Scott wanted to go to Miami, but the Chicago native’s mother wanted him to stay closer to home. When Scott made his initial decision on July 2, 2023, he committed to Ohio State. 

“Originally, I wanted to commit to Miami first before (Ohio) State, but my mom wasn’t really rocking with it,” Scott said at Miami’s media day on July 30. “Just being that far from home was a big thing from her, and just the city may have seemed intimidating, but it’s really not. That was really a big thing.”

Ultimately, through conversations with the Miami staff, Scott’s mother came around to the idea of her son heading south. On Nov. 29, Scott flipped his commitment from the Buckeyes to the Hurricanes. 

“Just building trust with the coaching staff,” Scott said. “Just through visits and through communications: phone, text, calls. Just building trust. … I would say just building the relationship.”

Scott signed with UM in December but did not get to campus until this summer. He has quickly gone to work; Scott said he gained 10 pounds of muscle in his first month on campus. He said he has adjusted quickly to being away from home.

“It’s been good,” Scott said. “Guys on the football team make me feel like family, so it feels like I’ve already got my family here. When it comes to being away from home, I feel OK.”

Scott, like other star freshmen, has had to adjust his mindset. In high school, he was a five-star prospect and a key starter for his team. Now he is working to carve out a role.

“Mentally, when it comes to being in college, you just leave all the high school stuff (in the past),” Scott said. “College is a fresh start. You’ve got to rebuild that name, basically re-get the stars.”

With a talented defensive line that is loaded with returning veterans and experienced transfers, Scott knows he will have to compete for playing time. But he said he is happy just to pitch in where he can.

“I’d say just coming in and just being used wherever they need me,” Scott said. “Just filling them holes that they need. Coming in, playing my game, being willing to learn.”

Scott has impressed the staff early in his Miami career, though. Coach Mario Cristobal said on the first day of fall practice that Scott received many reps.

“You can throw a lot at him,” Cristobal said. “He got a lot of reps (on the first day of practice). He’s really good.”

The former five-star prospect received one of Cristobal’s highest measures of praise, with the third-year coach describing him as a “real one.”

“He’s a real one, now,” Cristobal said. “(Six-foot-four), I think he’s now 300 (pounds) flat. Real athletic. You saw when he played basketball, when I watched him play basketball, he’s never on the ground. Very heavy-handed, light feet, knowledgeable, smart, plays with good leverage. That guy’s going to be special.”

Mauigoa on watch list

After his successful first season with the Hurricanes, linebacker Francisco Mauigoa has continued to earn attention entering the season.

Mauigoa was named to the Butkus Award preseason watch list on Tuesday, a day after he was selected for the Bednarik Award watch list.  

The Butkus Award is given to the top linebacker in the nation. Dan Morgan is the only Miami linebacker who has ever won the award, earning it in 2000.

Mauigoa had a team-leading 82 tackles and 18 tackles for loss last year and tied with defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. for the team lead in sacks.

He also named Mishael “Meesh” Powell, a defensive back transfer from Washington who has ingrained himself in UM’s defense since arriving in the spring.

“He’s as good as any of the guys that I’ve been fortunate enough to be around, and it’s because he’s a professional about everything he does,” Cristobal said in an interview on The Joe Rose Show on Monday morning. “He wastes no time. There’s no BS to him. He’s all about the work. Tremendous human being. Super high IQ.”

Although Cristobal said the offense got the better of the defense in Saturday’s scrimmage, Rose said Powell had an interception during the practice.

“Brother, he just goes,” Cristobal said. “He knows one speed and one speed only, whether it be in walk-throughs, whether it be in live drills.”

Powell arrived from Washington in time for spring camp, and he brought a solid resume with him to Coral Gables. Powell had 92 tackles and three interceptions across three seasons with the Huskies (with all of the interceptions coming last season). Powell was a key player during Washington’s run to the national title game, starting 14 games. The versatile defensive back played safety, outside cornerback and slot cornerback.

