This went as you would expect it would.
I’ve done this piece in past years, and it’s been generally well received. So hey, it’s Miami-FSU again, so let’s bring this piece back.
Here’s the general premise: If you combined the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles rosters, who would start at each position? There is always an argument of “how many players from (rival team) would start on (person’s favorite team)”, and it’s always engaging and fun.
With that being said, here’s how I see things at each position on the field heading into the 2024 installment of the Miami-Florida State rivalry:
OFFENSE
Tristan Blarel/State of the U
Quarterback: Cam Ward (Miami)
I mean, he’s the best and most productive QB in the country, has won ACC QB of the Week 5 times out of 7 weeks played, and is a candidate if not front runner for every national award his position is eligible for. This is a no-brainer.
Running Back: Damien Martinez/Mark Fletcher Jr (Miami)
Miami basically has co-starters at RB this year, and they’d stay in that role if these rosters were combined. Pick whichever one you want, but they’d start. Easily. Further down the depth chart, I would take Kam Davis (FSU), Chris Johnson Jr. (Miami), and Jordan Lyle (Miami) to round out the RB room.
Benson is averaging 6.61 yards per carry and has 8 TDs on the year. His ability to find running room and make explosive plays on the ground has been a boon for the FSU offense. One of Miami’s RB-by-committee — Henry Parrish, Donald Chaney Jr. and Mark Fletcher Jr. — figures to be the backup over Benson’s actual backup at FSU, Lawrence Toafili, on this combined roster.
Wide Receiver: Xavier Restrepo (Miami), Isaiah Horton (Miami), Jacolby George (Miami), Sam Brown (Miami)
Miami’s receiving corps has been playing lights out, and has helped Cam Ward roll up the biggest passing numbers in the country. After a breakout game from Sam Brown at Louisville, the Canes fancy themselves as having 4 starting receivers. And, sorry to break it to you, but all 4 would start on this combined roster, too. Especially when you consider the fact that FSU’s receivers have been plagued by drops this year, several of which have been costly to the point of costing them games. No thanks.
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Tight End: Elijah Arroyo (Miami)
Back off of injury, Miami’s tight end has shown elite talent and production so far this season. He’s also a solid blocker (although 9th year TE Cam McCormick is better in that area of the game), and he’s the physical prototype at this position. Easy decision yet again.
Offensive Line: Markel Bell, Jalen Rivers, Matthew McCoy, Zach Carpenter, Anez Cooper, Francis Mauigoa (Miami)
Miami’s offensive line is one of the best in America, and will surely be nominated as semi-finalists for the Moore Award for best OL group in the Country, and could win the award overall. They start as a unit on this combined roster for continuity, performance, and potential. Also yes, I have all 6 players who have started on the OL on this list. Because Miami’s OL is that deep. And that good.
DEFENSE
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EDGE rusher: Patrick Payton (FSU), Rueben Bain (Miami)
Payton is the first FSU player who would start on this combined roster. He’s a beast off the edge, already with 8.5 TFL and 4 sacks on the year. He’s a bit thin but I guess that helps him avoid opposing linemen. Bain is the destroyer of worlds. The only reason his stats are low is because he basically missed the first 5 games of the year (he only played 2 snaps at UF then missed the next 4). He started last year as a freshman, he starts again now. Duh.
Defensive Line: Simeon Barrow (Miami), Joshua Farmer (FSU)
I could have gone with either Barrow or Akheem Mesidor, but Barrow has leveled up his game here at Miami and has taken over games by himself at times. Farmer is FSU’s best interior defender with 6.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks. That’s a winning pairing, for sure.
Linebacker: Kiko Mauigoa (Miami), Wesley Bissainthe (Miami)
There’s an argument for Cam Riley (FSU) over Mauigoa, but I’m going with Miami’s defensive captain here. Bissainthe was a superstar recruit who has played since he set foot on campus, but has now developed his body up to 231lbs and is finally tapping into his immense potential. Blake Nichelson (FSU) is another blue chip recruit who would back up Bissainthe at this position.
STAR/NICKEL: Daryl Porter Jr. (Miami)
This is Porter Jr’s best position in my opinion, and Miami, as well as this combined roster, is better with him here. Kevin Knowles (FSU) is a solid player and could easily step in here as well.
Cornerback: Azareye’h Thomas (FSU), OJ Frederique (Miami)
Thomas is a long, lean athlete with plenty of athleticism to boot. Frederique has started for Miami since day 1. There’s additional depth in Fentrell Cypress (FSU), Jadais Richard (Miami), and others as well.
Safety: Shyheim Brown (FSU), K.J. Kirkland (FSU)
Miami’s safeties have been on the struggle bus this year, so the FSU pair starts. Miami freshman Zaquan Patterson and veteran transfer Meesh Powell would rotate in off the bench — in that order.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: Andres Borregales (Miami)
One of the best kickers in America. Easy choice.
Punter: Alex Mastromanno (FSU)
One of the best punters in America. Easy choice.
Kick Return: Chris Johnson Jr. (Miami), Samuel Singleton Jr. (FSU)
Singleton has returned at kickoff for a TD, so yeah he’s on here. Johnson has been THISCLOSE to breaking one on multiple occasions, so he’s the other option. Good luck kicking to one of them as you try to kick away from the other.
Punt Return: Ray Ray Joseph (Miami)
Neither punt returner has been great, but Joseph is better than what FSU puts back there, so he gets the nod.
Final Numbers:
Miami Hurricanes: 20
Florida State Seminoles: 7
Before we get to this year’s numbers, let’s look back in the history of this piece:
In 2016, Miami had the lead on starters 14-13. But, FSU had Dalvin Cook and that was the difference.
In 2017, Miami’s lead grew to 17-11. But, Miami had Malik Rosier, and that kept things close.
In 2018, Miami’s lead grew again to 19-10. But FSU played their best game of the year and hopped out to a 27-7 lead before Miami stormed back for a 28-27 win. (SHOUTOUT KOSI!!!!!)
In 2019, things slid back slightly with Miami holding a 17-11 lead, same as 2017. And, same as 2017, the Canes went into Doak Campbell Stadium and beat the Noles, this time for a 3rd consecutive season.
In 2020, Miami extended the number with a dominant 19-9 lead. And that was proven true with a 6 touchdown Miami win.
I didn’t write this in 2021 or 2022, but the numbers would have been about even, I believe.
In 2023, Miami had a slight 16-12 lead, but the star power of FSU’s players, mainly Jordan Travis, Keon Coleman, and Jared Verse tipped the scales heavily in FSU’s favor.
This year, I have Miami with a dominant 20-7 lead in who would start on these combined rosters. That’s mainly because I have the full starting 11 on Miami’s real life offense starting on this fictional combined roster. FSU players would be the majority of the secondary, and that makes sense because their defense has actually been stingy this year. The FSU offense has just been so putrid that the defense doing good work has been overshadowed.
And, like I noted in the narratives above, if FSU fans/bloggers/journos/supporters wanted to push back on Kiko Mauigoa and/or Darryl Porter Jr. and/or OJ Frederique starting in favor of one of the listed FSU options instead, I wouldn’t argue.
Agree with my Miami-FSU merged roster starting lineup? Disagree with one (or more)? Hop in the comments and state your case.
Go Canes