CB Christian Williams enters transfer portal

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In a bit of shocking news from the Canes, sophomore CB Christian Williams has elected to enter the transfer portal. Williams is free to engage in contact with other schools for a transfer and his transfer is imminent because Miami has removed his name from the official roster.

 

No reason has been given for his decision, but It is worth noting that Williams only played 8 snaps last week against UAB.

 

The 6’1” Daphne, AL product was a late addition from the 2019 recruiting class as a result of efforts by CB coach Mike Rumph to sway him away from Nick Saban and Alabama. Williams did play in all 13 games in 2019, recording five tackles and a single PBU.

 

This now leaves the Canes with only 5 scholarship corners on the team: starters Al Blades Jr. and DJ Ivey, sophomore Te’Cory Couch, and true freshmen Marcus Clarke and Isaiah Dunson. Depth is now very thin and it’s looking like Couch should be receiving a lot more playing time moving forward.

 

Keep it locked to 5 Reasons Sports and @5ReasonsCanes for the latest in Miami Hurricanes coverage and be ready for another episode of The Sixth Ring on Friday night at 7:30 to get your ready for Saturday’s primetime matchup at Louisville.

 

Dolphins stock up, stock down vs Patriots

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Welcome to my first annual Stock up, Stock down report. This will be a weekly article where I breakdown the good, the bad, and the ugly from Miami’s previous game.

This week, the Dolphins lost to the Patriots 21-11. There was some good, lots of bad, and even some ugly. Too much ugly, actually.

Stock Up

Brandon Jones

The two rookies that stood out the most (for drastically different reasons) were Brandon Jones and Austin Jackson. Starting with Brandon, he finished the first half with eight tackles (6 solos), which was the most tackles for a rookie in their debut. He continued to make plays in the second half totaling ten tackles (7 solos). Brandon flashed all over the field with his aggressive play, which did result in a roughing the passer penalty (really weak call, Brandon didn’t touch his head, in my opinion) but was a nice sight to see.

Austin Jackson

The other rookie Austin Jackson was impressive for the exact opposite reasons for Brandon. Whenever you get a rookie LT in their first start, they tend to make mistakes that could cost your QB their head, but today I felt no stress or anxiety. Not one time did I have to call his name, which is the ultimate compliment for an offensive lineman. As a team, we gave up only 1 the sack, which was a good development after the 58 sacks we gave up last year.

Christian Wilkins

Another player that flashed consistently was Wilkins. It was great to see Christian get his first sack of the year in week 1 instead of waiting till week nine like last year. Christian was disruptive all game long from his 3-4 end position and even kicked inside a couple of times to play Defensive Tackle. Christian ultimately ended up with six total tackles (5 solos) 1 sack two passes defended, and two tackles for losses. A welcomed sight from last year’s first-round pick.

Jerome Baker

Baker was our most impactful player of the afternoon. Lining up everywhere as Flore’s ultimate chess piece, we saw him drop in coverage, stop the run, and blitz on multiple times throughout the afternoon (getting his first sack of the year). Baker, after training camp last year, was expected to take a significant jump, especially in the pass rush department, which never really materialized, but today he put it all together. 16 total tackles (13 solo) the 1 sack and one tackle for a loss. My only negative on Baker was the late penalty he got after a big run by Edelman, which resulted in not just the long run but the additional 15 yards, which ultimately sealed the game for the Patriots.

 

Stock Down

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan struggled all afternoon, but even more after the Devante Parker injury. For whatever reason, Fitz did not read the field well giving up three interceptions with one coming from a player he never saw coming. By all indications, Ryan will have a long leash this year, but how long can the coaching staff continue going to him when we are eventually going to have to see what we have in Tua? It is week 1, so overacting will do no one any good. So for now, we need Ryan to study what went wrong this week in practice to get ready for the Buffalo Bills (one of his old teams).

Wide Receivers

Devante Parker began the game right where he left off in week 17. He spent the early part of the afternoon giving Fitz his only target, who was fighting to get open AND to make the catch. As I spoke on my Top 5 things to Watch, an injury to any of our top 3 receiving options (Parker, Gesicki, and Preston) will show us our lack of depth at the position and unfortunately, we saw it first-hand today. Once DVP left the game with hamstring tightness, the entire pass offense went down the drain. We ultimately only ended up trying to force-feed Preston with 7 targets, which he only converted 2 for 41 yards. We need Jakeem and Isiah to step up regardless if DVP is out for an extended period.

