Latest news with #Mirabal
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Why five-star recruit Okunlola has stuck with UM, and Mirabal's forecast for him
In this world of instant gratification — where some college football players change schools two or three times in a single offseason — it would have been very easy for former five-star recruit Samson Okunlola to flee Coral Gables and look for a college where he could immediately step into a starting lineup. But Okunlola has displayed a quality in short supply in college sports: patience. Despite entering UM in 2023 regarded as one of the nation's top offensive tackles (247 Sports ranked him fourth among tackles and the 20th-best player overall), Okunlola hasn't complained about playing only 64 snaps on offense last season after logging just 15 as a freshman. He hasn't lamented riding the bench while his Class of 2023 teammate Francis Mauigoa, who was rated the No. 2 offensive tackle in 2023, has started for two years. Instead of entering the portal, Okunlola focused on his studies — he received his bachelor's degree in just 2 ½ years — and worked on his game. The growth has been so pronounced that offensive line coach Alex Mirabal said he's confident that Okunlola 'absolutely' will become a multiyear starter for UM — 'I have no doubt about that' — even though he's not expected to start at the beginning of this season, barring injuries. 'He's going to make it because of his work ethic and want-to, which are unbelievable,' Mirabal said during a recent conversation. 'He has done an unbelievable job [improving]. There are 17 ACC schools; he can start at all of them. He has displayed a tremendous amount of a thing people nowadays lack, which is patience. He's trusting in his work. With his intelligence, he's going to achieve what we all want him to achieve.' Asked if he ever considered leaving, Okunlola suggested he hasn't, though he didn't answer directly. 'I'm committed to the process,' he said. 'I love the process. I love hard work. I love being detailed and getting better.' Mirabal said: 'I tell people all the time — the fans, the media, coaches, they complain about how negative the transfer portal is. And then they question the kid, 'How come you stuck around? How come you haven't jumped in the portal?' I truly believe it's because Samson knows and sees that our coaching staff believes in him and trusts him. I feel he believes in us and trusts us, as does his family. He sees himself growing and developing.' Okunlola's willingness to learn guard has made him more versatile. He now could fill in at four positions if UM has an injury to a starting group that is expected to include Markel Bell and Mauigoa at tackle, Michael McCoy and Anez Cooper at guard and James Brockermeyer at center. Ryan Rodriguez figures to be the backup center and backup left guard. Asked what is Okunlola's best position, Mirabal said, 'it used to be tackle, and I still think it's tackle. But he can play guard. A lot of young guys think 'I'm only a tackle.'… He has grown past [that]. Over the last year and a half, he's like, 'I'm an O-lineman. I'll do whatever it takes.' 'I used to think he's only going to be a tackle. But he's a guy in my opinion that can play either tackle or guard spots.' Okunlola said Mirabal, during the past two years, has encouraged him to 'work on the mental side of the game, watching more film, being more confident in the way I play.' He's healthy now, after sustaining a torn MCL as a freshman, then needing surgery on a hand injury suffered during a UM bowl practice last December. Asked if he has felt any frustration not playing after entering UM as a ballyhooed prospect, Okunlola said: 'I leave it up to the Lord. The Lord has been with me through the whole process.' Okunlola, who was an excellent student at Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts, recently joined backup quarterback Emory Williams as the only current Canes to graduate in 2 ½ years. 'It's definitely an honor,' Okunlola said. 'My mother cried about it. It was a big thing for me and my family.' He's now pursuing a master's degree in sports administration, taking classes exclusively on line. 'I can put more of my time in person to be in person more for football,' he said. 'And online, I can play with my schedule a little more.'
