Two Hurricanes named to preseason watch lists. And injury updates heading into fall camp

Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Jalen Rivers and linebacker Francisco Mauigoa have cemented themselves as top players at their positions entering the college football season.

Both were recognized as such on Tuesday, with Mauigoa landing on the Nagurski Trophy watch list and Rivers finding himself on the watch list for the Outland Trophy.

Mauigoa is one of 75 players on the watch list for the Nagurski Trophy, given annually to the top defensive player in college football as voted on by the Football Writers Association of America. Mauigoa last season led the Hurricanes and ranked tied for ninth nationally with 18 tackles for loss. He also had seven-and-a-half sacks, which tied for the team lead.

Rivers is one of 75 representatives on the watch list for the Outland Trophy, which is awarded annually to the top interior lineman in college football (although 24 of the 75 players on the list, including Rivers, are offensive tackles).

Rivers started all 12 games for Miami last season at left tackle and earned All-ACC second-team honors. He has played in 30 career games for Miami with 21 starts, beginning his career at left guard before moving out to left tackle.

Mark Fletcher, Tyler Baron ready for camp

Both running back Mark Fletcher and defensive lineman Tyler Baron on Tuesday said they have been cleared to take part in fall camp.

Fletcher, a sophomore, sustained a Lisfranc injury in the Hurricanes’ 31-24 loss to Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 28. He did not participate in spring practices and said he was off the foot for about five months while rehabbing. Fletcher rushed for 514 yards and five touchdowns on 105 carries as a freshman last season.

However, Fletcher said he will most likely be eased back into action during camp ahead of the team’s season opener against the Florida Gators on Aug. 31.

“They’re taking their time with me,” Fletcher said. “They just want me to be safe. I’m going back into things slowly, but I feel great.”

That said, Fletcher being fully cleared puts Miami’s running back room at full strength. Fletcher along with Oregon State transfer Damien Martinez will form a formidable one-two punch in Miami’s backfield but the depth goes beyond them. Redshirt sophomore Ajay Allen, redshirt freshman Chris Johnson, and true freshmen Chris Wheatley-Humphrey and Jordan Lyle are all in the mix to get playing time as well.

Baron, who transferred to Miami after four years at Tennessee and then spending the spring at Louisville, did not participate in spring practice at Louisville due to a shoulder injury. During his time at Tennessee, Baron logged 100 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, four passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery that was returned for a touchdown over 47 games (18 starts).

Baron is slated be part of the Hurricanes’ defensive end rotation. Sophomore Rueben Bain headlines that group, with Akheem Mesitor and Elijah Alston also expected to get their share of snaps.

Zion Nelson retires from football

Offensive lineman Zion Nelson, who would have been a sixth-year senior this season, has stepped away from football for medical reasons.

His football career ends with him having played 37 games with 32 starts. He did not play at all in 2023 and played in just one game in 2022 while dealing with multiple knee injuries.

He said it

“When you go from vacation to back to reality, there is about a two-day stretch where — my wife will tell you, she was like, ‘What the hell’s wrong with you?’ It’s like, ‘Look, I’ve gotta snap back into reality.’ You know? So vacation is awesome and everybody knows our schedule changes year to year as far as the summer goes. We do treasure July, but when you do sink back in, it only takes a couple of days. The key is once you get around the guys and the players get back, it’s just everybody’s ready to go.” - Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson on fall camp starting