Miami vs Florida Roster Battle | Miami Hurricanes Football | Florida Gators Football

Intro welcome back to another episode of rock boys football a lot of conversation in the comment sections the last couple of weeks talking about this Miami Florida matchup the boys are going to do a little bit of a roster battle go position group by position group talk about which teams have the edge really excited to get into this one this isn't necessarily a game preview where we're giving predictions we're going to take a look at this game from a lot of different angles over the next couple of months but just wanted to get an early start on talking about these two teams extremely excited to get into it before Thank You we do just want to say thank you to you guys and a massive shout out both to the Miami and Florida fans these have been two programs that have been a blast to talk about over the last couple of weeks whether we're talking the recruiting Trail Spring practice deep Dives cannot thank you guys enough for all the support if yall do enjoy the content consider subscribing to the channel but more importantly let it fly in the comments section we obviously know heated rivalry a lot of animosity between these two fan bases this is what college football's about whether you agree disagree with some of our takes you're going to disagree with a couple of Dill takes so let him hear it in the comments section but without further Ado let's get into this one D quarterback position first up on the board cam word Cam Ward vs Graham Merz Graham Merz how we feeling I mean these are razor tight in my mind these are two of like those guys you feel really good about I respectively heading into this year I don't think either as a question probably lean slightly to cam Ward just because there's May maybe some upside that you haven't haven't quite yet tapped I mean coming from Washington State where you're typically under Talent versus the teams you're playing coming into Miami where they're gonna probably be more talented than most teams in the ACC I think cam Ward's kind of got that ceiling possibly and he's already proven that he's a guy I mean he's really played well for the last couple years at Washington State but you look across at at Graham Merz he stunned me last year I was like oh Graham Merz what do Florida bring this guy in for like yeah maybe he'll Bridge it maybe get you to DJ lague but like that's really he didn't play that way he played like a really high quality SEC starter and frankly really tough conditions where their offensive line didn't really help them and they had a lot of young receivers I grant Merz is really good I just probably lean slightly to camore just for some maybe a potential upside but it's really tight here I thought I Wide Receivers was the biggest gr Merz truther across the country I mean I'm going to go cam Ward as well but I Echo a lot of the things you said Graham merge probably one of the more disrespected quarterbacks that you see not only in the SEC but in the country but it comes down to what you said like cam Ward at Washington state did not have the Run game did not have the offensive line didn't really have the talent at the wide receiver position that he's gonna have at this Hurricane's program so when I look at cam W I think the upside like you said much much higher much much higher than it was at Washington State I'm G to give the edge to camard as well Dill nice segue into the wide receiver room where you look at this Hurricane's roster and you have a lot more proven Talent right Xavier Restrepo I think one of the best wide receivers in the country over the last couple years Jobe George has gotten it done as well you also sprinkle in some young Talent like nikar and JoJo Trader versus Florida Gator wide receiver room where the returning production isn't necessarily crazy but you have a lot of young Talent right headlined by Eugene Wilson with guys like aen Melle and Andy Jean coming up the ranks these two wide receiver rooms what have you here I think I'm leaning Miami just because again kind of what you said two proven guys I feel like in Restrepo and George Who both really played good football and I think jacobe George has another gear to get to frankly I think saw like that Tex A&M game I mean that's really dominant football can get downfield make plays there in Restrepo really Elite work underneath and making plays with ball in his hand I mean frankly you I I think Florida I mean it's going to be about Andy Jean and Aiden Melle like those two guys I'm looking for if they step up and play good I mean you already know what you have in Eugene Wilson he's a he's a horse he's really electric but if those two play really well I mean you you might have an argument for Florida I just think what Miami is far more proven RBs yeah as it sits right now you got to go with the proven production that the hurricanes have and I I'll tap on and say I think cam Ward Xavier stpo I always look for this heading into a season like where's that quarterback wide receiver battery think you're looking at one of the best in the country because you look at cam Ward watches film at Washington State loves those slot wide receivers he's going to have one of the best to go to in Xavier or strapo you mentioned it jacobe George a lot of upside that he hasn't even began to scratch I think he has a lot of potential heading into 2024 Florida I'm excited about you haven't necessarily seen it yet so I'll rock with the hurricanes too now going to this running back room this is where I think it kind of gets interesting because you look at this Miami Hurricanes program and this roster had repair to the transfer portal Mark Fletcher with a lot of injuries that we're not necessarily sure if he's going to be ready to go early on in this season or how much hund if he's going to be 100% Dill you look at this matchup I'm gonna lean with the Hurricanes here because I think the numbers are a little bit better whether Mark Fletcher's healthy or not you have guys like Chris Johnson a Jay Allen trante citizen getting a lot of positivity in those spring practice notes versus Florida you have Montell Johnson who might be the best running back on the field but after Montell you're not necessarily sure who's going to step up so from a numbers in depth standpoint I'll rock with the Hurricanes but this one could