Miami University RedHawks Preview 2024
If you’re going 11-3 with a MAC Championship despite losing your star quarterback midway through the season, you’re doing something right.
Miami defined down-the-middle solid for years under Chuck Martin. Five-to-seven wins just about every year, maybe a bowl appearance, more often than not there was one big loss that screwed everything up, the program was … again, solid.
From 2015 to 2022 Miami was 40-40 with one bowl victory in three tries.
So what happened in 2023 to become this powerhouse that had one of the best seasons in school history?
The lines improved, the transfer portal helped - including with players who came before the transfer portal was really a thing - and the team clicked with its mix of seasoned veterans and good depth.
And again, it did it with QB Brett Gabbert going down for the year midway though the campaign.
This year’s team will be hyped up with the return of enough key parts to do it all again. It’ll be tough, but even if the RedHawks go back to around that solid mark - as long as it's on the winning side - the production and success should keep on going because …
Miami University Preview 2024: Offense
- The main man is back. Miami University managed to win the MAC Championship even though star QB Brett Gabbert was lost for the second half of the year to a horrible leg injury. He could’ve transferred or gone pro, but he’s back, he has the potential to be the MAC Player of the Year, and the passing game should be far, far better because …
- The receiving corps should be terrific. Top target Greg Larvadain left for South Carolina, but shifty kick returner star Cade McDonald is back along with deep threat Javon Tracy. Add in Andre Johnson on the outside from Arizona State, and Florida State TE Preston Daniel, and the RedHawks will bomb away. It helps that …
- The O line isn’t totally intact, but it’s close. All-star tackles Will Jados and Reid Holskey are back, and the interior is set with size - C Kolby Borders and OG John Young are huge.
Top back Rashad Amos left for Ole Miss after running for 1,075 yards and 13 scores, and now it’ll take a bit to find the right rotation between Kenny Tracy, Keyon Mozee, and Purdue transfer Dylan Downing to fill the gap. They should be able to do it.
Miami University Preview 2024: Defense
- The defense was outstanding in the red zone and was great at keeping the downfield plays from being a problem. Now the secondary needs a bit of an overhaul around veterans Raion Strader at one corner and Eli Blakey taking over one safety spot. The starting five should be fine, but depth is missing and …
- It would be nice to get more from the pass rush. It was good, but top playmaker Caiden Woullard was picked off by Oklahoma. Brian Ugwu is an all-star end who should dominate after making 105 tackles and 13 sacks with 22 tackles for loss in his first two seasons, and the tackles are good enough to hold up in the MAC - but they’re not all that huge.
- The linebackers should be one of the team’s biggest strengths. The combination of Matt Salopek and Ty Wise came up with 265 tackles last season, and they should be All-MAC stars who get into the backfield, too.
Miami University Key To The Season
Be better offensively on third downs.
The RedHawks were able to win even though the offense couldn’t keep things moving. The running game set up enough manageable plays, but it didn’t matter - the O sputtered too often, especially early.
Converting third downs wasn’t a problem in the loss to Toledo, but that’s when Gabbert got hurt. After that the RedHawks converted fewer than 30% of their chances in five of the last six games and eight of the 14 games overall.
Miami University Key Player
RB Kenny Tracy, Sr.
He has been a part of the running rotation for the last three years, cranking up 708 yards and five touchdowns and averaging just over five yards per carry. He can catch a bit, too. He’ll still be part of a rotation - Purdue transfer Dylan Downing will be a factor - but the RedHawks need him to be a bit of a workhouse if possible.
Miami University Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: WR Andre Johnson, Sr.
Miami didn’t load up too much in the transfer portal, but it got a few nice parts including a big deep threat who can be a matchup problem. The former Arizona State Sun Devil caught 32 passes for 387 yards and two scores over the last four seasons - he should blow past that in his final year.
Top Transfer Out: EDGE Caiden Woullard
Losing star PK Graham Nicholson to Alabama really, really hurts, but finding a pass rusher who can crank up the energy and big plays like Woullard did is tough. Great as a sophomore, he blew up in 2023 with 41 tackles with 9.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Oklahoma snapped him up.
Miami University Key Game
at Toledo, Oct. 5
This might be the first of two games - again. Last year Miami lost to Toledo 21-17 in the regular season, and came back and shocked in the MAC Championship with a 23-14 win. This year it’s on the road to open up the MAC campaign in the epitome of a tone-setter.
Miami University 10 Best Players
1. Brett Gabbert, QB Sr.
2. Matt Salopek, LB Sr.
3. Brian Ugwu, DE Sr.
4. Will Jados, OT Jr.
5. Reid Holskey, OT Sr.
6. Ty Wise, LB Sr.
7. Raion Strader, CB Soph.
8. Cade McDonald, WR/KR Sr.
9. Alec Bevelhimer, P Sr.
10. Kobe Hilton, DT Sr.
Miami University 2023 Fun Stats
- Penalties: Opponents 94 for 834 yards, Miami 66 for 547 yards
- 1st Quarter Scoring: Miami 103, Opponents 58
- 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 14-32 (44%), Miami 4-13 (36%)
Miami University 2024 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
If Miami could win 11 games last season before the bowl, is it possible to do something amazing and rip through the schedule to be in the mix for the Group of Five spot in the expanded College Football Playoff?
That’s a heavy lift with at trip to Northwestern to start the season, the rivalry game against Cincinnati, and a date at Notre Dame. Somehow win two of those three, and …
It won’t win two of those three, but it should go on a nice roll in the MAC after the showdown against Toledo. The team will be good enough to get back to the MAC title game and a fourth straight bowl appearance with a fifth winning season in six years.
Set The Miami University Win Total At … 7.5
Likely Wins: Kent State, UMass
50/50 Games: at Ball State, at Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, at Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Ohio, at Toledo
Likely Losses: at Notre Dame
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