The Blur from Belle Glade made his mark Saturday against Florida State -- just like University of Miami coach Randy Shannon said he would earlier this week.

Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, freshman Travis Benjamin was only on the field for special teams and offense.

Benjamin was the centerpiece in UM's second-half rally against FSU. He got his first career touchdown on an 18-yard run in the third quarter to cut UM's deficit to 24-10. He scored again on a trick play, when he hauled in a 51-yard pass from running back Graig Cooper to cut FSU's lead to 31-22. He also had kickoff returns of 57, 42 and 29 yards and finished with 274 all-purpose yards.

None of it felt any good, though, after a wet, wild and disappointing 41-39 loss.

''I played my best. I played real good, but I was still hoping and wishing we'd come out with the win,'' Benjamin said. ``Whatever I did doesn't matter unless we win. There are no good feelings after a game like this.''

No good feelings, but maybe there is hope for a team looking for a bright spot after falling to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Benjamin, who has the Hurricanes' fastest time in the 40-yard dash (4.29), provided life for UM nearly every time he touched the football. And he left teammates, who often have compared him to former Canes great Devin Hester, wondering what will happen if he gets more chances to handle the ball.

''This guy seems like he just kind of came in a couple days ago. But he's full on now,'' said quarterback Robert Marve, who completed three passes to Benjamin for 71 yards. 'There were a couple times on special teams where I said, `They got that fool.' Then, he poked his head around the corner. It's like he runs a 3.9.

``He looked great. He's the type of guy we need to keep getting the ball to. It's going to be interesting to see what he turns into when he's here for a couple years instead of a couple of days.''

Benjamin, a cousin of former Hurricane Alphonso Marshall, said he has never spoken to Hester. He doesn't mind the comparison -- or getting more involved in UM's offense.

''Maybe I needed a game like this because people thought I was only good on special teams,'' Benjamin said. ``I knew I was good on special teams, but I'm also very good on offense too. Every time I'm on the field I feel like I can't be stopped.''

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