I’ve done this piece the last few years for FSU week, and even before the Miami-Florida opener a few years ago, and it’s a favorite thought exercise of mine. So let’s bring back this content but change the focus to Miami vs Florida, and see how things shake out, shall we?
In case you’re new here, this is the general premise: If you combined the Miami and Florida 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 2019 installment of the Miami-Florida rivalry:
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Carson Beck (Miami)
Beck is among the most talented and best quarterbacks in the country. He has a 25-3 record as starting QB between his time at Georgia and Miami, and has thrown for more than 8,700 yards and 65 touchdowns to this point of his college career. He’s building a case as a NFL first round draft pick, continues to get better every week, and he’s found the joy of football all over again. Easy choice as starter.
Backup: Before the season, D.J. Lagway (Florida) was the easy choice here. But now, I say flip a coin between him and Emory Williams (Miami), but pray that you don’t have to play anybody but Beck.
Running Back: Mark Fletcher Jr. (Miami)
A big, talented back, Fletcher Jr. is taking his game to a new level this year as a junior. He’s recently said he’s found his “why” for playing after the passing of his father, and he’s raising his game every week. Big Fletch gets the start for me.
Backups: Jaden Baugh (Florida), Jordan Lyle (Miami), Marty Brown (Miami)
Wide Receiver: Malachi Toney (Miami), CJ Daniels (Miami), Vernell Brown III (Florida)
There is a ton of talent here, so plenty of good options for this combined starting lineup. Daniels has been the top target for Miami, and a revelation in his return to action and finally healthy after battling a heel injury in 2024. Toney has burst onto the scene and become a top-of-the-lineup player for Miami at receiver. So has fellow true freshman Brown III at Florida. Those 3 on the field together are a threat to score on any play. Yeah, that’ll work.
Backups: Joshua Moore (Miami), Keelan Marion (Miami), Trey Wilson (Florida)
Tight End: Elija Lofton (Miami)
I know Lofton’s numbers are low, and Florida’s TE Hayden Hansen has been more productive so far this season, but Lofton is the better player, with a higher ceiling, and the emergence of a very good WR rotation at Miami has curtailed his impact a bit. Still, I’m starting Lofton on this combined lineup based on his athleticism and versatility.
Backup: Luka Gilbert (Miami), Alex Bauman (Miami), Hayden Hansen (Florida)
Tackles: Francis Mauigoa (Miami), Markel Bell (Miami)
Miami has the best offensive line in the country. Their tackles are the ones that start. This isn’t a hard choice or conversation.
Backups: Austin Barber (Florida), Samson Okunlola (Miami)
Guards: Anez Cooper (Miami), Damieon George (Florida)
Cooper is one of the best guards in America. George is one of Florida’s highest graded linemen, and grades out slightly higher than Miami’s LG. So, this is your starting guard pair. Boom. Done.
Backups: Matthew McCoy (Miami), Samson Okunlola (Miami),
Center: Jake Slaughter (Florida)
While Florida’s Center had a higher PFF grade in 2024, Brockermeyer is playing better for the better team and offensive line this year. Even still, I’m going to go with Slaughter here, but the margin is razor thin between these veterans.
Backup: James Brockermeyer (Miami)
I know there’s a mismatch in scheme here, with Miami running a 4-2-5 multiple system and Florida running a 3-3-5 scheme. I’m gonna count the JACK position as an EDGE, and go with 4 linemen for this chart. And if you don’t like it, well, tough. This is my piece and I can do what I want.
EDGE: Rueben Bain Jr (Miami), Akheem Mesidor (Miami)
Bain Jr. and Mesidor are the highest graded edge tandem in America. They are terrorizing opposing teams in the run game and pass game. They are the engine powering Miami’s defensive line, and defense as a whole. This isn’t me saying Florida lacks talent here; this is me saying Miami’s talent is better and would start.
