Live updates from Cristobal’s first UM practice: Who’s at what position, who’s not present
The Mario Cristobal era at the University of Miami began in earnest on Monday when the Hurricanes held their first spring practice, the first of 15 scheduled sessions over the next six weeks.
To commemorate the occasion, we’re doing a live blog with news. Please keep checking back for updates, to be added to the bottom.
Only portions of the 9:45 a.m. practice will be open to reporters.
Some observations from Miami Herald sports writers Susan Miller Degnan and David Wilson from Coral Gables and Barry Jackson from the Herald’s command center:
▪ Sixteen Canes players are missing spring practice.
On defense, here are the players who won’t be participating: cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, linebacker Chase Smith, safeties Kam Kinchens and Keshawn Washington, freshman defensive lineman Nyjalik Kelly, UAB transfer defensive lineman Antonio Moultrie, linebacker Sam Brooks, freshman cornerback Khamauri Rogers, defensive lineman Jabari Ishmael, linebacker Tyler Johnson and walk-on defensive back Luis Gutierrez.
On offense, here are the players who won’t be participating: receiver Romello Brinson, running backs Don Chaney Jr. and Jaylan Knighton and offensive lineman Issiah Walker.
UM did not reveal the reason for their absences, but most are injury-related. Chaney, for example, is working his way back from a knee injury last season.
With Chaney and Knighton out this spring - and freshman Tre’Vonte Citizen not yet enrolled - UM has three scholarship running backs available this spring: Thad Franklin, Cody Brown and Mississippi transfer Henry Parrish Jr.
Former offensive line coach Garin Justice said a few months ago that Walker was dealing with personal issues, but it’s unclear if that’s the reason for his absence.
Punter Lou Hedley also won’t be participating in spring practice.
▪ Offensive linemen Jalen Rivers and John Campbell will be limited all spring. Both were on the field and participating on Monday.
Campbell missed all of last season with a knee injury, and Rivers missed the last nine games with a knee injury.
Campbell is expected to be a candidate to start at right tackle. Rivers opened last season as a starting guard.
▪ One player who missed last season and is now back: safety Brian Balom. He flashed as a freshman in 2020 and should get a lot of reps this spring, with Kinchens and Washington both out.
▪ Three defenders from last year’s freshman class won’t get a chance to participate in spring ball: Chase Smith, Ishmael and Tyler Johnson.
Smith impressed the previous staff at striker, a position that has been eliminated in the coaching transition. He’s expected to work at linebacker when he returns.
▪ Kelly enrolled early and his absence is unfortunate, because UM needs to develop him quickly after losing its top sack producers - Deandre Johnson and Zach McCloud. Cristobal has called the Fort Lauderdale Dillard product the best pass rusher in the 2022 class.
▪ Moultrie, who’s missing spring ball, played end and tackle at UAB but will be a defensive tackle for UM, Cristobal has said.
Leonard Taylor, Jared Harrison-Hunte, Jordan Miller and end/tackle Jacob Lichtenstein (the Southern California transfer) are UM’s top defensive tackles available for spring ball.
▪ Brinson’s absence leaves seven veteran scholarship receivers available for the spring: Key’Shawn Smith, Xavier Restrepo, Clemson transfer Frank Ladson, Jacolby George, Brashard Smith, Michael Redding and Daz Worsham.
▪ Dolphins legend Jason Taylor is at practice in his new role as an analyst. He’ll be working with UM’s pass rushers, among other duties. He was hands-on with the defensive linemen in practice.
▪ Former Miami Central coach Roland Smith has joined the staff in an off-field role and also is attending practice.
▪ Former players are permitted to attend spring practices, as long as they give 48 hours notice. The annual football alumni event will be held April 8-9.
▪ Here are the jersey numbers for UM’s new players who have already enrolled: Ladson (8), quarterback Jacurri Brown (11), Parrish and Rogers (both 21), tight end Jaleel Skinner (23), linebacker Wesley Bissainthe (31), defensive lineman Cyrus Moss (39), Moultrie (44), Lichtenstein (55), center/guard Logan Sagapolu (77) and Kelly (90).
▪ Center Jakai Clark ran indoors, with a trainer, early in practice, and Ryan Rodriguez replaced him at center with the first group. Clark looked fine as he jogged off the field. He later returned to practice.
The first team offensive line, once Clark left, was Zion Nelson at left tackle, Ousman Traore at left guard, Rodriguez at center, Justice Oluwaseun at right guard and DJ Scaife at right tackle.
Scaife played well at right guard last season but might be needed at right tackle; that will be a big decision for Cristobal and new offensive line coach Alex Mirabal.
Sagapolu, the Oregon transfer, got snaps at guard. He also could end up competing at center.
▪ Freshman quarterback Brown made several nice throws and showed good velocity on a 20-yarder to Redding.
Quarterbacks worked in this order: Tyler Van Dyke, Jake Garcia and then Brown.
▪ Freshman tight end Skinner looks bulked up. He’s competing with Elijah Arroyo to back up Will Mallory.
▪ James Williams remained at safety on Monday. He’s big enough to play linebacker, but he was at safety on Monday and UM’s official roster lists him at safety.
James Williams and Avantae Williams were the safeties with the first group.
▪ Cornerback Al Blades Jr., who missed most of last season with injuries, was back at practice and lined up with the first group. Marcus Clarke also got some first-team cornerback snaps.
▪ Jake Garcia, who missed much of last season with an ankle injury, showed good mobility in practice. He had one long run, which appeared to be a designed play.
Garcia said he returned to UM because “you’ve got to embrace competition.”
▪ Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis worked a lot with the wide receivers during positional drills. He likely will be the receivers coach as well as OC, though UM hasn’t made the wide receiver distinction official.
▪ Cristobal bounced around between different position groups.
This story was originally published March 7, 2022 at 9:51 AM.