Boston Globe
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
A parable worth repeating: Teatro ECAS brings back ‘Yo Soy Minerva' (‘I am Minerva')
Get Globe Rhode Island Food Club A weekly newsletter about food and dining in Rhode Island, by Globe Rhode Island reporter Alexa Gagosz. Enter Email Sign Up A lawyer and the third of four Mirabal sisters, Minerva, played by Jahaira Suarez, became a pivotal figure in the history of the Dominican Republic when she led the courageous struggle against the brutal regime of Rafael Trujillo, played by José Luis Suazo. Together with her charismatic sisters, Patria (Betsy Montes) and María Teresa (Anna Delgado), she was part of the clandestine opposition movement. Their demise – recognized as the most outrageous of the crimes committed during the lengthy dictatorship – drew international censure of the Trujillo regime and helped to bring about its downfall. Advertisement The play is told from the perspective of the deceased Minerva (Noelia Parra), whose spirit has returned five decades after her murder in her hometown of Ojo de Agua, Salcedo. Her life, we learn, was selfless and heroic. Her death was tragic. And the play ends with the entire cast (including Yamel Castillo, Sylvia Bernal, Franklin Solano, Miosotis Ihelefeld, and Juan Carlos Parra), comprised largely of native Dominicans, taking the stage and asking, 'Was it worth it?' The answer, in light of the Dominican Republic's independence and the moral victory of thrashing a dictator hellbent on the dissolution of civil liberties, is a resounding 'yes.' Advertisement But if that question was aimed at this production, the answer would be different. Though staged with a strong sense of commitment and no shortage of good intentions, the retelling of Minerva's tale is hindered at every turn by an absence of poetry and virtuosity. The script itself is problematic, for it is laden from the get-go with lengthy monologues by Minerva and her surviving sister, Dedé (Sylvia Bernal), that are weighed down with historical and biographical backstory. In this production, these monologues and most of the Mirabals' story are told at us by stationary performers, rather than shown to us by way of engaging theatricality. And it is told in heightened, melodramatic Spanish that sounds like a telenovela and reads stiffly and awkwardly in the English supertitles on a screen centered above the small performance space. Much of the acting follows suit, though Suarez's tenacious and authentic performance as the living Minerva is a welcome exception. Production values are limited as well. Dramatic lighting, designed by Huascar Parra and David Ocampo, merely illuminates the stationary performers on a barren stage, and projections on three screens, designed by Miguel Bandres, serve as scenery but do little to complement or facilitate the storytelling. None of this makes for a particularly provocative evening of theater. With that said, there is the occasional arresting moment in Parra's staging – such as when the Mirabal sisters are beaten and murdered by Trujillo's thugs – that show this production's potential for creativity and poignancy. But such moments are few and far between, and call attention to many missed imaginative opportunities. So does the end of the play when the actors ask, 'Was it worth it?' Missed is the opportunity to turn a powerful historical reflection into a contemporary rallying cry, particularly for a theater that suffered from federal Related : Advertisement 'YO SOY MINERVA' Written by Mu-Kien Adriana Sang Ben and adapted/directed by Francis Parra. At Teatro ECAS, 679 Valley St., Providence, RI. Through March 16. Tickets $35-$55, plus fees. 401-421-3227, Bob Abelman is an award-winning theater critic who formerly wrote for the Austin Chronicle. Connect with him .
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Breaking down the top recruiters in the Power Four conferences
Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The dust is settling on the 2025 recruiting cycle, which means it's time to survey the landscape and acknowledge programs and coaches that outperformed their peers. Today the recruiting analyst team looks at the top recruiters in the four power conferences. RELATED: Chris Jackson named National Recruiting of the Year | National Signing Day Announcement Guide | How Texas won the 2025 recruiting title CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker FINAL 2025 ACC RECRUITING RANKINGS Long considered one of the top offensive line recruiters and developers simultaneously, Mirabal helped to put together another elite offensive line class in his own unique style. The longtime assistant to Mario Cristobal often balances elite skill and potential, and the 2025 group of four prospects settles into each category quite well. Throw in yet another win across the country in landing the nation's best center in SJ Alofaitulu from Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman, and it becomes time to give Mirabal his flowers as the top recruiter in the ACC. Miami wrapped up a third-straight conference crown on the trail. In one light, the newest haul may eventually contend to become the most impactful to date, especially on the interior with another Rivals250 talent incoming in Max Buchanan. He and Alofaitulu, each higher-floor talents, could form a multi-year starting battery at center and guard in the future. Among the bigger additions are two of the most intriguing offensive tackle frames along the offensive front in Demetrius Campbell and Jaden Wilkerson, each listed at 6-foot-6 or