Justin Dottavio

Raleigh

Owner, Cheat Code Athletic Performance and Assistant Site Editor at State of the U

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Articles

2025 The State of the ACC: Talent Acquisition

2 weeks ago | stateoftheu.com | Justin Dottavio

Photo by Michael Pimentel/ISI Photos/Getty Images This is a three-part series of posts on The State of the ACC in 2025The age old question: is it Jimmy’s and Joe’s or X’s and O’s? Of course there’s a baseline amount of talent that teams need to have in order to compete for ~15 games at the highest level of college football. The most talented teams usually survive and advance because of the depth of their roster.
A round-up of Cam Ward NFL draft analysis

3 weeks ago | stateoftheu.com | Justin Dottavio

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Miami Hurricanes might have produced the first player selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. Quarterback Cam Ward has been working out for the Tennessee Titans (holders of the 1st overall slot), Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. Ward, who came in 4th in the Heisman Trophy balloting in ‘24, is the clear top QB prospect in the draft.
If Elija Lofton is the “best” player on offense then get him the damn ball

4 weeks ago | stateoftheu.com | Justin Dottavio

Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Miami Hurricanes coaching staff has called Elija Lofton the best player on the Greentree Practice Field for two years now. Lofton, a former four-star tight end out of Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, was worked into the lineup in all 13 games in 2024 between offensive and special teams reps. Lofton is a 6-foot-2, 240 pound spark plug that screams former Tennessee Titans H-Back Frank Wycheck more than TE’s like Antonio Gates or Greg Olsen.
What if Barry Alvarez was hired to coach the Miami Hurricanes in 2001?

1 month ago | stateoftheu.com | Justin Dottavio

SetNumber: X74777 TK2 The Miami Hurricanes were coming off of an 11-1 season including 10 straight wins with three coming at the hands of the no.1, no.2, and no.7 teams in the country. The 2000 ‘Canes, coached by Butch Davis, were 2nd in PPG and 7th in PPG allowed of the 116 FBS teams at the time. However, Butch Davis left Miami for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL and the Hurricanes needed a new leader of their resurgent program.
The ‘Canes kicking game has received an overhaul this off-season

1 month ago | stateoftheu.com | Justin Dottavio

Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Miami Hurricanes kicking game has undergone an overhaul this off-season. Miami ended the 2024 season with the 14th best kicking game in FBS per the SP+. The 2025 season will feature a new placekicker and long snapper, as well as Clay James who has joined the staff as an assistant special teams coach. The main returning cog to the kicking game is punter/holder Dylan Joyce.
Ranking the Florida college football teams for the 2025 season

1 month ago | stateoftheu.com | Justin Dottavio

Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Miami Hurricanes are the clear favorite in the state of Florida heading into the 2025 college football season. Miami knocked off USF, Florida and FSU in 2024, and will look to continue that trend this fall. And that’s not just subjective reasoning, I’m about to give you the objective reasoning as well- thanks to ESPN’s Bill Connelly.
Spring games should be public events, televised

1 month ago | stateoftheu.com | Justin Dottavio

Photo by Michael Pimentel/ISI Photos/Getty Images College football coaches are probably the most paranoid individuals on the face of the Earth. Coaches cover their mouths when making play calls, have dummy signalers on the sidelines, and lie on the injury report more than Tony Montana did on his tax forms. Mario Cristobal is probably the perfect mixture of a Frankenstein’s monster of the cast of King of the Hill.
The formula for a great position room

2 months ago | stateoftheu.com | Justin Dottavio

Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The transfer portal era has many pros and cons. Teams that are a few players away, like Ohio State, can bolster their roster with guys like Quinshon Judkins and Will Howard. Teams that are entire position rooms away, like Miami, can attempt to wholesale flip the room but then again at what cost? Prior to the Buckeyes National Championship campaign in 2024 head coach Ryan Day brought in a half dozen transfers.
Miami Hurricanes 2024 Position Review: Tight End

2 months ago | stateoftheu.com | Justin Dottavio

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Miami Hurricanes 2024 season has come to a close and before we turn the page completely to Carson Beck and the 2025 season, let’s take a look at what the Tight End position provided Cam Ward and the Hurricanes offense in ‘24. Four players saw playing time as tight ends for TE U. this season. Potential top-50 NFL Draft pick Elijah Arroyo, 9th year senior Cam McCormick, sophomore Riley Williams andfreshman Elija Lofton.
2024 SOTU Awards: MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Cam Ward

2 months ago | stateoftheu.com | Justin Dottavio

Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images Cameron Ward came to Coral Gables. Saw the beautiful University of Miami campus. And kicked some ass. Cam Ward is the clear ‘Canes team MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. The Miami Hurricanes had their best season since 2017 finishing 10-3 in both seasons. Both teams were coached by former ‘Canes in Mark Richt and Mario Cristobal.