go either way I mean In fairness they both seem to have a similar issue where they have a really good guy at the top I think you really believe in both those guys and frankly I mean I hear you're saying Miami's depth might be a little better but it seems pretty negligible to me again when you lose Henry Paris you don't really have a guy who's super proven Jay Allen's had some moments but not really a steady producer in college yet they both frankly have the same issue where they're hoping some young guys play really good football for him you're right Miami might have a few like a better number in there in just terms of who they have in potential but at the end of the day both need a number two to step up in a way that they haven't really shown in college yeah that's Offensive Line that's why I lean because college football rosters a lot of it's about numbers you just try to get as many talented guys into your roster as possible and just hope some some of those guys kind of pan out and step up so go going into the season like you kind of trust just the numbers and the talent a little bit more for the Hurricanes but Florida's got some young guys too Canon Daniels I am extremely excited for as a true freshman going to the offensive line this is probably the biggest advantage that you'll see on the football field Miami Hurricane's offensive line I think not only one of the better units in the ACC but in the country it was really good last year but I think you're even going to see a better unit because a lot of those guys guys like ANZ Cooper Francis Mao only going into what year three two respectively I trust a lot with what Miami has coming back versus Florida D an offensive line that I think is going to take some strides it was really bad last year but when you go back and look at the film a lot of the really bad last year was Damen George at that Tackle Spot him kicking on the inside you bring in kensaw Dixon you bring in Devin Manuel from Arkansas you feel better about the tackle play I think you got some guys on the inside this Florida offensive line I think going to be improved from 2023 but I'm not ready to give it the edge over the Miami Hurricanes no and and that's just frankly Miami's line will compete with a lot of teams who are really really thought to be the perceived big dogs the offensive line world because you look I mean you're right it's like the three they got coming back you really love I mean Jaylen Rivers kind of came out played really Ultra good football Cooper Cooper and Maui Noah same thing I mean they got three guys coming back who are really good Zack Carpenter really veter like Ultra veteran college football player at this point they're just so solid again like Florida's just like we don't really know what they're going to be but like when you're going up against a Miami team where you know how good this offensive line is and frankly Florida didn't play very good last year I mean I don't see how you can go Florida here last position group on the Tight End offensive side of the football the tight end room and I think for a lot of the same reasons I gave Miami the edge in a lot of these position groups I'm going to give Florida The Edge I think the ceiling for this Miami Hurricanes tight end room is awfully high right Elijah Royal coming back from injury Riley Williams I think a guy that is super talented Elijah Lofton as a true freshman apparently taking over spring practice for the Hurricanes but you look at that room and say all right that that the production in that room was pretty much non-existent for Miami in 2023 versus Aris Bingham who I thought really emerged as one of the top tight ends in the SEC as we sit right now you got to give the edge to the Florida Gators but D talk to me mid October when we start seeing some of that young tight end talent for the Hurricanes cuz it might be a little bit of a different conversation yeah they just again like what you kind of said they just don't have that proven guy that Florida does and again a talented room and frankly for these two teams who are recruiting the way they are will'll say that probably a lot about or about a lot of these position groups but I you just look at Florida I mean they have a guy they have the guy who gr merch is really comfortable with I mean it'll be up to Miami to figure out some guy there but yeah I don't see how you could go Miami when you have a boardingham who's been as good as he is all right kicking it Defensive Line over to the defense side of the football defensive line I like the Hurricanes here and I am really excited about this Florida Gator team like they got some young guys alj McCrae coming in as a true freshman guys like Kelby Collins TJ Seri kind of coming up the ranks they obviously added Joey slackman really good addition but you look at all right who's the best player on this defensive line between both teams you have to lean Ruben Bane Jr who was just kind of a freak last year is so rare to see guys that young come in and dominate from a physicality standpoint that Ruben Bane did you go to the transfer portal and grab guys like CJ Clark and Marley cook from a depth standpoint I think the Hurricanes check a lot of boxes but more importantly from that top end standpoint guys like Ruben Bane guys like AEM mesidor who was phenomenal in 2022 getting back healthy you gotta go with the hurricanes on that defensive line but this Florida group it is talented and it has some young talent I should say yeah and this will probably be about as much I can disagree with you I love this Florida defensive line and frankly I think a lot of it is you're probably right Ruben Bane's probably the best player in this group I mean he was so good last year I just look at the inside that's where I kind of question about Miami in terms of like being really kind of in more in that Elite category I just don't think those guys are game wers I think when you lose what they did in that interior I think it's hard to replace it and I I mean the guys they brought in in the portal are they're solid players but they're not game changers I love Caleb Banks and and cam Jackson I think those two played like really good football I think people sleep up I think people underrate them because maybe there was some inconsistency in the linebacker play and they gave up a lot of rushing yards but those two held