Miami Hurricanes weekend fallout after news (portal, draft, run-it-back return of star)

University of Miami football fans were delivered their football news smorgasbord-style this past weekend — a little bit of this on offense, a little bit of that on defense and a generous helping of a star that could have turned pro but announced he has “unfinished business” and will “run this back’’ in 2024.

“I want to thank Coach Cristobal and the coaching staff for giving me the opportunity and love to be part of this prestigious program,’’ UM middle linebacker Francisco “Kiko” Mauigoa posted Saturday night on the social media platform X. “I also want to thank all of Cane Nation for the love and support this season. After consulting with my family, and much prayer, Cane Nation LET’S RUN THIS BACK one more time and up we continue to go!’’

And as of Monday afternoon, what surely appears to be an exciting addendum: The recruiting site 247Sports reported that Washington State Cougars graduate quarterback Cameron Ward is taking an official visit to the Hurricanes campus on Tuesday. He is listed by ESPN as the No. 1 quarterback in its transfer portal quarterback rankings.

Ward, 6-2 and 223 pounds, passed for 3,735 yards and 25 touchdowns this season, with only seven interceptions and an excellent 66.6 percent completion rate. In 2022, Ward passed for 3,231 yards and 23 touchdowns, with nine interceptions and a 64.4-percent completion rate. He began the first two years of his career with Incarnate Word, having excellent seasons before he transferred to the Cougars. In 2021 he was named the FCS’s Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year. In the spruing of 2021 he won the Jerry Rice Award, given to the most outstanding FCS freshman.

Also: Yahoo! reported that another elite quarterback in the transfer portal, dual-threat Will Howard of Kansas State, visited the UM campus on Monday. Howard is ranked the fourth best quarterback in the portal. He is listed as 6-5 and 242 pounds. He has one year left of eligibility. This past season he passed for 2,643 yards and 24 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions and a 61.3-percent accuracy rate. Howard also rushed for 351 yards and nine touchdowns.

More on Mauigoa

Mauigo, a 6-3, 230-pound junior transfer from Washington State, is having a phenomenal first season with the Canes (7-5), who will end 2023 against Rutgers (6-6) on Dec. 28 in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.

That news was big enough to help offset the not-so-great news, although some of it understandable, delivered by accomplished center Matt Lee and by multiple outlets regarding third-leading receiver Colbie Young.

Lee, a 6-4, 295-pound fifth-year redshirt junior who transferred before this season from UCF, announced Saturday afternoon that he is “declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.’’ And Young, a 6-5, 215-pound junior in his second season at UM after beginning his career at Lackawanna [Pennsylvania] College, is entering the transfer portal.

“Thank you University of Miami and UCF for an awesome five years,’’ Lee wrote. #Go Canes #Chargeon.’’

Lee is projected by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. as the No. 5 prospect at center in the draft. The Hurricanes’ offense is ranked 26th nationally (441.2 yards per game) of 130 FBS teams. Its passing offense is 36th (264.4), rushing offense 44th (176.8) and scoring offense 35th (32.1 points a game). Miami is No. 14 nationally in sacks allowed (14 total and 1.17 a game).

UM left guard Javion Cohen previously announced his intention to declare for the draft.

Backup centers who will likely play in the bowl include fifth-year UM redshirt junior center Luis “Lou” Cristobal, a Georgia State transfer who is the nephew of coach Mario Cristobal and son of former UM lineman Luis Sr.; and third-year sophomore Ryan Rodriguez.

Big-bodied WR

Young is UM’s largest-bodied receiver who is entering the transfer portal. He finished his junior season with 11 starts in 12 games and caught 47 passes for 563 yards and five touchdowns in ‘23 after finishing with 32 catches for 376 yards and five touchdowns last year. UM’s top two receivers — slot Xavier Restrepo (74 catches for 993 yards and five touchdowns) and outside man Jacolby George (55 for 851 and a team-leading eight touchdowns) — are still on the roster, though some believe their situation could be dependent on the quarterback the Hurricanes get from the portal.

Fourth-year junior quarterback Tyler Van Dyke previously entered the transfer portal, leaving UM with only one healthy starter in sophomore Jacurri Brown, who will play his first snaps of 2023 in the Pinstripe Bowl. The Canes also have a class of 2024 quarterback commit in three-star Judd Anderson of Warner Robins (Georgia) High.

Freshman Hurricanes quarterback Emory Williams is recovering from a broken left arm sustained last month at Florida State.

Mauigoa shines

As for Mauigoa, his return should be significant for the Canes, who are thriving defensively under first-year coordinator Lance Guidry. Miami is ranked 26th in total defense (324.1 yards allowed per game), 10th in rushing defense (97.1), 13th in sacks (35), 18th in tackles for loss (83) and 39th in scoring defense (22.1).

Second-team All-ACC honoree Mauigoa is second on the team with 70 tackles, but could easily become the team leader after the bowl, as safety James Williams, who has declared for the draft, has 73. Mauigoa leads his teammates by a landslide with 17 tackles for loss, is tied for a team-leading 7 1/2 sacks, has one interception, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and seven quarterback hurries.

His return will bolster a linebacker unit that includes second-year sophomore talent and Miami Central alum Wesley Bissainthe, a nine-game starter.

Mauigoa is the older brother of true freshman right tackle Francis Mauigoa, a former five-star recruit who was named this month by The Athletic as a first-team freshman All-American. The brothers are from Ili’ili in American Somoa. Francisco played at Tafuna High School. Francis graduated from IMG Academy in Bradenton.

“Leader. Elite Teammate. Will be Best in the Country,’’ Cristobal posted on X after the elder Mauigoa posted his news. “CANE4LIFE.’’

Recruiting news

The other positive weekend news was a Saturday commitment from class of 2024 four-star/three-star defensive lineman Kendall Jackson of Gainesville F.W. Buchholz High. Jackson, listed as 6-5 and 220 pounds, was formerly committed to the Florida Gators. The On3 recruiting site’s industry ranking has Jackson as a four-star prospect and the nation’s No. 40 defensive lineman and 46th best player in Florida, regardless of position.

The 247Sports site has Jackson, who plays defensive end but also can play inside, as a three-star prospect.

The Hurricanes now have 28 commits for the 2024 recruiting class and are ranked fifth nationally by 247Sports and seventh by On3.

The early signing period is Dec. 20-22, when most pledges sign their letters of intent.