College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Miami University RedHawks season with what you need to know.
CFN in 60 Podcast: 2020 Miami University RedHawks
Miami University preview in 60 seconds
– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Miami University Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2019 Record: 8-6 overall, 6-2 in East
Head Coach: Chuck Martin 7th year, 30-47 at MU
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 85
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 47
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 107
NOTE: Obviously, no one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.
5. College Football News Preview 2020: Miami University RedHawks Offense 3 Things To Know
– It wasn’t exactly a smooth season for the Miami University offense. There wasn’t a consistent running game, third down conversions weren’t happening, and the team finished 122nd in the nation with just 309 yards per game. It might have been a grind, but it was an opportunistic attack that did just enough to help the team go on a second half run to the MAC Championship. And now the O gets back ten starters – it’s time to produce.
CFN in 60 Video: Miami University RedHawks Preview
– The offensive front struggled to keep defenses out of the backfield and didn’t generate a push for the ground game, but it’s a massive bunch with a whole lot of talent returning. Tommy Doyle is a terrific left tackle and Danny Godlevske is an all-star at center, but the production has to follow the experience, especially for the backs.
Jaylon Bester is just 5-8 and 184 pounds, but he’s a terror around the goal line, running for a team-high 741 yards and 14 touchdowns. However, he’s got to come back healthy after getting hurt this offseason. 587-yard sophomore Tyre Shelton will get the call as the lead back if Bester can’t go.
– It’s not that Miami hid its freshman quarterback, but Brett Gabbert wasn’t allowed to turn it loose. He led the way to a MAC championship, but he only completed 55% of his passes for 2,411 yards and 11 touchdowns with eight picks. He’s not all that big, and he’s not much of a runner, but expect him to start winging it around the yard more after being thrown into the fire.
The receiving corps is terrific – the top four targets are back. Jack Sorenson is a good veteran midrange receiver – leading the way with 44 grabs for 568 yards and four scores – and Jalen Walker and James Maye are young blazers who stretch the field. They didn’t make a whole lot of grabs – 44 between the two – but they made them count.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Miami University RedHawks Defense 3 Things To Know
4. College Football News Preview 2020: Miami University RedHawks Defense 3 Things To Know
– The offense was along for the ride the defense provided. The RedHawks were 13th in the nation in tackles for loss, third in the MAC in total D, and they had the knack for making a whole lot of key plays when it had to. There might be enough missing parts to be annoying – five of the top ten tacklers are done – but it should still be among the MAC’s better defenses.
– The secondary has a terrific corner in senior Emmanuel Rugamba, and safeties Sterling Weatherford and Mike Brown hit everything – Weatherford made 98 tackles and Brown came up with 56 – but losing Bart Baratti at the nickel spot is a big deal. This group will be find if there’s more of a pass rush.
– There were enough plays behind the line to be fine. Ivan Pace turned into a bit of a specialist – coming up with a team-high seven tackles from his spot on the outside – but it’s senior Ryan McWood that sets the pace for the linebacking corps, coming up with a team-high 99 stops.
The line loses all-star, heart-and-soul type Doug Costin on the inside, but the other three starters are back up front. There isn’t a lot of bulk, but the depth is as strong as it’s been in the Chuck Martin era.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Top Miami University RedHawks Players
College Football News Preview 2020: Top Miami University RedHawks Players
Best Miami University RedHawks Offensive Player
OT Tommy Doyle, Sr.
The 6-8, 326-pound First Team All-MAC star went from the mean streets of Edina, MN – where I grew up, I was able to escape, too – to a fantastic blocker on the outside who’ll be among the nation’s best left tackles. He’s got the length, he loves well, and he’s still improving. While he’s not exactly a thumper, he’ll be the one to keep Brett Gabbert’s blindside protected.
2. C Danny Godlevske, Sr.
3. QB Brett Gabbert, Soph.
4. WR Jack Sorenson, Sr.
5. WR Jalen Walker, Jr.
Best Miami University RedHawks Defensive Player
DE Kameron Butler, Jr.
It was his first year in the bigger role on the outside, and he came through with a special year. The 6-3, 252-pound All-MAC producer on the outside, he’s a true hybrid edge rusher who came up with 5.5 sacks with 14.5 tackles for loss and 45 tackles. He might not have a whole lot of bulk, but he keeps on coming with a constant motor.