their own Tyreek Sapp I thought played really good football for them and then you're looking for Kelby Collins and TJ cersi in my mind if those two take steps I mean like they're not going to be that far behind kind of those Ruben Baines maybe those Justin Scots in terms of what like they're their top end talent because those guys have it so I need y all to light him up Defensive Line Comparison in the comment section I I I'm sitting here liking the Florida Gator defensive line I'm not ready to take him over this hurricanes the group I a lot of the young town that you said Florida has I think Miami has that same Talent right Justin Scott Armando blunt coming in Maris Li foot Booker picket Jr like it is a young it's I think Miami has a little bit more proven firstline talent but just as much young Talent kind of coming up so I got to lean the Hurricanes I know you're making some projections with some of these guys on that Florida defensive line I frankly I think you probably make a case that the three starting defense or three interior defensive linemen in slack slackman Banks and Jackson I mean they'd all start I think on Miami that's kind of where I'm looking I just think the interior skews heavily to Florida to me and again you kind of look I mean TJ Ser he's a guy I like that they changed that defensive coaching staff and that defensive line room because they didn't do a great job the year before developing guys if he's the type of guy to take a step Kelby Collins guy to take a step those guys are really they're top end players like they can be really good in my mind all right going to the LB Comparison linebacker room and this is where I'm going to kind of be a the Florida Gator Boy right now and I'm GNA take this Florida Gator linebacker room I think couple things right one you do kind of trust the production coming back with guys like Bain and guys like Maui Noah Maui Noah I think one of the best linebackers in the country d p power tramar James I don't know if you'll find a more High upside linebacker room in the country than pop Howard and Shamar James and then you couple that with bringing in a guy like Ron Roberts who I think is a wizard at kind of scheming up linebackers coaching them up using linebackers in a defense this is probably one of the position rooms that I'm most excited for across the country heading into 2024 pup Howard Shamar James you sprinkle into guys like miles Graham and Aiden childes I'm gonna take this Florida linebacker room heading into 2024 it's close but give me the Gators here I just think it's so hard to argue for the Gators when there was so much inconsistency last year especially when you compare that to a team in Miami who have a guy in Francisco Mao who's just so Rock Solid not just Rock Solid I mean he's really really good he's an NFL player you kind of talk Wesley bante Bain really good number two running with them I mean that was a really good unit for Miami last year and again you just look at Florida and I love Shamar James as much as anyone else I really want to see him play good football been talking about him since he's a freshman but at the end of the day that that that play needs to come up that play needs to get close to the level of where Maui no is so I just going into the season I don't know how you can take that Florida linebacker room when you have a guy like Francisco Mao sitting in that room in Miami and just being Rock Solid R Roberts that's Ron Roberts is why I'm DB Comparison taking this group I'm so excited about what he brings to this linebacker now getting into the last position group we got to talk about and D it's no secret throughout this episode I have been all over this hurricane I I love this depth chart for Miami I think they are one of the most talented teams in college football if there's that one question I have it in the secondary room for Miami I'm gonna lean Florida and I I think there's a lot of young talent for the Hurricanes that you're kind of hoping you can lean on but you look at Florida I think it's a better combination of young Talent guys like Jordan Castell Bryce Thorton Deon Moore all going into what year two year three but then you also inject a lot of guys that have played a lot of football have that veteran presence ASA Turner DJ Douglas triquest Bridges Jason Marshall JR we've seen him get Buzz around being a first-r NFL draft pick didn't look like it last year I'm going to lean Florida because I like the combination of young talent but also veteran kind of Veteran reliability you might say vers Miami you have some young talent but I don't know if you did enough in the transfer portal with Savon Riley and Michel pow for me to give them the edge that being said a little caveat before I let you go I don't think Miami is done in the transfer portal in this back end of that and I'm kind of with you I just don't think those two they brought in to kind of be those safeties are real difference makers in terms especially compared to what they're losing I mean they're losing two Elite guys in the back end and those two are solid I mean Michel Powell solid player savan Riley same thing maybe a little more upside yes but I think at the end of the day you just like I mean they're not guys changing your system and and you look at Florida I'm kind of with you I mean you started to see those young guys emerge towards the end of the year guys who I kind of look at oh those are some NFL type bodies and and I'm just not sure you you have that proof yet for Miami yeah I think some of the questions would be like a guy like Jas Richard or deari Bron or true freshman zaquan Patterson like can those be guys can zaquan Patterson specifically be a guy you can lean on in 2024 and if so and you get a little bit more flexibility of where guys can play Kick Michel Powell down to that nickel room which is sounds like he's gonna play the conversation might change but right now what it is March 31st you got to ride with the Florida Gator here so that'll do it D we're going to take a look at this matchup from a lot of different angles over the next couple months appreciate you guys rocking with the fellas please give D some heat in the comments section regarding that Florida Gator defensive line appreciate y'all rocking with the fellas if youall do enjoy the content consider subscribing to the channel we'll talk to you'all later