Mario Cristobal got Miami a little bit of good news on the injury front Monday, and for an offensive line that could use a boost, it matters.
Max Buchanan, who started at right guard in the Hurricanes’ first five games before going down against Clemson, is tracking toward a possible return later this season. Buchanan had surgery on his left knee in the days after the injury and has been sidelined since, but Cristobal sounded encouraged about where things stand.
“I would say he has a chance at returning more towards the last game of the year, and if we earn the right to go beyond that, then possibly... but that’s the timeline for him,” Cristobal said in his Monday media conference.
That lines up with the possibility of Buchanan being available for the regular-season finale against Boston College and, beyond that, maybe more if Miami keeps playing.
The timing would be huge. Buchanan was a steady presence in the run game before the injury, posting a 72.4 run-blocking grade across those five starts.
Miami looked noticeably better running the ball with him on the field. The pass protection numbers were rough - his 43.8 pass-blocking grade from PFF stands out - but if the Hurricanes are going to make any kind of postseason push, getting the ground game back on track is the bigger priority.
Cristobal also addressed the state of the line after Miami’s Week 10 battle with Notre Dame, a game that turned into a long night for the offense. The Irish brought pressure and blitzes that kept the Hurricanes unsettled and made Darian Mensah’s job a grind, but Cristobal still praised the group for how it handled the punishment.
“For us, when you’re down 24-3 and you have to pass the ball about 50 times, a lot of it in dropback, you’ll be ready for some moments that aren’t real pretty. But they played tough, and they played really, really hard,” he added.
With Buchanan still out, Miami appears set to keep rolling with the same five up front that logged every one of the unit’s 76 offensive snaps against Notre Dame: Samson Okunlola, Ben Congdon, Ryan Rodriguez, SJ Alofaituli, and Matthew McCoy. For those hoping former 5-star recruit Jackson Cantwell would force his way into the mix, Cristobal’s comments didn’t suggest a shakeup is coming.
“[Cantwell] is progressing. He’s going to be a really, really good football player.”
So for now, the Hurricanes’ offensive line is staying put. The biggest issue is less about who’s starting and more about how much trust this group can build, both in itself and in Mensah’s eyes, especially with Manny Diaz expected to bring plenty of chaos this week. And without Malachi Toney there to help smooth out mistakes, every breakdown becomes more expensive.
Still, the door is open for help. If Buchanan gets back by the end of the month, or even before the ACC Championship Game, Miami could be closer to whole when it matters most.
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