It’s rare that you see many schools having spring games in locations outside of where their school is located. However, that will be the case when the Hurricanes travel to Orlando for their spring game. It’s also the site of where the ‘Canes will kick off the college football season. Miami recently had their first spring scrimmage that was open to fans, giving the players a taste of football with an audience.
In that scrimmage, all three quarterbacks got a chance to run the offense, some faring better than others. N’Kosi Perry started off the rotation with Jarren Williams taking snaps afterward. Tate Martell was third the third quarterback out and had a fair bit of struggles, but a new scheme and playing with lesser talented groups also didn’t help.
What The Canes Need To See
Health
The Hurricanes have had a large number of players sit out in the scrimmages due to injuries. Wide receivers Jeff Thomas, Mike Harley, and Brian Hightower all missed the last scrimmage because of injuries. Freshman phenom tight end Brevin Jordan also has missed most of the spring because of a knee injury and running back Robert Burns will miss the rest of spring due to injury. Projected starting center Corey Gaynor also has been held out recently and his absence has caused an entire shift on the offensive line.
Those are just injuries from the offensive side. On the defensive side, there have been some players banged up also. Amari Carter, Jon Ford, Zach McCloud, Waymon Steed, and now Bradley Jennings have all been hurt in some sort of way.
Underclassmen Continuing To Grow
This spring, Miami has seen a number of freshmen and sophomores players take a leap in their progression. Offensively, Will Mallory has already had a scrimmage where he scored twice and has been very reliable. Mark Pope came to Miami with very high expectations and struggled as a freshman. This spring he’s improved in a number of areas and has shown off his game-breaking speed.
Lol watch how Noodles set Silk cousin up with that hesi 😭😭😂😂 pic.twitter.com/JRsoP3lWCd
— D-Mac, M.B.A. (@_First48_) April 14, 2019
On the defensive side, Jennings earned rave reviews from the coaching staff prior to being injured in the last scrimmage. At safety, Gurvan Hall has taken the next step and looks like a starter. Freshman cornerback DJ Ivey had an interception in the last scrimmage and is a possible starter.
Final Thought
Although many guys aren’t able to practice due to injuries, that means more opportunity for other players. Whether that player is a walk-on or a multi-year starter with a secured position, fans want to see competition. The Hurricanes are nearing their opening game against the Gators in Orlando, and a majority of this group will be relied upon. Miami does have a large crop of freshman and transfers that will be enrolling into school next month.
After spring ball, the Hurricanes will be back in the weight room and on-field workouts before the end of the semester. Head Coach Manny Diaz has the task of finding additional talent on the team after assessing spring football. Look for the Hurricanes to utilize the transfer portal for positions lacking depth such as linebacker, cornerback, and offensive line.
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