Powell ultimately decided to leave the Huskies, who underwent major program changes after Alabama hired coach Kalen DeBoer to replace the retiring Nick Saban. Washington replaced DeBoer with Arizona coach Jedd Fisch.

Powell decided to take his talents to Coral Gables, and he thinks he found a team in a similar spot to the Huskies.

“This feels like looking into a mirror, honestly … Overall, I think this team is going to be great,” Powell said. “I think it’s going to be elite. I wouldn’t come here and be with this staff and this team if I didn’t think we have a shot to win it all, and I’m very confident in that.”

The Hurricanes needed safety help after Kam Kinchens and James Williams left early for the NFL, so the staff plans to use Powell primarily as a safety. He can lock down one of those two empty spots while younger and less experienced players compete for the second safety spot.

But Powell has proven to be a versatile defensive back throughout his career, playing outside cornerback, slot cornerback and safety. Powell said where he lines up will depend on the defensive package and what opposing offenses throw at UM. He believes that versatility is a strength for him.

“I’m still very back-and-forth with (the positions),” Powell said. “It’s dependent on what the offense gives to us will decide where I go. I’m not locked on a spot. If coach (Lance) Guidry said play defensive end, I’m going to play defensive end. Speaking on safety, I think my strength is being able to see everything. I’m smart. Being able to see things before it happens.

“I’ve talked to guys like Kam Kinchens — I talk to him all the time — and just ask for advice on what he thinks, how he does in the post. I think he has 10, 12 total career (interceptions). His name is up there. I’m trying to have my name up there, as well.”

Jaden Harris, a redshirt sophomore who will likely line up alongside Powell at safety, said he enjoys playing next to Powell

“It’s been a great experience working with Meesh,” Harris said. “He’s got a lot of experience, played in a lot of games. Kind of like that big brother vibe still. It’s been a great experience to go out there and play with him and learn from him.”

Helping younger players like Harris and freshman safety Zaquan Patterson (who Powell said he expects to be an All-American one day) is a key way he has shown his leadership, Cristobal said.

“He knows ball,” Cristobal said. “He knows how to leverage the ball. He knows how to play man-to-man. He knows and understands all of our defensive concepts. So not only is he a great player, he’s also a great teacher and example for the guys around him.”

Bain, Mauigoa make preseason watch list

Hurricanes defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. and linebacker Francisco Mauigoa earned spots on the Bednarik Award preseason watch list on Monday.

Former UM linebacker Dan Morgan won the award, which is given to the most outstanding defensive player in the nation, in 2000. He is the only Hurricane to ever win the award.

Bain, who was last year’s ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, had 44 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in his freshman year.

Mauigoa had a team-leading 82 tackles and 18 tackles for loss last year and tied with Bain for the team lead in sacks.

Miami was ranked No. 19 in the nation in the preseason poll after ending last year unranked. The Hurricanes are also ranked 19th in the preseason coaches poll. 

Three other Atlantic Coast Conference teams are also ranked to start the season: No. 10 Florida State, No. 14 Clemson and No. 24 North Carolina State. The Hurricanes play only one of those teams: FSU.

Two other teams on Miami’s schedule, Louisville and Virginia Tech, were the top vote-getters outside the Top 25.

Miami went 7-6 last season, including 3-5 in the ACC. With the addition of star quarterback Cam Ward, who was named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, and other high-profile transfers, the Hurricanes’ fortunes are expected to dramatically change.

Here is the complete preseason AP poll:

1. Georgia (46)

.2. Ohio State (15)

3. Oregon (1)

4. Texas

5. Alabama

6. Ole Miss

7. Notre Dame

8. Penn State

9. Michigan

10. Florida State

11. Missouri

12. Utah

13. LSU

14. Clemson

15. Tennessee

16. Oklahoma

17. Oklahoma State

18. Kansas State

19. Miami

20. Texas A&M

21. Arizona

22. Kansas

23. USC

24. North Carolina State

25. Iowa

In parenthesis are the number of first-place votes.

