season.

“Zion has a lot to prove that he can help,” one of the practice observers said. “You have [older] film of him, but nothing” substantial since his knee injury.

Nelson played just 61 offensive snaps last season because of the knee injury.

Jalen Rivers has impressed at left tackle — “he’s very good at that position,” one practice observer said — and Francis Mauigoa has looked good at right tackle.

Left guard Javion Cohen (the Alabama transfer) and center Matt Lee (the UCF transfer) are sure-fire starters. “Big upgrades,” one of the sources said.

So if Nelson returned to the lineup, that would mean moving Rivers to right tackle and putting Mauigoa on the bench or moving Rivers to right guard and putting Anez Cooper on the bench.

Nobody would be surprised if UM instead sticks with the current starting five, particularly because Rivers has looked good at left tackle and because Cooper has impressed.

“Cooper is a legitimate right guard,” one source said. “He’s in better shape.”

What about the other five-star freshman offensive lineman, Samson Okunlola, who has been the backup left tackle this spring?

“Physically, both [Mauigoa and Okunlola] are very impressive,” the source said. “The big difference is Francis was at IMG Academy and came from an advanced program” which developed him. Okunlola played at the Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts.

▪ We hear Xavier Restrepo remains UM’s most trusted receiver, but one practice observer that Jacolby George and Isaiah Horton have improved the most of the receivers.

“Horton is big and fast, and the receivers overall are catching the ball better this spring,” the source said. “You see flashes from Brashard Smith; he needs to keep working on getting better.”

That practice observer said he believes freshman Nathaniel Joseph, who caught a long TD from Jacurri Brown in Saturday’s scrimmage, has a decent chance to crack the rotation.

The other freshman receiver, Robby Washington, also will get a long look; he has been limited recently. The two freshmen “are very, very athletic and can really run,” one practice observer said.

▪ One big looming question is whether Cristobal and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson will feel a need to find a veteran quarterback in the transfer portal who could legitimately challenge Brown for the No. 2 job behind Tyler Van Dyke.

Cristobal said UM will be looking for another quarterback in the portal; the question is whether it will be a fringe talent who would compete with freshman Emory Williams, behind Van Dyke and Brown, or whether it would be someone who could be a No. 2.

Brown “has improved in every area,” a practice observer said. But the vertical accuracy remains a work in progress.

▪ In the defensive backfield, every cornerback that UM evaluates in the portal needs to be measured with this in mind: Is this player better than Daryl Porter Jr. as a potential No. 3 corner?

Davonte Brown, the UCF transfer, and Te’Cory Couch seem likely to start. UM has used Couch in multiple roles this spring, in the slot and on the boundary.

Porter, whose playing time was limited last season after transferring from West Virginia, has been working with the starters when UM has three corners.

Between Porter, sixth-year Iowa transfer Terry Roberts and some young players, there seemingly isn’t enough depth. Brown’s well-regarded brother, freshman Damari Brown, should compete for time immediately at cornerback when he arrives this summer.

And UM assuredly will try to find more safety depth in the portal.

▪ One UM official said tight end Jaleel Skinner has become more physical and has impressed people by genuinely trying to improve his blocking. Likely starter Elijah Arroyo remains sidelined this spring after last season’s season-ending injury.

Eighth-year Oregon transfer Cam McCormick opened spring with the first team, then saw Skinner get first team work and now is back with the first group.

▪ One practice observer said UM will miss Darrell Jackson, the 6-6, 300-pound run-stuffer who transferred to FSU to be closer to his ailing mother.

New defensive tackles Branson Deen (6-2, 280) and Thomas Gore (6-0, 270) don’t have quite as much girth. Deen and Gore were effective pass rushers at Purdue and Georgia State, respectively.

“Gore caught my eye this spring,” one practice observer said. “They move around well. But Jackson was a monster. He was a different category of size.”

The observer said it’s difficult to fully gauge where UM stands at defensive tackle because Leonard Taylor, Jared Harrison-Hunte and Jacob Lichtenstein have been sidelined. Ahmad Moten has shown flashes.

▪ Don Chaney Jr. has a couple of fumbles this spring but has run the ball very well. Henry Parrish Jr. also has looked good.

“We need Chaney,” the UM source said. “He’s a more physical guy, runs very hard. The offense is better when both are involved.”

TreVonte’ Citizen (coming off his knee injury that sidelined him last season) and freshman Mark Fletcher and Christopher Johnson will join them this fall.

▪ Who has impressed on defense, besides Francisco Mauigoa?

One practice observer said second-year defensive end Nyjalik Kelly.

“He will be a very productive player. He’s gained strength and keeps getting better. You can see the effect Jason Taylor has had on him with technique.”

▪ What about freshmen edge players Collins Acheampong and Jayden Wayne and defensive lineman Rueben Bain?

“Collins is an impressive specimen, but he’s hurt,” one practice observer said. “Bain is for real. When you look at him, you look at a guy that understands the game. He’s well conditioned and you could tell he comes from a football family.”

UM has him working at defensive end, though he could someday become a tackle.