Canes staff taking pounding from ESPN. And UM flips a top prospect from USC
A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Thursday:
▪ UM coaches are taking a pounding from ESPN pundits in the wake of last Saturday’s 28-23 loss to a less talented Georgia Tech team.
“Miami is a very poorly coached football team,” ABC lead studio analyst Booger McFarland said. “Mario Cristobal has to ask why his teams are never prepared.”
And ESPN’s Louis Riddick, who worked the game with Bob Wischusen, said on a subsequent ESPN studio show:
“They got totally outschemed by Buster Faulkner, the OC of Georgia Tech. [UM defensive coordinator] Lance Guidry got outschemed. They ran the ball down their throat, against a defensive line that will have multiple guys who will be first-day, second-day picks in the NFL. They got mauled in the run game.
“Being taken advantage of in the passing game by a freshman who was brought in because Haynes King couldn’t throw the football. This kid is being brought in on third-and-15 and completing passes. They got exposed on defense.”
▪ The Canes landed a big commitment this week, when Los Angeles Oaks Christian four-star edge player Hayden Lowe announced he’s flipping from Southern Cal to Miami. 247 Sports ranks Lowe as the highest-rated recruit in UM’s 2025 class, which has 23 nonbinding commitments and is rated 10th overall in the country.
Lowe, who committed to USC on June 9, told On3 that leaving his hometown will “help me grow up faster, become the man I want to become. I feel like I go over to U-Miami, my development. . . there’s no ceiling for my development to go anywhere.”
In the 2025 class, Lowe is rated by 247 Sports as the No. 45 overall prospect and the No. 3 edge player. On3.com rates the 6-4, 247-pound Lowe as No. 154 prospect and the 20th edge prospect.
▪ Even with Jadais Richard’s injury, UM did not feel compelled to play one of its inexperienced cornerbacks against Georgia Tech, likely in part because the Yellow Jackets are a run-heavy team, allowing Miami to stay in base defense.
Cornerbacks Robert Stafford, Robby Washington and Ryan Mack didn’t play a single snap. Even veteran Dyoni Hill played just 13 snaps, compared with 64 for sensational freshman OJ Frederique and 52 for Daryl Porter Jr.
And at safety, Zaquan Patterson’s playing time didn’t increase; he played just nine snaps, compared to 61 for Jaden Harris and 64 for Mishael Powell.
▪ Some of Pro Football Focus’ lowest rated Canes in the Georgia Tech game were core players who must be better.
On defense, PFF rated Tyler Baron, Powell and Francisco Mauiogoa as UM’s three worst defenders last Saturday among everyone who logged at least 10 snaps. Baron and Powell were rated UM’s worst run defenders on the day.
On offense, tight end Cam McCormick, running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and center Zach Carpenter had the worst grades.
▪ Among those who saw an uptick in playing time last week: offensive tackle Markel Bell (his package increased to 36 plays), linebacker Jaylin Alderman (41 snaps against a run heavy team), linebacker Chase Smith (15 snaps) and defensive tackle CJ Clark, who was needed for 43 snaps after the injury to Simeon Barrow Jr.
PFF rated Alderman as UM’s second-best defensive player against Georgia Tech, behind only Frederique. Alderman and Ahmad Moten were rated UM’s best run defenders on a day the Canes were gouged on the ground.
And investing in Bell has paid off; PFF rated him Miami’s best player on offense Saturday.
▪ Count The Athletic’s Dane Brugler among those who ranks Cam Ward as the top quarterback prospect in the draft:
“The best comparison I have for Ward is ... fireworks. His ability to create explosive, dazzling plays with his elusiveness in the pocket and natural arm talent is unmatched in this class. However, fireworks also come with a warning label — when Ward gets careless with his decisions, negative results follow.
“Nonetheless, his on-field upside and football character make him the current favorite to be the first quarterback drafted. How Ward performs throughout November (and potentially into the postseason) will be put under a microscope by NFL teams.”
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid said Ward “reminds me of Jordan Love coming out of Utah State — another player that many were split on at the time.”
Ward, incidentally, this week was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award.
This list includes eight quarterbacks, seven defensive players, two running backs, two wide receivers/tight ends and one two-way player.
Ward ranks first nationally with 3,494 passing yards and 32 passing touchdowns. He has 300-plus yards through the air and three total touchdowns in nine of the Hurricanes’ 10 games and became the first Miami player to ever have seven straight 300-yard performances.
This story was originally published November 14, 2024 at 12:08 PM.
