Hurricanes coaches share news on young players, including one switching positions
A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Tuesday:
▪ UM coaches this week offered notable updates on three young players, including one who has switched positions.
Former Miami Palmetto four-star standout Robby Washington, who came to UM as 247 Sports’ 22nd-ranked receiver in the 2023 class, has moved to cornerback.
“Robby is an excellent athlete, really good football player,” Mario Cristobal said. “He’s had some nagging injuries since he arrived here at Miami. We need a little help at the defensive back spot.
“In practice we’ve done it with him before. In tackling drills, cover drills, his natural ability to bend, come to balance, to strike the ball carrier I think is special. We believe he will be an elite corner.”
Defensive coordinator Lance Guidry said he’s uncertain how much Washington will play this season.
“He’s starting brand new,” Guidry said. “He just moved, has to understand all the language, all the lingo. He’s a really good athlete. He can play corner, a little bit of nickel.”
Washington, 5-11, played in two games last season (Bethune-Cookman and Clemson) and caught two passes for 27 yards.
Washington’s brother, Bobby Washington, is a linebacker for the Hurricanes.
Meanwhile, four-star freshman safety Zaquan Patterson, who didn’t play defensive snaps in the opener at Florida, impressed coaches against Florida A&M, and Guidry wants to give him a limited number of defensive snaps each week.
“He did some good things and will continue to grow,” Guidry said. “There’s no experience like game experience. He had a really good week of practice and hopefully going forward we can play him between six and 10 snaps, 15 max. [If an] injury happens he can play more. We’ll keep playing him more and more.”
Cristobal said of Patterson: “He’s on his way to being a great player for us. Not later, but now.”
Meanwhile, Cristobal and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson spoke of a potentially bigger role for running back Chris Johnson Jr.
“He does not bust any plays, is an awesome teammate, deserves [more playing time],” Cristobal said.
Dawson said of Johnson: “I want to get him more and more involved. He’s a talented kid that can do a lot of things. He has the ability to be dynamic with the ball in his hands.”
Johnson caught two passes for 12 yards and a touchdown against Florida A&M, but his only carry lost 5 yards. UM has a crowded and talented running back room, with Damien Martinez and Mark Fletcher Jr. holding down the top two jobs, and Jordan Lyle, Ajay Allen, Johnson and Chris Wheatley Humphrey competing for the No. 3 role.
▪ UM got most of its natural freshmen significant playing time in Saturday’s 56-9 win against Florida A&M. Here’s how much they played, according to Pro Football Focus:
On offense: tight end Elija Lofton (28 snaps), center Nino Francavilla (25), receiver JoJo Trader (17), Lyle (15), receiver Chance Robinson (14), receiver Ny Carr (12), running back Chris Wheatley Humphrey (1) and quarterback Judd Anderson (1).
On defense: cornerback O.J. Frederique (38), safety Patterson (18), edge player Cole McConathy (17), defensive lineman Armondo Blount (12), defensive lineman Justin Scott (10), linebacker Cam Pruitt (8), defensive tackle Artavius Jones (6), linebacker Adarius Hayes (6), safety Dylan Day (6), edge player Marquise Lightfoot (5) and defensive lineman Elias Rudolph (1).
Hayes and Pruitt had interceptions and Scott had a sack.
▪ Cristobal, on linebacker Wesley Bissainthe in his weekly chat with WQAM’s Joe Rose: “Perfect example of development. Walks in three years ago at 184 pounds. Now he’s 229, 230, 231, around there. Runs, can strike, great team leader. He’s playing at a super high level. Was player of the week last week, up for it again this week. Just an absolute stud.”
Bissainthe had an interceptions against Florida A&M and made third down stops on UF’s first two possessions in the opener.
▪ Left tackle Markel Bell, filling in for injured Jalen Rivers, allowed Florida A&M’s only sack in the game, per PFF, but Cristobal said he played very well overall and the team “trusts” him... Cam Ward and receiver Isaiah Horton were Miami’s top-rated players on offense against Florida A&M, per PFF...
Among those who played double digits in snaps, defensive end Tyler Baron (who has four sacks in two games) and Patterson were UM’s top-rated players on defense... Cornerback Jadais Richard, who had some trouble in coverage last season, allowed all three passes thrown in his coverage area to be caught for 54 yards.
▪ On his weekly coach’s show with Joe Zagacki and Don Bailey Jr., Cristobal said he discussed with his staff earlier this year that “we must do a better job of getting the other part of our roster ready to play right now” — meaning backup players.
“Seasons are longer, there are injuries and not everyone sticks around forever.”
▪ Quick stuff: Cristobal said Guidry “sees the game like no one I’ve ever been around. Honored to have him with us.”... Cristobal said of new starting left guard Matt McCoy: “What a great player he has turned out to be.”... ESPN assigned Chris Cotter and former NFL linebacker Mark Herzlich to Saturday’s game against visiting Ball State at 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network.
This story was originally published September 10, 2024 at 10:03 AM.