“Defense has been getting after them and knocking them around all week, and today the offense countered in a big-time way,” Cristobal said in an in-house interview posted on the team’s YouTube channel. “All sparked by a big-time third-down play that snowballed into more and more (big) plays. But also more physicality at the line of scrimmage on both sides, but today the day belonged to the offense.”

Miami defensive back Jadais Richard said early this past week that UM’s secondary had locked down the team’s receivers well, but that changed in the scrimmage.

“The offense today, they adjusted to the speed of the defense,” Cristobal said. “Throughout the course of the week, the defense created a lot of negative plays for the offense, really pressured the quarterback, did a good job snuffing out our receivers and tight ends in coverage. Today, the offense created more separation, more air and made more plays.”

Cristobal said the Hurricanes have nailed down their base special-teams schematics.

The Hurricanes followed the scrimmage with a family barbecue, Cristobal said.

“It’s not like prison,” Cristobal said, “but you’ve got your family for an hour, so it’s visitation hours now. See your family, but if you take a nap, make sure you set your alarm because we’ve got meetings, we’ve got lift, we’ve got walk-through. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

“Everybody’s excited in the building,” defensive back Jadais Richard said. “That’s the first time we actually get to play hard-nosed football. Everybody’s really excited for Saturday.”

Miami coach Mario Cristobal said it will be a full-contact scrimmage for half of practice before they go back to simulated tackling.

“Playing ball,” Cristobal said. “Flat-out playing ball. Halfway through, we will go back to thud and work situational football: third down, red zone, short yardage, goal line, coming out, maybe in with two minutes, one or two shots of it. But the first part will be just playing football.”

So far, the UM defense has gotten the slight edge over the offense, Cristobal said. Richard said the secondary has close to 20 interceptions in practice.

“I think as the days go, you’ll see it go back and forth, which is always a good sign,” Cristobal said. “I would give the defense the edge as of right now because of (Thursday). Today, they were dominant.”

Cristobal said the players have stepped up in the early part of fall camp, knowing that the coaches are watching closely during each practice rep.

“Every day is graded like a game,” Cristobal said. “We go from drill to drill. We grade on one-on-ones, we grade two-on-twos, we grade on five-on-fours. They know that every single day, for us to be the team we want to be, we’ve got to treat it like a game. They haven’t disappointed. Everyone in the building knows we have work to do, and everyone in the building is really excited because of the progress that we’re making.”

Transfers leading the way

When asked who he thinks has stood out as leaders on the team, Cristobal picked two new additions to the program: quarterback Cam Ward and defensive back Meesh Powell.

“Two best leaders right now that are leaders because they are men of action as members of the leadership council and members of the team are Meesh Powell and Cam Ward,” Cristobal said. “Right now, they stand out as two guys that, besides doing what they’re supposed to do, really go out of their way to impact other people. And they’re really good at it. They’re naturally charismatic for the right reasons, and they grind now.

“These guys are in here all day, all night. They’re not afraid to stand up and speak up, and they’re very experienced guys. They’ve seen a lot. They’ve seen a lot of ball. They’ve seen a lot of ball against each other. They kind of get it cranking in practice. They get after each other. They try to match each other’s intensity and bring everybody else with them.”

Wide receiver Jacolby George said Ward frequently brings the wide receivers to the practice facility to get extra work.

“We all have a great chemistry” George said. “We all throw after practice, do stuff on the off days. Cam has everybody in the building when we don’t have to be in the building. We all like getting extra work together, and that just brings us all closer together.”

Mauigoa started all 13 of UM’s games last year and was named a freshman All-American by multiple outlets. Now he is out to prove he will continue to live up to the five-star ranking he got coming out of high school.

“The biggest thing I learned is you either eat or get eaten,” Mauigoa said. “Akheem Mesidor, a Ruben Bain, an Elijah Alston and all these great D-ends, they come to hunt. It’s either I match their energy or I don’t. That’s what goes on in practice every day. I’m really, really excited for this team … because they’re head-hunters, and I’m the protector of my quarterback.”

