Notes and takeaways from the first week of Miami Hurricanes spring practice
Fifteen notes and takeaways off the first week of Miami Hurricanes spring practice, including Friday’s third session, which featured players in shells for the first time:
▪ DJ Scaife, throughout his career, has been more effective at guard than tackle. But the Canes, at least for now, appear to view him as their best healthy option at right tackle.
Scaife, who played well at right guard last season, lined up with the first team at right tackle Friday for a third consecutive practice.
Zion Nelson has been the starting left tackle, and Jakai Clark has received the majority of work with the first team at center.
With Jalen Rivers still limited after last September’s knee injury, Ousman Traore has been the first-team left guard all week. Justice Oluwaseun, who also can play tackle, has been the first team right guard.
So what could change at right tackle in the coming months? A few things: If second-year player Michael McLaughlin — who has logged backup tackle snaps — proves worthy of a starting spot, Scaife could end up at guard. If John Campbell, limited this spring, is very good in August, he could figure into the equation at starting right tackle.
Campbell missed all of last season with a knee injury, but he and Rivers have been able to do some noncontact work so far this spring.
Besides McLaughlin, the other two offensive linemen in the 2021 class — guard Laurance Seymore and center Ryan Rodriguez — also have been getting some second team snaps.
▪ We mentioned in February that one local prep coach predicted receiver Jacolby George will become a star. And UM clearly sees huge upside, because he has received consistent work with the starters all week, often paired with Key’shawn Smith and Xavier Restrepo. George had a long reception Friday.
“He’s already dangerous,” cornerback DJ Ivey said of George. “We know he’s good at going up and getting the ball. He’s got strong hands. [Good at] route-running. He’s a good player.”
▪ Receiver Michael Redding, battling for a rotation spot, was very good Friday, making three downfield catches in quarterback/receiver drills.
Smith made a beautiful shoestring catch.
And Restrepo continues to display good acceleration and produce yards after catch on short throws.
▪ It will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Josh Gattis can maximize Breshard Smith, a multitalented weapon who’s a threat every time he touches the ball, either on receptions or handoffs. He displayed a shiftiness eluding defenders Friday.
▪ With the “striker” position eliminated from UM’s defense, Gilbert Frierson is playing a similar “star” position, which is a hybrid linebacker/defensive back role. In individual drills, he worked with the defensive backs on Friday. Frierson also has worked some at SAM linebacker.
“He’s picked things up pretty pretty,” defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said Friday.
Al Blades Jr., a natural cornerback, also is getting some work at the star position, Steele said.
▪ It wouldn’t necessarily be ideal if UM starts the same linebackers who primarily started last season (Corey Flagg Jr., Waymon Steed and Keontra Smith).
Each of them has appealing individual attributes, but none is the type of elite-level all-conference-caliber linebacker this defense needs.
So far, those three — and Frierson — have received the most work with the first team; Steed, in particular, has been a constant with the first group.
Freshman Wesley Bissainthe received some first-team work Friday.
Flagg was UM’s leading tackler a year ago and remains the front-runner at middle linebacker.
“He’s a guy that has a lot of want-to,” Steele said. “He’s got instincts. He’s progressing along like the rest of them.”
▪ Linebacker Sam Brooks Jr.’s status is in limbo. He’s missing spring ball for undisclosed reasons, and it’s unclear if he will return.
▪ Safety Brian Balom, who missed all of last season with an injury, has been very active. “He looks amazing,” safety James Williams said.
▪ Steele’s defense has clear differences from Manny Diaz’s system. Steele runs a 4-3. He said UM’s defense last season was a 4-2 with a striker.
“It’s is a different style, but they’ve done a good job of picking it up,” he said.
▪ Cornerback Te’Cory Couch made a nice deflection on a pass to Restrepo and had good coverage on an incomplete end-zone throw to Smith.
The starting cornerback job opposite Tyrique Stevenson (who’s missing the spring with an injury) should be one of the most competitive on the team.
Couch, Ivey, Blades, West Virginia transfer Daryl Porter Jr. and Marcus Clarke are all in the running. Porter hasn’t yet enrolled. Freshman Khamauri Rogers, who’s missing spring ball, also could become a factor.
▪ Quick stuff: Running back Cody Brown dropped what should have been an easy short catch. Brown and Thad Franklin are getting lots of reps this spring, with Jaylan Knighton and Don Chaney Jr. sidelined and freshman Tre’Vonte Citizen not yet on campus. Mississippi transfer Henry Parrish has been the first-team running back….
Tight end Will Mallory had a long TD catch…
Linebacker Avery Huff, who has played sparingly at UM, got some second-team work…
Jahfari Harvey and Chantz Williams were the starting defensive ends again, with early enrollee Cyrus Moss working with the second team.
▪ Gattis has quite a presence, especially when working with his receiver group. He’s a constant whirlwind of activity, running full speed when demonstrating technique and stopping to correct anything that’s not being done correctly.
During Friday’s practice, he told a walk-on wide receiver: “You’re happy to be here. If you want to stay here, you’ve got to do things right.”
This coaching staff runs practice at a fast tempo and prioritizes teaching, which is good to see.
▪ Steele summed up the first week of practice this way: “What we’ve done these first three days is put guys at positions that we thought was best for them in talking to them as a coaching staff. We’ve moved some guys around, but it’s pretty stagnant right now because we’re trying to teach them the details of the defense.
“They all bought in, but they’re trying to conceptually understand the defense and play at a high speed, and that takes time …We have a long way to go.”
▪ Avantae Williams and James Williams have been the first-team safeties. Kamren Kinchens is missing spring ball.
Steele said Avantae Williams “has a lot of energy, He flies around, has a good skillset. He likes contact. We’re pleased with that.”
▪ To his credit, receiver Daz Worsham — despite very limited playing time in two years — hasn’t gone running to the portal. He caught a pass Friday and picked up five or six yards after the catch.
This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 2:44 PM.
