CORAL GABLES — Ryan Rodriguez finally had his moment.
Rodriguez spent three years on Miami’s bench, waiting and recovering from a 2022 surgery. But in 2024, he got his opportunity. Rodriguez was the starting left guard as UM began its season against rival Florida in the Swamp.
Rodriguez played 38 snaps before his season was over. An ankle injury ended his season right after it began.
“I felt like I got a taste of what was to come,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez did not return for the remainder of the season. After coming so close to achieving a long-awaited goal, Rodriguez leaned on the Miami staff for support.
“It’s always tough coming back from an injury,” Rodriguez said. “But with my coaches’ support, coach (Aaron) Feld’s support, all of them in the training room, coach (Jeffrey) Eaton, … the training room like Bella (Galvan), Bryan (Hicks), Adam (Bennett), Pete (Galasso) — all of them helping me out, tremendously, keeping my mind right, making sure I don’t fall into a dark place. But we overcame it. We’re here now and we’re looking forward to moving forward.”
Rodriguez is a Miami lifer. A local standout, Rodriguez graduated from Miami Columbus — the alma mater of coach Mario Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal — and signed with the Hurricanes while Manny Diaz was still the coach.
“It’s night and day from where this program was to where it is now,” Rodriguez said. “Just the amount of resources we have, the effort you see putting in. I appreciate the old staff, of course. Don’t get me wrong. But there’s just so much more urgency, so much more want to do good. There’s no excuse for you to not be on weight, learn the plays. Everything’s right in front of you.”
Rodriguez, one of two scholarship players who have been on the since 2021 (along with linebacker Chase Smith), is versatile. He has trained at guard and center. With James Brockermeyer carrying the load at center, Rodriguez’s path back to the field likely comes at left guard, where he may share reps with Matthew McCoy.
“It doesn’t really matter which one because both of those guys have got plenty of experience and they do everything right,” right guard Anez Cooper said. “It doesn’t really matter what those guys end up doing or whoever plays or not. Both of those guys are on path, on track.”
Rodriguez had to watch on the sidelines as the Hurricanes missed their shot at the ACC title and the College Football Playoff, but he hopes to be part of the crew that gets Miami there in 2025.
“I feel like we’re close, “Rodriguez said. “Last year, we were really close. We had a dog at quarterback — I hope to see him go No. 1 (in the NFL draft); I’m happy for whatever success he has in the future — but having him was a blessing. Now we move forward. We have a great team. We have an all-around, in my opinion, team. I think we can all put it together and make a playoff run, hopefully.”