Mauigoa’s freshman year was good, especially for a true freshman lineman, but it was not perfect. His 64.8 pass-blocking grade was the lowest of Miami’s five starting linemen (who all had good seasons). He had more penalties (nine) and more sacks allowed (five) than anyone on the team. But when compared to other true freshmen who played more than 200 snaps, his overall grade is third-best in the nation. His 70.7 run-blocking grade was best among those freshmen, as well.

“He definitely was the best freshman tackle in the country,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “What can he work on? Everything. He’s a guy that handled the wide rushes well. He handled man blocks, back-side scoops, back-side reaches, front-side double teams, bump blocks, bump doubles. He’s done it all at a pretty high level.”

Offensive line coach Alex Mirabal said Mauigoa has things to work on, including those penalties.

“We’ve got to work on getting our hands tighter, and there’s different ways that you can use your hands and get your hands into a defender’s body without going outside,” Mirabal said. “That’s just stuff that he’s got to learn. He’s had growing pains as a young player, as a young offensive lineman. Now he’s working to fix (them).”

Still, the sky is the limit for Mauigoa as he looks to help anchor the line for the second year in a row.

“Francis is always hungry,” Cristobal said. “You’re never going to find him avoiding work. He’s always going to find some work, and he knows he has to get better, and he is getting better.”

The only thing that has slowed Mauigoa down has been injuries. He had surgery on both shoulders in the offseason, which kept him out for spring practice.

“Came back like I never left,” Mauigoa said.

But missing spring practice could be a boon for Mauigoa, as he avoided suffering any more damage to his body while healing from surgery.

“Sometimes it’s a blessing because of less wear and tear on your body … but he’s been awesome,” Mirabal said. “His leadership is tremendous. Even though he didn’t practice in the spring, it hasn’t slowed him down one bit at all.”

But Mauigoa was not content to sit and watch his teammates practice all spring while he waited from the sidelines. He poured time into the gym.

“My mentality was like I need to be on the field as quick as possible, like as soon as possible as I can. What I do is I tried to do as much to catch up because (the team is) grinding every day. Me sitting on my butt makes me feel like I’m lazy, so I tried my best to match up to whatever they’re doing and try to get back on the field with not that big of a gap because they’re grinding, they’re getting better, and I’m not.”

Mauigoa’s physical abilities are obvious, and they are why he was named to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman’s “Freak List” for the second year in a row. The list highlights 50 players across the nation with elite physical traits. Feldman highlighted Mauigoa’s jump power (9,274 watts) and 10-yard dash times (1.72 seconds last year and even better now, Feldman wrote).

“We’ll use him as a weapon,” Cristobal said. “We feel we can run behind him. We feel safe in protection in five-, six- and seven-man protections.

Ward makes another watch list

Miami quarterback Cam Ward has reeled in the preseason accolades entering this year. On Thursday, Ward was named to the Davey O’Brien Award watch list.

The Davey O’Brien Award is given annually to the nation’s top quarterback.

Ward is also on the Maxwell Award preseason watch list and the Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list. He was named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year.

Ward threw for 3,736 yards and 25 touchdowns with just seven interceptions at Washington State last year. He transferred to Miami instead of entering the NFL draft.

Two of those players, Jacolby George and Xavier Restrepo, return after successful 2023 campaigns with the Hurricanes. One, Sam Brown Jr., is new to the program, and he brings high speed to UM’s receiver corps as it searches for a starter to replace Colbie Young, who transferred to Georgia.

Brown transferred from Houston, where he previously played under UM’s offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. He had 62 catches for 815 yards and three touchdowns last year, earning a spot as an All-Big 12 honorable mention.

“I think Sam plays aggressive,” Dawson said. “That was the one thing I appreciated about him in my time with him. I never had to worry about Sam in a game. … I know what I’m getting with Sam. He knows what he’s getting with me.”

