Freshman defensive end Gavin Hardin said the University of Miami's rich, winning tradition is what compelled him to become a member of one of the nation's top recruiting classes in February.

A Hurricanes fan since the second grade, Hardin said he couldn't wait to make the trip from his hometown of Jackson, Miss., to see the school that has won five national championships and produced countless NFL stars. So what blew away this 6-3, 240-pound converted linebacker most on his recruiting visit?

''[All those] plasma screens at Dolphin Stadium,'' Hardin said with a chuckle Monday. ``And those two huge jumbotrons.

``It was a great experience for me because I'd never been to an NFL stadium before. So, just being in an NFL stadium, it was big for me. It played a great role.''

ATTRACTION

Although Dolphin Stadium could play a greater role in drawing recruits to Miami in the future, so, too, could the images seen on those replay screens this season -- freshmen making plays. On Sunday night, when coach Randy Shannon released the team's depth chart, 14 freshman appeared on the team's two-deep list.

Freshman starters include quarterback Jacory Harris, who led Miami Northwestern to a state championship at Dolphin Stadium in 2006, and defensive end Marcus Robinson of Homestead High. The first UM player who has a chance to get his hands on the ball if the Canes receive the opening kickoff Thursday will be freshman cornerback Brandon Harris of Miami Booker T. Washington High, who is to start next to junior Ryan Hill on the kick-return team.

Coach Randy Shannon said Monday that although he is comfortable playing the freshmen he recruited, his plan is to play them in moderation. He estimated most freshmen will see ''20 to 25 snaps'' until they get the hang of what they're doing ``full speed.''

''We have to play young guys,'' Shannon said. ``If we didn't have all these freshmen on this team, we'd probably have a one-deep. It's called recruiting.

'To feel, `I don't know if they can do it.' No, they can do it. That's the reason they're second team.''

FRESHMAN FLOODGATES

Robinson said he was told Monday afternoon during a team meeting he would be starting Thursday night.

''I'm very nervous about this first game,'' Robinson, who is 6-1, 242 pounds, said. ``. . . I don't know what these guys call a good game. I just don't want to have mistakes. That's a good game to me.''

Robinson, Hardin and fellow freshman Andrew Smith of Coconut Creek Monarch High are three of only four healthy defensive ends who will be available Thursday. Sophomore Steven Wesley (6-3, 266) played in nine games last season and had six tackles, and will start opposite Robinson.

''Not many of us thought we were going to get on the field right away,'' said Aldarius Johnson, who along with fellow freshman Travis Benjamin is expected to see significant playing time at receiver Thursday night.

``We just always talked about coming and competing like we did in high school, just having fun with it and whenever our number got called to just go out there and do what we did in high school.''

Junior cornerback Chavez Grant and linebacker Glenn Cook said Monday they know there will be moments when the freshmen make mistakes, but they have confidence in them because of the repetitions they have received in camp this fall.

Offensive tackle Jason Fox said a few freshmen, such as linebacker Sean Spence and Marcus Forston, already look more like sophomores and juniors than first-year players.

''I told [Jacory Harris] to think just like he's going out to play that team out in Texas again,'' running back Javarris James said.

``. . . I told him when he comes out, he's going to have goose bumps. He's going to be sweaty and he's going to be nervous.

'I remember the first play I got in, a guy like Buster Davis was at line, `Oh we got the rookie in. He kept calling my name `Baby J!' I was a little shell-shocked for a moment. But once you get that first snap, that first hit, you'll be all right.''

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