UM FOOTBALL

Heading into spring game, UM coaches laud players

With practice wrapping up and Saturday's spring game approaching, UM coaches laud the hard work and progress of some players, with reservations.

BY SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN

sdegnan@MiamiHerald.com

AL DIAZ / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

UM wide receiver Leonard Hankerson scores in the third quarter as Virginia Tech cornerback Victor Harris fails to defend on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007. Hankerson, left, is one of the team's most improved players, playing at three positions and making big plays.

With Thursday off and only one more practice session before Saturday's spring game, a few University of Miami football coaches talked about who especially impressed them the past month.

Wide receivers coach Aubrey Hill said sophomore Leonard Hankerson was one of his most improved players ``because he played three different positions, he got better every practice, knew his assignments, caught the ball very well and made a lot of big plays.''

What's something he wishes his receivers could have done more? ``Catch more deep balls. There were some deep balls thrown at the Traz Powell scrimmage and the scrimmage we had here.''

Hill, as well as coach Randy Shannon, said senior Khalil Jones was a player who pleasantly surprised him. ``Khalil has been making big plays on the field and he's the first one here and last one to leave. He hadn't played much and was maybe at one point the forgotten man. He has reemerged.''

Said Shannon: ``Right now Khalil has caught more balls than I've ever seen. He scored on a long touchdown bomb last week. Last year, he might have fallen down at the 1-yard line.''

Shannon also lauded receiver Sam Shields. ``Sam is a thousand times better than he ever was last year.''

New defensive coordinator Bill Young said ''a bunch'' of his players stepped up, including sophomore defensive end Allen Bailey and senior linebacker Glenn Cook.

When asked what player really surprised him this spring, offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland thought intently.

''That's a hard question, because there were some really neat things that guys did,'' Stoutland replied. ``Early on, if you had asked me that I would have said [right guard] Joel Figueroa, but then I think he kind of fell off a little because he got banged up, and he's fine now and has finished up strong.

``Then I would say [right tackle Reggie] Youngblood very quietly has had a really, really good spring. He has improved dramatically from last year.''

The one thing Stoutland wishes his linemen could have aced?

``I would like to be consistent in the physical aspect of the game, where up front you're dominating, day in and day out.''

Special teams coach Joe Pannunzio said his most improved player was Sam Shields. ''Coming off the edge and blocking field goals, he looks like he's a factor,'' Pannunzio said. ``He makes plays on kickoff coverage, he has blocked on kickoff returns. He's a guy who really hadn't played a whole lot on special teams and now he looks like he might be a tough guy. It has kind of shocked me.''

• Shannon will be one of five college coaches to visit military bases throughout the Middle East from May 20-26. The tour is a first-of-its-kind for NCAA football and for Armed Forces Entertainment. The other coaches: Mark Richt of Georgia; Jack Siedlecki of Yale; Tommy Tuberville of Auburn; and Charlie Weis of Notre Dame.

''This is an exceptional opportunity for me to interact with our military personnel overseas as well as a chance to experience the cultures of the host countries,'' Shannon said.