Over the summer, Brown worked out with new Miami quarterback Cam Ward in Houston, which helped sway him to Miami.

“Just his release, his release and how he can see things before they actually happen,” Brown said. “He understands coverages. He’s a matchup guy. He takes matchups he likes. … He takes his matchup with what the defense gives him.”

Brown excelled at medium and deep passes, earning a 93.9 receiving grade on 10-19-yard passes and a 90.5 grade on passes 20 yards or deeper from Pro Football Focus. He said his strength was “just being explosive.” Brown said he has reached 22.3 miles per hour, and his fasted 100-meter time was 10.8 seconds.

Dawson said Brown’s experience playing in his offense previously has helped him get adjusted to the Hurricanes’ offense.

“There are things we’re doing here that are different, too. So there’s a learning curve for him, as well. He’s no different from everybody else. His effort’s good, makes plays here and there. Everybody needs to be much more consistent.”

Brown said Dawson was part of the reason he came to Miami. He also liked the quarterback room, continuity on the offensive line and being closer to his home in Georgia.

Brown looks to be a key contributor in his first year at Miami alongside George and Restrepo.

“The receiver room, we’re ready to go,” Brown said. “I feel like we’re two-deep, and it’s going to be a long season, so we need everybody.”

Williams up for award

Emory Williams started two games as a freshman, taking over for Tyler Van Dyke following Van Dyke’s struggles. But he had to leave his second career start with a severe left arm injury that ended his first year with the Hurricanes.

The Florida Panhandle native healed in time to take part in spring practice and is competing for the backup quarterback job along with Reese Poffenbarger. Although he likely will not play much this year, Williams was named to the ACC Comeback Player of the Year award watch list on Wednesday.

Dawson said Williams, fresh off the rehab for the arm injury, had an “exceptional spring.”

“I didn’t even know if Emory would be (available in spring) because of the injury,” Dawson said. “He worked his tail off and got back and went through all of spring ball. What I was told at the beginning was he might make it back to do some seven-on-seven. Kid worked his tail off and got back.”

On the other hand, Miami defensive back Meesh Powell said full steam ahead for the Zaquan Patterson hype train.

“I tell him every day, that’s a freshman All-American,” Powell said. “I tell him every day he’s going to be one of the greatest safeties to ever come out of Miami.

“He’s going to have his name up here,” Powell added, referring to the banners in the UM indoor practice facility with the names of Miami All-Americans.

Defensive coordinator Lance Guidry pumped the breaks a little on Tuesday, but he agrees that Patterson will be an immediate contributor.

“That’s big words right there now,” Guidry said. “I think he can be a really good football player. We’ll see how he goes throughout camp and training, getting ready for Florida.”

Guidry did say the former Chaminade-Madonna star will get some reps as the Hurricanes search for a second starting safety to team with Powell and replace departed NFL safeties Kam Kinchens and James Williams.

“How many snaps he gets on defense, I don’t know, but he’ll play,” Guidry said. “We’re not going to spare him, of course. But he has a chance to be a really good one. I do believe that. We’ll just see how he progresses.”

Patterson was a star on Lions teams that rolled to multiple state titles. Last season, he had 47 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and six interceptions.

“He’s super talented, super smart,” Powell said. “He’s a great tackler; that’s something we need at safety. Then he can cover. At the safety position, being able to do all those things and just being so intelligent on the field right now — he’s probably 17 or 18 years old — that’s something that I wish I had.

“So I just make sure I just hammer him and make sure that he knows you can be really good here. You can play this year and understand that you’ve just got to be consistent. I think that’s the biggest thing of being an elite player. You’ve got to be able to make the same plays every single day, not just once every other practice. … He’s been doing a helluva job. He’s a helluva player.”

Martinez makes watch list

The preseason accolades keep rolling in for Miami players. Transfer running back Damien Martinez was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list on Tuesday. The award is given to the nation’s top running back, but no Hurricane has ever won the award.