Run Defense

I wanted to keep this report to specific players, but the entire defense failed to defend the run.  No single player deserves more blame than defense for the swiss cheese; it let itself become in the game. All afternoon long, the Patriots ran the ball at will against us. After only the 1 st quarter, the Patriots had amassed over 50 yards rushing and ultimately ended up with 217 yards rushing than the 87 we gained. The numbers in total show that in 42 carriers, we gave up 5.2 yards per rush and three touchdowns. Whenever those two numbers are what they are, it becomes next to impossible to give yourself a chance to play. I am looking forward to the All-22 on Tuesday to show whether coaching or player error caused us to get so gashed; it even caused me to stop and consider if our best run defender in Raekwon McMillan last season would have been able to help.

Coaching Staff

From the opening kickoff till the end of the game, it always felt like we were only reacting to the Patriots and what they were doing. Cam Newton, the whole game, ran it at will with the defense, making little to no adjustment that made a difference. On the offenses only touchdown of the day, it came on a 3 rd down run on the one after getting stuffed two times in a row. Ultimately, we did end up getting the touchdown to try and make it a game late but were 3 straight runs the best plays we had for the situation? We struggled to get the run game going all game, but it almost felt like we were not considering a different type of play for a crucial 3rd and goal. Lastly, we have an essential divisional opponent coming to town in the Buffalo Bills. This will require the coaching staff to construct an adequate game plan with room to be flexible and react correspondently to what the opponent is doing to us.

 

This article was written by Juan Cardona. Follow him on Twitter at @exclusvty

Rings but no Chains: Miami uses 3rd quarter surge to outlast UAB

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The Miami-UAB matchup provided a few things for Canes fans on Thursday night. You have the first official South Florida sports event attended by fans in six months, the long awaited arrival of what was hopefully a competent but electric offense for the Canes, and finally the debut of an explosive quarterback in D’Eriq King.

 

King capped off his 1st win as a Miami quarterback with his 16th straight game of at least 1 TD thrown and 1 TD on the ground. In total, he went 15/23 through the air with 144 yards along with 83 rushing yards on 12 carries to lead the Canes to a 31-14 win over the Blazers of UAB.

 

“It felt pretty good. It was a lot of things that usually happen in the first game,” King said after the game. “We gotta get better on a lot of stuff.”

 

The impact of the former Houston QB was felt throughout the game, as his scrambling ability saved Miami on multiple third downs and helped the Canes finish with 25 first downs.

 

Soon after UAB scored the game’s first touchdown with 2:40 left in the first quarter, the Canes went for it on 4th-and-1 on their own 34, which led to a 66-yard touchdown run by Cam Harris. Harris would be the one to unveil this year’s new touchdown rings, which show “The Crib” in a shiny, diamond-filled finish. Harris would finish with 134 yards on 17 carries and 2 TD’s.

 

“Cam’s work ethic this calendar year has been through the charts,” coach Manny Diaz said on Harris after the game. “…so you always want to see a guy like that rewarded in a game that is worthy.”

 

Harris’ performance was only a figment of the relentless running game by Miami. As a team, the Canes accumulated 337 yards on the ground amongst five players: King, Harris, Jaylan Knighton (59 on 9 carries), Don Chaney (52 yards on 8 carries), and Robert Burns (12 yards on 4 carries).

 

“Once we pound the ball, give the defense time, we’re gonna take shots,” said Harris on Miami’s running attack.

 

The passing game for Miami did not come as easy, as King had a couple of errant overthrows, including a for-sure five-yard throw to an open Jeremiah Payton that was just out of his reach. Leading by only 7 at halftime, King and the entire offense seemed to find their rhythm once he went to Brevin Jordan. Jordan was not targeted in the first half but finished with three catches for a team-leading 51 yards and a touchdown in the third quarter alone while Miami was able to piece together two 7-play, 70+ yard touchdown drives that helped pull them away.