2. CB Emmanuel Rugamba, Sr.
3. S Sterling Weatherford, Jr.
4. LB Ryan McWood, Sr.
5. S Mike Brown, Sr.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Miami University RedHawks Keys To The Season
College Football News Preview 2020: Miami University RedHawks Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Miami University RedHawks Offense
Use that big, tough, experience offensive line and start running the ball. It’s been a long, long, long time since the Miami University program was able to consistently do anything for the ground game, but things have been better lately – almost ten years ago, the RedHawks struggled to get to 1,000 yards for the season. Even so, they need to do more.
There are plenty of decent backs, QB Brett Gabbert can run, and the offensive line is as good as any in the MAC. Now it’s time to FINALLY get over 2,000 yards after running for 1,833 last season.
MU ran for 125 yards or more six times – and won all six games. Up the yards a bit, and over the last three years it’s 14-1 when it runs for 145 yards.
Biggest Key To The Miami University RedHawks Defense
Don’t make the safeties make all of the big plays. There’s not a lot of size on the MU D, but there’s a whole lot of quickness in the 4-2-5 alignment. Sterling Weatherford and Mike Brown are big safeties – both go over 210 pound – but a rotation has to be found a the Nickel spot.
It’s not that the linebackers don’t do their part – Ryan McWood seems to get in on everything – but three of the top four tacklers were in the secondary. It all worked – MU managed to win the MAC title – and that’s the defensive style under Chuck Martin. Even so, the more help from the front six would be a plus.
Key Miami University RedHawks Player To A Successful Season
PK/P Jacob Swartz, Jr.
If you can make it out of Highland Park, IL – The Jungle – you can handle the pressure of replacing two fantastic kickers. He hit two extra points last season, and now he’ll get the first look at replacing all-star PK Sam Sloman, who nailed 26-of-30 field goals.
He also attempted a punt, and now he’ll get a shot at taking over for all-star Kyle Kramer, who averaged 43.4 yards per kick. For a team that struggles to score and needs good field position to win, the former Giant has to play a role in some way.
Key Game To The Miami University RedHawks Season
Ohio, Oct. 17
The RedHawks catch a bit of a break early on in the MAC season. If you’re going to have two conference road games, get them out of the way against Akron and Bowling Green. However, with a road date at Buffalo later on, taking care of Ohio in Oxford could be a must.
Last year’s 24-21 RedHawk win over the Bobcats – helped also by a win over UB – ended up getting MU to the MAC Championship. It should be the same thing this year.
– Miami University RedHawks Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Miami University Fun Stats
– Miami Opponent 1st Quarter Scoring: 33 – Miami Opponent 2nd Quarter Scoring: 145
– Penalties: Opponents 100 for 810 yards – Miami University 80 for 683 yards
– Touchdowns Scored: Opponents 52 – Miami University 37
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Miami University RedHawks Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
1. College Football News Preview 2020: Miami University RedHawks Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
There was absolutely zero margin for error last season for the RedHawks. They got whacked around in a 1-3 start, but they managed to win the game they had to have against Buffalo.
They struggled to beat really, really bad Northern Illinois and Akron teams, but they won the game they had to have against Ohio.
In all, five of their last six wins – including the MAC Championship – were by a touchdown or less.
Expect more of the same, and expect the veteran RedHawks to once again be on the right side of plenty of close battles. However, the offense still isn’t going to be as explosive as it will need to be, and the defense will continue to defy logic and reason by not being all that great at anything but giving up points.
After coming up with its best season since winning the 2010 MAC Championship, expect a bit of a dip.
Set The Miami University RedHawks Regular Season Win Total At … 7
Bet at BetMGM Win Total Line: 6.5
Before last year, they went eight straight seasons without winning more than six regular season games. This season, they’ll get by Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and they should be able to win their share of MAC battles against the mediocre – like Ball State, Akron, Bowling Green and Kent State – but they’ll struggle to get to seven victories.
They get Ohio at home, but dates at Central Michigan and Buffalo will be issues. It’ll be at least a six-win season with a trip to a bowl game, but it’ll be a struggle to come up with a second-straight special season.
