More help likely on the way for UM: Five takeaways from Miami Hurricanes’ spring game
Five takeaways from the Miami Hurricanes’ spring game on Saturday at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale:
▪ Because of injuries and the fluid nature of rosters in the transfer portal era, the UM team on the field Saturday wasn’t a true reflection of what we’ll see this fall. And that’s a good thing, because there are shortcomings on this team.
Per a source, UM is looking to add at least five more immediate contributors in the transfer portal in the months ahead, including two linebackers, another edge player and perhaps a kicker who can handle kickoffs and compete with Andres Borregales on field goals (USC’s Parker Lewis remains in play).
If a high-end offensive tackle, cornerback or receiver wants to come here, UM will certainly be listening.
The Canes are optimistic about adding UCLA transfer linebacker Caleb Johnson (who had 80 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two interceptions in 18 games with the Bruins) and West Virginia second-team All Big 12 defensive end Akheem Mesidor (70 tackles and 9.5 sacks in 21 games for the Mountaineers).
Those two players, both in the portal, would be likely starters.
At least 16 other players expected to get playing time this fall also didn’t play on Saturday, including starting tight end Will Mallory; the team’s top two defensive ends (Jahfari Harvey and UCLA transfer Mitchell Agude) and four-star freshman Nyjalik Kelly, potentially the two starting cornerbacks (Tyrique Stevenson and West Virginia transfer Daryl Porter Jr.); offensive linemen Jonathan Denis (the Oregon transfer) and John Campbell; promising freshman linebacker Wesley Bissainthe; two of the team’s top four running backs (Jaylan Knighton and Don Chaney Jr.) and rotational defensive tackles Jared Harrison-Hunte and Antonio Moultrie and safety Kamren Kinchens.
Aside from safeties James Williams and Avantae Williams and defensive tackle Leonard Taylor, there wasn’t another spring game defensive starter that should feel secure about starting games this fall, though that’s not a slight at Te’Cory Couch, Thomas Davis and Keontra Smith – three players who had very good springs.
But the first team defense generated very little pass rush - and was mediocre against the run - as Tyler Van Dyke took the offense down the field for two early drives.
That’s why it’s critical that Agude (who had four forced fumbles at UCLA last season) becomes what UM believes he can be, and that Mesidor (who visited UM and Penn State) picks the Canes. Moultrie (the UAB transfer) also should help the defensive tackle rotation.
▪ There’s talent at receiver but still too many drops.
Fans in the half-filled DRV PNK Stadium started booing after three catchable passes were dropped early on – by Key’Shawn Smith (who lost possession of what would have been a 45-yard catch when falling to the ground), running back Henry Parrish and Xavier Restrepo.
And later on, Clemson transfer Frank Ladson failed to make what would have been a difficult catch in the back of the end zone.
Mario Cristobal said the wide receiver play was inconsistent Saturday, particularly among the boundary receivers.
“When you have a quarterback like [Tyler Van Dyke], you have to find a way to get them the ball,” Cristobal said. “We must find a way to come down with those passes.”
Restrepo, who has emerged as UM’s best receiver, did considerable damage from the slot on Saturday, closing with five catches for 46 yards.
Jacolby George, who has played with the starters most of spring, had four catches for 24 yards, including a 7-yard TD from Van Dyke. Those two and Key’Shawn Smith (1 catch for 10 yards on Saturday) likely will be in the rotation.
It will be an interesting August battle among Ladson (1 for 8 Saturday), Brashard Smith (2 for 24 Saturday), Romello Brinson (missed spring with an injury), Michael Redding (2 for 15) and Daz Worsham (1 for 4) for other roles. Brashard Smith came on strong late in the spring.
▪ Running back Thad Franklin, Couch and defensive end Thomas Davis were among the most improved players this spring.
Franklin, who had 14 carries for 60 yards on Saturday, “is a tough guy to tackle, deceptively elusive,” said defensive tackle Jake Lichtenstein, who had one of UM’s four sacks Saturday. (Cyrus Moss had two and Taylor one.)
Davis again drew plaudits from Cristobal.
Couch tackled Brashard Smith for a nine-yard loss on an end-around and looks more like the cornerback who excelled in 2020, not the one who allowed a 104.6 passer rating in his coverage area last season.
Couch credited new defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae for “believing in me and getting my confidence to where it was. He told me to trust my speed.”
▪ Multiple spots remain unsettled on the offensive line.
The first team, from left to right on Saturday, was Zion Nelson, Justice Olawaseun, Jakai Clark, Logan Sagapolu and DJ Scaife. That line played very well early on.
Jalen Rivers - who opened last spring as the starter at left guard - got a lot of work at left tackle on Saturday.
Nelson and Scaife almost assuredly will start. Clark is the clear front-runner at center ahead of Ryan Rodriguez, and Rivers has a good shot to start at guard.
But the competition will be intense with Olawaseun, Sagapolu, Denis, Campbell, Ousman Traore and perhaps another transfer. UM still awaits clarity from five-star Georgia Bulldogs tackle Amarius Mims, who visited FSU this past week and remains in the portal.
▪ The Canes are loaded at tight end.
Even with Mallory sidelined by a shoulder injury, UM still has plenty of playmakers at the position with Arroyo (four catches for 36 yards on Saturday), elite freshman Jaleel Skinner (1 for 8) and Kahlil Brantley, who quieted the boos with a 26-yard reception, among his three catches for 42 yards. Dominic Mammarelli also had a 19-yard catch.
UM - which got Skinner (Rivals’ No. 2 tight end in the 2022 class) to flip from Alabama - has done a great job recruiting at the position. Minnesota-based tight end Jaxon Howard - rated by Rivals as the No. 5 tight end and 106th best player in the Class of 2023 - was at Saturday’s game and plans to take an official visit to UM.
This story was originally published April 16, 2022 at 3:41 PM.