 

UAB quarterback Tyler Johnston III got off to a great start, completing 8 of his first 9 passes but inaccuracy woes started creeping in during the second half as he finished 15 of 23 for 150 yards and one touchdown. Johnston looked often to receiver Myron Mitchell, who led UAB with 117 yards on 8 catches, but both of their performances were not enough to overcome Miami’s overbearing running game.

 

Overall, the Miami defense had results of all sorts. We did not see the new turnover chain, but besides that, the run defense was very stout. The Canes held the Blazers to only 80 rushing yards and 3.1 yards/carry while the pass defense experienced a lot of early woes but seemed to recover as the game progressed. The Blazers were going after corner DJ Ivey for the bulk of the first quarter and he allowed about a handful of catches to Myron Mitchell. Ivey was also beaten on UAB’s first touchdown after his body was turned to the wrong side defending Blazers’ receiver Austin Watkins.

 

The lone Miami sack belonged to Quincy Roche, as the Temple grad transfer finished with four tackles total. Junior DT Nesta Silvera also played a big role in that nasty Miami run defense today as he had five tackles. And although the box score may not exactly give you a clear perspective on his impact in tonight’s game, Jaelan Phillips found himself applying persistent pressure on Johnston throughout the entire game.

 

The Canes played in front of a home crowd of 8,153, which is well under the 13,000 fan limit the stadium will allot.

 

Miami’s next game will be next Saturday on September 19th at Louisville and the game will be broadcasted on ABC with a time TBD.

 

Stay tuned to Five Reasons Sports for the latest in Miami Hurricanes coverage and be sure to look out for next week’s episode of The Sixth Ring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes : 2020 season positional preview

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Heading into the Miami Hurricanes 2020 season, the Five Reasons Sports Hurricanes crew put out predictions for each position. In what is sure to be a unique season, the Hurricanes are talented on both sides of the football

Canes fans: it’s officially game day. 

 

Quarterback

By: Jazz Santana

Starter: D’Eriq King

I chose the easy one. There has been absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind, D’Eriq King has been QB1 since the first day he stepped foot in Coral Gables. King, the transfer from the University of Houston has given this football program new life! He has come and been every bit as good as advertised. Not only is D’Eriq King on the Maxwell Trophy, Davey O’Brien and Heisman watch, but most importantly, he is the leader of the Miami Hurricanes football team. The position is deep with veteran guys like N’Kosi Perry, Tate Martell and evening Tyler Van Dyke, but make no mistake, this is King’s team. King can make plays with his arm and his legs, which makes him a legitimate threat every play. For the first time since the days of Ken Dorsey, I can confidently say that the Canes have a quarterback that not only is extremely talented, but does one thing above all – bring hope. 

 

Running Back

By: Jaccare Givens

Starter: Cam Harris

Bound for a breakout: Jaylan Knighton

 

Looking at the University Of Miami running back position it is by far one the deepest positions on the UM roster, with guys such as Cam Harris, Don Chaney Jr., Jaylan “Rooster” Knighton, and Robert Burns. The top 2 running backs will be Cam Harris and Jaylan Knighton because they’re a good compliment to each other Harris is more of the bruiser back. Knighton is a  home run threat every time he touches it because of his blazing speed that has been displayed throughout camp. I also expect Knighton to be a breakout player and contender for freshman-All American, ACC newcomer, and ACC freshman of the year. 

 

Wide Receiver

By: Paul Austria

Starters: Mark Pope, Dee Wiggins, Mike Harley

Bound for a breakout: Jeremiah Payton

 

Miami’s wide receiver unit in 2020 is poised to be a problem for opposing defenses, considering the speed and athleticism of this unit as well as the integration of OC Rhett Lashlee’s offense. Wiggins has been a steady contributor for the Canes in his first two seasons, making a total of 27 catches and Pope could be in line for a big season as his natural speed and talent are major reasons why he was considered a top recruit in 2018. The senior Harley is also in a great position to show off his speed this season.

 

While the upperclassmen wideouts get most of the spotlight here, don’t be surprised if you see redshirt freshman Jeremiah Payton making some plays this season. Players and scouts raved about Payton while he was a member of the scout team last season and is very quick and strong route runner who has all the tools to become a regular starter by next season.