Backups: Tyreak Sapp (Florida), Marquise Lightfoot (Miami)
Tackle: David Blay Jr. (Miami), Caleb Banks* (Florida)
Simply put: the best DT from each roster. This tandem inside would be a NIGHTMARE for any opposing team. My goodness. I’m laughing just thinking about what destruction a DL of Bain, Blay, Banks, and B….Mesidor would wreak upon the CFB world.
Okay, so, I wrote this late at night on Sunday….BEFORE the news of Banks’ injury was out there. With him out of the equation, Justin Scott moves into the starting lineup.
Backups: Justin Scott (Miami), Brendan Bett (Florida), Ahmad Moten Sr. (Miami)
Linebacker: Mo Toure (Miami), Myles Graham (Florida)
A pair of athletic and talented linebackers to run free behind the defensive line of doom and destruction? Yeah. That’ll work.
Backups: Wesley Bissainthe (Miami), Popo Aguirre (Miami), Jaden Robinson (Florida)
Nickel: Keionte Scott (Miami)
Scott has been a revelation for Miami at Nickel since transferring in from Auburn. Valuable and impactful against the run and the pass. He’s been lockdown in coverage and a sure tackler in space.
Backup: Sharif Denson (Florida)
Cornerback: Dijon Johnson (Florida), O.J. Frederique (Miami)
There are plenty of options from both teams here, but I’m going with the best starter on either team. Plenty of starting caliber depth that can rotate in here, which you’ll see from the backup list.
Backups: Ethan O’Connor (Miami), Damari Brown (Miami), Xavier Lucas (Miami), Devin Moore (Florida), Cormani McClain (Florida)
Safety: Zechariah Poyser (Miami), Jakobe Thomas (Miami)
Miami needed to hit big with Safeties in the portal, and the pair of Poyser and Thomas have been a grandslam. Poyser took a couple of bad angles in the opener against Notre Dame, but other than that, he’s been lights out. And Thomas has been a steady leader, and has caused a pair of fumbles with big hits in 3 games. I know UF fans are probably upset I’m not starting Thornton, but he’s good and could start. However, in the interest of continuity, my pick is Thomas, with Thornton the first man off the bench should either Poyser or Thomas need to come off the field.
Backups: Bryce Thornton (Florida), Bryce Fitzgerald (Miami), Drake Stubbs (Florida)
Special Teams
Kicker: Carter Davis (Miami)
Davis has one of the strongest legs in America, and has already made some big kicks to help Miami win against Notre Dame.
Punter: Dylan Joyce (Miami)
I know this is probably going to be a point of contention since both punters are very good, but I think Joyce is just a touch better, and so he gets the nod.
Punt Returner: Vernell Brown III (Florida)
This was a choice between a pair of true freshmen in Brown III and Malachi Toney.
Kick Return: Keelan Marion (Miami), Brown III (Florida)
An All-American kick returner and one of the most explosive freshmen on the other roster. That’s a good pairing for me.
Final Numbers
Miami Hurricanes: 19
For teams so close in talent — Florida and Miami are tied at 64% blue chip ratio for 2025— it would make sense for the starting lineup to be basically split 50/50. However, with the way the teams are playing, and adding in several key transfers for Miami (which are not factored into the blue chip ratio formula), Miami has a DISTINCT advantage in this combined roster starting lineup at this point.
When I saw the disparity in numbers, I went back to look at the list again. Even if I flipped a couple of guys, like Thornton over (insert player) at Safety, or Baugh over Fletcher at Running Back, Miami would still have an overwhelming share of the starting spots on this combined roster. And, when you consider nearly half of the starters for Miami are transfers (Beck, Daniels, Brockermeyer, Blay, Toure, Poyser, Thomas, Marion), the picture becomes clearer.
So there you have it. The starters (and selected backups) on a combined UM-UF roster. I KNOW you have thoughts on this, so hop in the comments and let them be known.
Saturday will be here soon!
#BeatUF
