Some Miami Hurricanes spring lineup decisions and clues offered. And Jason Taylor helping
A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Thursday:
▪ Though the significance of spring football lineup decisions should never be overstated, each offers a clue into what coaches are thinking.
Here are five worth noting from the first half of Canes spring ball:
Number 1: The Canes made their first change with the first team offensive line this week, removing left guard Ousman Traore from the first team, switching Justice Olawaseun from right guard to left guard and inserting Oregon transfer Logan Sagapolu at right guard. That suggests Sagapolu — who didn’t play at Oregon as a freshman in 2020 and missed last year due to injury — has done enough in practice to earn first-team reps.
It also suggests that UM has liked what it has seen from left tackle Zion Nelson, center Jakai Clark and right tackle DJ Scaife. Those three have been with the first team at those positions all spring. John Campbell and Jalen Rivers will compete for starting jobs when they return from injuries this summer.
Number 2: Running back Henry Parrish, the Mississippi transfer, has impressed this spring and has been getting the bulk of the first-team work. But Thad Franklin has had some good moments — including two short touchdown runs Thursday — and also has received some first-team work, suggesting he has impressed coaches.
Keep in mind that Jaylan Knighton and Don Chaney Jr. aren’t participating in team drills this spring, as they recover from wrist and knee injuries, respectively.
Number 3: Receivers Jacolby George and Xavier Restrepo continue to get a lot of first-team work along with Key’shawn Smith, suggesting that Canes coaches see considerable upside in those three.
Number 4: Waymon Steed, Keontra Smith and Corey Flagg continue to get a lot of work with the first team, suggesting none of last year’s backups or this year’s newcomers have beaten them out at linebacker.
Number 5: With cornerback Tyrique Stevenson sidelined this spring due to injury, there’s a lot of mixing and matching in the secondary. On Thursday, cornerback Al Blades Jr. lined up a safety alongside Avantae Williams, with safety James Williams playing in the box some.
DJ Ivey and Isaiah Dunson worked as first-team corners, with Te’Cory Couch and Gilbert Frierson sharing nickel responsibilities.
Ivey, Dunson, Marcus Clarke, Couch and Blades will try to beat out summer arrival Daryl Porter Jr. (the West Virginia transfer) to start opposite Stevenson this fall. Couch and Blades also will compete for time in the slot.
▪ Here’s another notable lineup development: Defensive end Thomas Davis got some first-team work with Jahfari Harvey during Thursday’s practice. Davis, who missed last season with an injury, has come on strong.
Davis is “real fast off the edge, can dip real well, get low,” Harvey said.
Chantz Williams also is competing for a starting job. And Mitchell Agude — the UCLA transfer who hasn’t yet arrived at UM — could end up starting opposite Harvey.
▪ Players are raving about the impact of NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, a new UM quality control analyst. Per NCAA rules, he can observe but not coach during practice, but he can watch film with players, attend meetings and offer them instruction in the film room.
“Having him in the meeting room is a blessing; he’s a guy that’s made more plays than anybody here in the building,” Chantz Williams said. “He has tips old vets use. He’s allowing us to understand the game a whole lot. Everybody goes to him, asking questions. He’s just always around. It’s great to have him. When Jason Taylor comes in and says something, you know to write it down.”
Harvey said Taylor “adds a lot to what we’re doing. Him and coach [Rod] Wright are two great guys to have. He helps us tremendously... watching film. Everybody is learning from him.”
▪ Jakai Clark gave some good insight on UM’s personnel, noting Sagapolu is “a very strong guy, good with his feet, good with his hands. Brings an energy.”
The defensive linemen who have stood out to Clark?
He mentioned Southern California transfer Jacob Lichtenstein and backup defensive tackle Allen Haye, “who has really been improving.”
▪ Olawaseun said freshman defensive end Cyrus Moss “is very quick, very agile on his feet. He’s like a receiver coming off the ball.”
And Olawaseun said Lichtenstein — who can play end and tackle — “is a strong dude, like country strong. If he puts hands on you, he can dominate and push you back.”
Did Olawaseun give any thought to following Garin Justice — his offensive line coach at UNLV and UM — to SMU, where Justice now works for SMU head coach (and former UM offensive coordinator) Rhett Lashlee’?
“I’m more a person that’s like players more than coaches,” he said. “Coaches come and go. So I can’t control things I can’t control. I love my guys. I love… Miami football.”
New offensive line coach Alex Mirabal “is an intense dude, reminds me of myself,” he said.
▪ UM already has surpassed last season’s final season ticket sales of 30,000. Enthusiasm about the state of the program — and life returning back to normal after COVID-19 — are likely responsible for that. The Canes would cut off season ticket sales at 46,000 but they’re not close to that number.
This story was originally published March 31, 2022 at 1:39 PM.