better. Mirabal specializes in communication and overall effort in his recruiting style, not to mention staying ahead of the game in offering and landing commitments from each of the 2025 signees well before their senior seasons began. The Hurricanes' No. 13-ranked recruiting class has strong position groups represented, but the offensive line haul under Mirabal and company could be the deepest and most intriguing of the bunch. Honorable mention: Ross Douglas (Syracuse) Odell Haggins (Florida State) Rob Likens (SMU) Matt Luke (Clemson) Fontel Mines (Virginia Tech) Joker Phillips (NC State) Geep Wade (Georgia Tech) Justin Watts (Duke) Cody Woodiel (Miami) – John Garcia, Jr., Rivals national recruiting analyst SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MIAMI FANS AT © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images FINAL 2025 BIG 12 RECRUITING RANKINGS There were numerous candidates across the Big 12 who could have been named the conference recruiter of the year but TCU landed too many high-level defensive linemen and position coach JaMarkus McFarland had a hand in each of them. The Horned Frogs loaded up across the defensive line as eight of their 31 commits play there, led by four-star end Chad Woodfork and No. 1 junior college prospect Kelten Mickell, a major win for TCU that should not go unnoticed in this recruiting class. McFarland, a former high four-star defensive tackle himself who played at Oklahoma, went to Louisiana for three-star Brody Watley and to rural Southern California for three-star Jared Martin along with Mickell, who went to junior college in Mississippi. But in-state prospects were the main focus – and the Horned Frogs loaded up with five of them from Texas. Honorable mention: Dallas Baker (Baylor) Andrew Jackson** (West Virginia) Jason Phillips (Colorado) Hines Ward (Arizona State) ** No longer with the Mountaineers. - Adam Gorney, Rivals national recruiting director SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TCU FANS AT © Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK FINAL 2025 BIG TEN RECRUITING RANKINGS The Big Ten has some heavyweights when it comes to the recruiting world. But the coach that stands above the rest is Oregon's Chris Hampton. The co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach joined Dan Lanning's staff back in early 2023. It hasn't taken long for Hampton to make his mark in recruiting to help add talent to the Ducks' roster. The Ducks brought in one of the best defensive back hauls in the country this cycle. All four signees are inside the top-85 prospects in the country. The highest-ranked prospect is Ohio defensive back Trey McNutt. Early in the process he appeared to be an Ohio State lock but the Ducks beat out the Buckeyes and Texas A&M to land the speedy safety. Oregon flipped athlete Na'eem Offord from Ohio State on National Signing Day in December, which was one of the biggest moves of the day. Offord is a big, rangy defensive back that could see time at safety, corner or even a hybrid linebacker role. Smooth and long cornerback Brandon Finney committed to the Ducks in the summer. Oregon held off a late surge from Penn State to hang on to him. Texas native Dorian Brew is another long defensive back who gives the future Ducks' defense a lot of versatility. This is a dynamic group of players joining the secondary in Eugene. Hampton should get a ton of credit for the work the Ducks did this cycle. Honorable mention: Lou Esposito (Michigan) James Laurinaitis (Ohio State) Grant Newsome (Michigan) Ja'Juan Seider (Penn State) Tim Walton (Ohio State) SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH OREGON FANS AT © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images FINAL 2025 SEC RECRUITING RANKINGS Since Steve Sarkisian arrived at Texas in 2021, the Longhorns have been battling for blue-chip recruits and competing for conference and national championships. Texas is back – as a national force on the recruiting trail under Sarkisian, who instilled a different culture in Austin that's translated onto the field and seeped into roster construction. The Longhorns have signed top-five classes in each recruiting cycle since Sarkisian arrived – including top-three hauls in 2023 and 2024 – culminating with No. 1 class in 2025. Texas passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Chris Jackson engineered the recruitment for the quartet of offensive playmakers signed this year and has been named the Rivals National Recruiter of the Year for the 2025 cycle. Jackson helped Texas sign three top-20 receivers headlined by five-star receiver Kaliq Lockett, who ascended to No. 2 in the receiver rankings after a compelling showing at the Navy All-American Bowl. Texas also inked four-stars Jaime Ffrench and Daylan McCutcheon, the Nos. 10 and 18 receivers in the Rivals250, respectively. Rounding out the group was four-star athlete Michael Terry, who will play receiver as well as a multitude of other positions on the Forty Acres. 'When you look at the guys that you bring in to Texas, you have to be more critical and selfish – if you don't play in the NFL in three or four years, then why am I recruiting you?' asked Jackson, who is entering his third season on Sarkisian's staff. 'It's an X-factor – and they all have it.' Honorable mention: Blake Baker (LSU) Kenny Baker (Texas) James Coley (Georgia) Adam Cushing (Texas A&M) Brad Davis (LSU) Rodney Garnet (Tennessee) Billy Gonzales (Florida) Chris Kapilovic (Alabama) Tray Scott (Georgia) Stacy Searels (Georgia) SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TEXAS FANS AT
