Miami’s offense is drawing plenty of buzz, and JD PicKell is leaning all the way in on what Darian Mensah could unlock in Coral Gables.
The Rivals/On3 analyst pointed to the obvious first: this is a loaded group. Malachi Toney, Mark Fletcher Jr., Cooper Barkate, Jackson Cantwell and the rest of the cast give the Hurricanes plenty of pieces to work with every week this fall. But for PicKell, the real difference starts under center, where Mensah steps in with the job of pushing Miami toward ACC and CFP goals.
That’s where the conversation shifts from talent to tempo. PicKell believes the Hurricanes are ready to open things up in a way they couldn’t fully do before.
"I have more confidence that this offense is going to cut it loose," PicKell said. "I think Shannon Dawson....he wants to sling it around the yard.
He wants to throw that ball downfield. He wants to be a lot more like it was with Cam Ward when [the Hurricanes] top 15 in college football when it came to yards per pass."
Mensah arrives with an ACC title already on his résumé from Duke, and Miami’s expectations are much bigger than the underdog path that came with that run. The Hurricanes are expected to be the favorites, and the mission is clear: end a 20+ year drought without a conference championship.
PicKell also sees a quarterback who adds something Miami didn’t fully have before. He was careful not to dismiss Carson Beck, saying Beck brought experience, poise and a strong feel for what to do - and what not to do - in high-pressure moments. But Mensah brings more playmaking juice, and that could matter for an offense that may now be able to reach its ceiling.
With a full stable of skill talent and a quarterback who can extend plays, Miami has the look of a group built to stress defenses every week. PicKell’s view is simple: this is the kind of Hurricanes offense that can be unleashed.
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