Miami, FL

Florida vs. Miami: Offensive player projections for Week 1

Published

2 years ago

August 30, 2024

Florida vs. Miami: Offensive player projections for Week 1

For the first time since 2019, Florida and Miami will renew their rivalry. The two teams will square off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in one of the big games on the Week 1 slate, and the offensive player projections have been set, according to PrizePicks.

Both programs are in their third seasons under their respective coaches. Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes were picked third in the ACC preseason poll, while Billy Napier and the Gators are dealing with plenty of pressure after an up-and-down first two seasons. It adds to the intrigue of Saturday’s matchup.

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Graham Mertz is back at quarterback for Florida after transferring in last season. He was efficient, completing 72.9% of his passes for 2,903 yards, 20 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He has playmakers such as Eugene “Tre” Wilson III and Arlis Boardingham back, along with Montrell Johnson in the backfield.

On the other side, Miami went to work in the transfer portal. The most notable addition came at quarterback as Cam Ward came in from Washington State, and the ‘Canes made a splash by landing former Oregon State star running back Damien Martinez. They both came in as Top-20 players in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings.

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It’s shaping up to be an interesting showdown at The Swamp Saturday afternoon. Here’s what the offensive player projections look like for Florida vs. Miami, according to PrizePicks.

Graham Mertz, QB, Florida

Denny Medley | USA TODAY Sports

Pass Yards: 243.5
Pass TDs: 1.5
Interceptions: 0.5

Graham Mertz succeeded Anthony Richardson as Florida’s starting quarterback a season ago, and he’ll look to build on a solid first season in Gainesville. His projection is set at 243.5 pass yards in the season opener against Miami on Saturday, according to PrizePicks.

Cam Ward, QB, Miami

Pass Yards: 262.5

Cam Ward arrives at Miami after reversing course on the NFL Draft. He’s coming off two impressive years at Washington State, including a career-high 3,736 yards and 25 touchdowns last season as a senior.

Eugene Wilson, WR, Florida

Florida WR Eugene Tre Wilson III — © Doug Engle / USA TODAY NETWORK

Receiving Yards: 66.5
Receptions: 5.0

Eugene “Tre” Wilson III put together an impressive freshman season and cemented himself as one of Graham Mertz’s top targets at Florida with 538 yards and six touchdowns. With Ricky Pearsall off to the NFL, he could get even more work, and PrizePicks lists his projection at 66.5 receiving yards in Saturday’s opener.

Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami

Xavier Restrepo, Miami – © Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Receiving Yards: 85.5
Receptions: 6.5

Last year’s leading receiver at Miami, Xavier Restrepo proved to be a strong weapon in the passing game. He led the Hurricanes with 1,092 receiving yards, which sets him up to be a top target for Cam Ward in 2024.

Elijhah Badger, WR, Florida

Receiving Yards: 47.5
Receptions: 4.0

One of Florida’s most notable transfer additions, Elijhah Badger arrives in Gainesville after back-to-back impressive seasons at Arizona State. In 2023, he totaled 713 receiving yards and three touchdowns after an 866-yard, 7-touchdown showing in 2022.

Damien Martinez, RB, Miami

RB Damien Martinez — Zachary BonDurant | USA TODAY Sports

Rush Yards: 73.5

Last season, Damien Martinez cemented himself as one of the best running backs in the Pac-12, and that meant he brought plenty of hype with him to Miami. He’s sure to take on a prominent role, and his projection for the first game is set at 73.5 rush yards, according to PrizePicks.

Treyaun Webb, RB, Florida

Florida RB Treyaun Webb — © Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

Rush Yards: 33.5

Although Billy Napier announced Montrell Johnson will be able to play in the opener, Treyaun Webb is sure to get some looks as RB2 after Trevor Etienne’s departure. He ranked third on the Florida roster with 163 yards as a freshman, and PrizePicks lists his projection at 33.5 rush yards for Saturday’s game.

Jacolby George, WR, Miami

Miami WR Jacolby George — © Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Receiving Yards: 60.5
Receptions: 5.0

Last year’s second-leading rusher, Jacolby George is back at Miami and is sure to once again have a prominent role in the offense. He put together a breakout 2023 season with 864 yards, and his projection is set at 60.5 against Florida, according to PrizePicks.

Arlis Boardingham, WR, Florida

Florida TE Arlis Boardingham — © Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

Receptions: 2.0

Arlis Boardingham was a solid safety blanket for Graham Mertz at tight end last year. He had 26 receptions for 289 yards and four touchdowns as he saw his first full season of action.