Martinez is entering his first season with the Hurricanes after transferring from Oregon State. Last season, he ran for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns and was a first-team All-PAC-12 selection.

A couple former Hurricanes also made the watch list: Louisville running back Don Chaney Jr. made the list, as did SMU running back Jaylan Knighton.

Those expectations were reflected by Miami’s placement in the preseason coaches poll, which was released Monday afternoon. The Hurricanes were ranked 19th in the nation in the preliminary poll.

Miami ended last season unranked.

The Hurricanes are one of four ACC teams ranked in the preseason poll. Rival Florida State is ranked 10th, Clemson is 14th and N.C. State is 22nd. Of those teams, Miami only plays FSU. North Carolina, Louisville, SMU, Virginia Tech and Syracuse also received votes.

Miami coach Mario Cristobal is not a voter in this year’s coaches poll.

Ward makes top preseason watch list

Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward, fresh off being named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, earned a spot on the Walter Camp Award preseason watch list.

Ward was one of 50 players named to the watch list and was the only UM player to make the cut. The award is given annually to the college player of the year.

Ward threw for 3,736 yards and 25 touchdowns with just seven interceptions with Washington State last year. He transferred to Miami instead of entering the NFL draft.

Two Miami players have won the award: quarterback Vinny Testaverde in 1986 and quarterback Gino Toretta in 1992.

Fletcher cleared for practice

After a breakout freshman season, Mark Fletcher Jr.’s season ended on a sour note with multiple injuries: a lisfranc injury in one of his feet and a shoulder injury.

Those injuries kept Fletcher out of spring camp, but the American Heritage alumnus returned to the field for the first week of practice.

“I know I’ll get some good reps in because I’m healed for it and I’m ready for it,” Fletcher said at UM’s media day on Tuesday.

Fletcher said his recovery process was difficult, he his support group kept him going.

“It was definitely one of the most hardest things I ever did,” Fletcher said. “Like I said, I had such great people around me, (they) never let me just stay down. My spirits were always lifted.”

Fletcher had 514 rushing yards and five scores on 105 carries last year.

Restrepo shouts out walk-on receivers

Nick Thomas is a 5-foot-8 freshman walk-on wide receiver from Missouri. He’s new to UM and is going through his first fall camp with the team. But that did not intimidate him into keeping quiet around a veteran star.

“Today, I had my helmet off during walk-through,” wide receiver Xavier Restrepo said. “(Thomas) said, ‘Hey, X, put your helmet on.’  Of course. Let’s do it. I have total respect for that guy because coming in, knowing I’m the guy at the slot right now, … to be able to tell me that takes some courage. I have unlimited respect for the kid.”

Restrepo praised Miami’s other walk-on receivers on Saturday, as well.

“We have depth,” Restrepo said. “Even our walk-ons: Nick Thomas, (Kolby) Luna, (Andrew Cohen). All those guys. Those guys are busting their tails every single day. Any opportunity they get, they’re taking advantage of it.”

Johnson, the No. 1 overall pick in 2003, is the first player in the Hall to begin his career with the Texans. He was a two-time All-Pro wide receiver, made seven Pro Bowls and finished with 1,062 catches for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns.

Johnson was a key part of UM’s most recent national championship season, in 2001, grabbing 10 touchdown passes from Ken Dorsey. Those Hurricanes finished 12-0 with a 37-14 decimation of Nebraska at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Jan. 3, 2002, with Johnson roasting the Cornhuskers for 199 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions.

At Saturday’s ceremony, Johnson went last and received one of the loudest ovations with a huge contingent of the organization and fans in the crowd.

“You have shown me so much love since I came to the city,” Johnson said. “I was waking in the store the other day and a lady I didn’t know said: ‘I’ll see you in Canton.’ I love you guys and I couldn’t do what I did if I didn’t have you cheering me on.”

Steve Svekis contributed to this report.