Cristobal discusses what seems to be UM’s most-upgraded position. And personnel nuggets
The Miami Hurricanes upgraded at cornerback more than any other position, and all four of the veteran newcomers (and one coveted freshman) made their official Canes debut when UM began spring practice on campus on Monday.
Veteran portal additions Charles Brantley (Michigan State), Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin), Ethan O’Connor (Washington State), Emmanuel Karnley (Arizona) and freshman early enrollee Chris Ewald will compete with freshman All American O.J. Frederique and Damari Brown for significant roles at a position that was a weakness last season, aside from Frederique’s sterling work.
On Monday, coach Mario Cristobal discussed what the Canes are getting with their four new veteran corners:
▪ On Brantley, who led all FBS cornerbacks in passer rating against at Michigan State last season at 16.6: “Charles played a lot of corner, helps us as a nickel.”
▪ On Lucas, who had a 70.1 passer rating against and whose departure was initially contested by Wisconsin: “He’s a bigger one, in the 195-, 200-pound range. You all remember from his track days down here [Plantation American Heritage], running a 10.4 [in the 100 meters].”
▪ On O’Connor, who had a 62.7 passer rating with four interceptions last season: special athlete, long, explosive, has got a tremendous future, great man-to-man ability, willing tackler. Sticks his face in there. Loves to have fun during practice.”
▪ On Karnley, who had a 103.6 passer rating against: “He’s another physical, long corner. These guys are all over six feet, between 6-0 and 6-3. They’re all long, they’re explosive, they can run.”
Cristobal noted “we’re playing everybody at corner and nickel, taking some reps over on the back end at safety as well.”
Brantley or one of the others potentially could challenge Brown in the slot. Jadais Richard also will join that competition when he returns from last November’s knee injury. And Lucas likely has the skill set to play safety if UM needs him there.
Cristobal also raved about Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna’s Ewald, rated by 247 Sports as the No. 36 cornerback in the 2025 class: “CJ Ewald has been outstanding, a guy that we feel is going be an impact guy for us.”
UM’s other freshman cornerback, Jaboree Antoine, is sidelined early this spring by an injury. “Jaboree Antoine, he’s on the mend but he’s an exceptional player; we expect him to be a great one,” Cristobal said.
UM had one significant veteran addition at safety: Zechariah Poyser, a freshman All American at Jacksonville State last season.
“Zech Poyser is a special guy, physical, explosive, can track the ball really well, diagnose, plays smart, great communicator,” Cristobal said. “They all have similar traits. In drills, in the offseason program and today in practice, they looked the part.”
Freshman safety Amari Wallace, who had an injury as a senior at Miami Central, “has come out right away and made plays,” Cristobal said.
“Very smart. And the only [freshman] not here right now is Bryce Fitzgerald, and we expect him to join us at the end of May, early June.”
Other freshmen impress
▪ Though players won’t wear pads until the third spring practice on Friday, several offensive freshmen have made an impression on Monday and in informal workouts in recent weeks.
Cristobal said freshman receivers Joshua Moore, Daylyn Upshaw and Malachi Toney “stood out right away in a positive manner. You go outside and look at both Daylyn and Josh Moore, those guys can flat out go, create separation. Great balance and body control. Great contact balance; they get pressed at the line and come out of it.
“Inside, [Toney] has been outstanding… They keep calling him Baby Jesus.”
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. said Moore “approaches everything like he’s a veteran – he’s a big guy, can jump, run. Expect to see Joshua Moore in the end zone this year a lot.” And Toney “is going to ball out for sure this year.”
And Fletcher said freshman running back Girard Pringle Jr. stands out because of “his speed. That boy is like lightning, super fast.”
▪ Wesley Bissainthe, who has played outside linebacker for UM, said he’s now receiving work at middle linebacker, where Raul Aguirre and Jaylin Alderman also are competing.
“I’ll be going back and forth between mike and will,” said Bissainthe, who has increased his weight from 205 to 226. “I feel I’m experienced, so once I learn the whole defense, I’ll be able to be versatile and be able to make more plays.”
▪ Is there a difference in what new coordinator Corey Hetherman expects from linebackers compared with his predecessor, ousted Lance Guidry?
“I feel like we’re more free, more fast,” Bissainthe said of Hetherman.
“Just being able to get sideline to sideline and do more.”
He added that Hetherman “brings the energy. Just from the defense emphasizing being fast, looking forward to working with him more. He’s the same guy every day and I’m excited to work with him.”
▪ Freshman linebacker Kellen Wiley, who picked UM over Texas and FSU the week of the early signing period, “is an animal,” Bissainthe said. “Once he learns what to do he’s going to be a problem. He’s big, fast, physical.”
▪ Freshman safety Wallace is wearing the No. 26 jersey number of former All-American safety Sean Taylor, who died, at age 24, in 2007 when he was shot inside his home.
“Anyone who brings up that numbers knows what comes up with that,” Cristobal said. “We’re not in a position of luxury where we cannot use all our numbers. It’s a number that everybody wants to wear that’s playing the position. He understands the standard that must be upheld and the honor that comes with it.”
Gurvan Hall was the last UM player to wear the number, in 2021.
This story was originally published March 3, 2025 at 2:53 PM.