Florida vs. Miami is sure to be one of the more intriguing games of Week 1 with so many storylines. The game will also be part of the first day of the SEC on ABC, kicking off in the coveted 3:30 p.m. ET window.

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Miami, FL

Police investigate 2 Miami scenes after a shooting that left a man hospitalized

Published

15 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Police investigate 2 Miami scenes after a shooting that left a man hospitalized

A man is in the hospital after being shot in Liberty City on Wednesday evening, prompting a police investigation that spans two scenes, according to the Miami Police Department (MPD).

The victim, a man in his late 40s, was located at a second scene after the initial gunfire and was rushed to Ryder Trauma Center via ground transport under a “trauma alert”.

The shooting investigation began after MPD received a ShotSpotter alert around 7:21 p.m.. The first scene, where crime scene investigators were seen taking photos outside an apartment building, is along Northwest 58th Street and 13th Avenue. When officers arrived, they found shell casings but no victim.

A short time later, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office contacted Miami police regarding a second location—Northwest 69th Street and 21st Avenue—tied to the same alert. The victim was found at this second location before being taken to the hospital.

It remains unclear how the victim ended up at the second location. No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting.

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Miami, FL

American Airlines Eyes April 30 Return to Venezuela With Miami–Caracas Flights

Published

1 day ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

American Airlines Eyes April 30 Return to Venezuela With Miami–Caracas Flights

DALLAS — American Airlines (AA) announced today plans to resume daily nonstop service between Miami (MIA) and Caracas (CCS) as early as April 30. The restart depends on final government approval, security checks, and operational readiness. Envoy Air, American’s regional subsidiary, will operate the route with Embraer 175 aircraft.

The Fort Worth-based carrier continues to coordinate with authorities in both the United States and Venezuela to restore the route. In January, AA announced its intention to be the first airline to reconnect Venezuela with the United States, emphasizing that service would begin only after regulatory approval and security assessments.

American began serving Venezuela in 1987 and was the largest U.S. airline in the country before suspending operations in 2019. Chief Commercial Officer Nat Pieper described the return to Caracas as both a restoration of a long-standing market and a strategic extension of Miami’s role as AA’s primary Latin America gateway.

This announcement follows the U.S. Department of State’s March 19, 2026 update, which lowered Venezuela’s travel advisory to Level 3, “Reconsider Travel,” but continues to warn of risks such as crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and inadequate health infrastructure. Routine consular services in Venezuela remain suspended, with most services provided through the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá as the United States begins a phased resumption of embassy operations.

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Miami, FL

Miami city officials are urging residents to prepare for planned implosion of Mandarin Oriental hotel

Published

2 days ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

Miami city officials are urging residents to prepare for planned implosion of Mandarin Oriental hotel

Residents of Brickell Key are being urged to prepare for the planned implosion of the former Mandarin Oriental hotel as if they were getting ready for a storm, according to the company overseeing the demolition.

City officials with Miami Fire Rescue and Miami police said they have been planning the implosion for about a year.

The demolition is scheduled for Sunday morning. The former luxury resort will be brought down to make way for a new residential and hospitality development. The structure now sits gutted with explosives attached to its concrete columns, which officials say will ensure a smoother implosion.

Ivy Fradin, managing member of BG Group, which is overseeing the demolition, explained the process. “The tower will come down first, the parking garage will come down second, but to the public eye, it will look like one carefully choreographed event,” Fradin said.

Fradin described the collapse as a “cascading fashion,” where the floor above collapses as the column below it gives way.

For safety reasons, Brickell Key will be closed to residents and visitors from 7 a.m. to about 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, with no access in or out of the island during that time. An 800-foot exclusion zone around the property will also be enforced.

For those inside the exclusion zone, Fradin advised, “If you’re located within the exclusion zone, we ask that you stay indoors with doors closed. If you’re not in the exclusion zone, keep your doors and windows closed. It’s obvious — if you have things outside, bring them inside”.

Some residents living within the exclusion zone expressed safety concerns. Brickell Key resident Ydais Laya said, “I have not seen anything to provide details regarding the city’s plans, if anything should go wrong during the implosion on Sunday, because in reality, no one knows”.

Other residents were less worried. Alejandro Barahona, another resident, said the required precautions were “reasonable,” adding, “Either you get out, or you stay in, but it’s too much of a liability risk for the explosion and all that stuff”.

The company conducting the implosion has previously handled several high-profile demolitions, including the historic Deauville Hotel, South Shore Hospital, and the remaining structure of the Surfside condominium building.

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