Tight End

By: Paul Austria

Starters: Brevin Jordan, Will Mallory

Bound for a breakout: Will Mallory

 

Historically speaking, Miami’s had a great legacy of tight ends and you’d be crazy not to include them in any Tight End U conversation. The group Miami will carry in 2020 is in a great position to carry on that tradition, led by first-team All-ACC selection and John Mackey Award finalist Brevin Jordan. The junior is returning for what may be his last season with the Canes as he is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Throw in fellow junior Will Mallory, who has shown glimpses of his talent. He caught 16 passes for 293 yards in 2019 but did struggle with dropped passes at times. With opposing defenses placing a bigger focus on Jordan and the implementation of OC Rhett Lashelee’s Air Raid offense, Mallory should see more balls thrown his way in 2020. 

 

Miami did get thinner at the position as Michael Irvin II decided to grad transfer to FAU but they do have two freshmen sitting in the wings. Coach Diaz was able to preserve the redshirt status of Larry Hodges last season, who saw action in four games and caught a couple of TD passes against Bethune Cookman. 

Offensive Line

By Paul Austria

Starters: LT John Campbell, LG Ousmane Traore, C Corey Gaynor, RG DJ Scaife, RT Jarrid Williams 

Bound for a breakout: LG Ousman Traore

In 2019, the offensive line was one of the most criticized units of the Canes and a lot of factors were to blame but with a new coach in Garin Justice leading the way, things are looking up. Because of limited depth, Miami started a true freshman in LT Zion Nelson against Florida’s nasty pass rush and it did not go that well. Nelson has since added 60 pounds to his frame and is now playing behind John Campbell, but do not be surprised if he steps in if the latter struggles. Miami also added some stability at right tackle with the addition of Jarrid Williams, who transferred from Houston and actually played with D’Eriq King during King’s incredible 2018 season.

This could be a coming out party of sorts for Ousman Traore. Miami’s new starting left guard is only a sophomore but the talent is absolutely there as he did sit on an offer from LSU before choosing the Hurricanes in 2019.

 

Defensive End

By: Paul Austria

Starters: Jaelan Phillips, Quincy Roche

Bound for a breakout: Jahfari Harvey

Greg Rousseau’s departure brought initial worry when you think about the Canes losing a potential top-10 first round pick for this season. But all those worries were quickly followed by reassurance when you consider who’s the next man up. Rousseau was expected to form a very disruptive duo with Temple grad transfer Quincy Roche, who won the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year award with 15 sacks in 2019. This is also the year in which another transfer gets his shot in former UCLA transfer JAelan Phillips. Phillips was hampered with injuries during his tenure with the Bruins but reports out of camp state that he is showing glimpses of why he was considered the top recruit in the nation out of high school in 2017.

My breakout player at defensive end is definitely Jahfari Harvey. Harvey impressed as a member of the scout team in 2019, where he redshirted. But he seems very poised as he will probably be the first guy off the bench once Phillips and Roche have left their impact on opposing offensive lines. 

 

 

Defensive Tackle

By: Paul Austria

Starters: Jon Ford, Nesta Silvera

Breakout: Nesta Silvera

Miami’s depth at the defensive tackle position is probably amongst the best on its roster, although it is on the younger side. Jon Ford is entering his senior season with the Canes and should he stay healthy, he will be a mainstay on Miami’s defensive line. He is a very in-your-face, physical inside lineman who has great size to plug up running lanes. Nesta Silvera will hold down the other defensive tackle spot and is the perfect complement to Ford as he is more of a speedy, finesse runner.

The level of urgency for Silvera to take the next step is at an all-time high this season, especially with the limited amount of experience behind him. Silvera will get his opportunities to make plays when opposing offenses zero in on defensive ends Quincy Roche and Jaelan Phillips

 

Linebacker

By: Danny Jaillet

Starters:  Inside: Bradley Jennings,  Weak-side Zach McCloud

Breakout: Nesta Silvera

The Miami Hurricanes have a bunch of options to play with at linebacker. Although some of the names may be  unproven talent, there is no doubt that the talent is there. It is just about execution and building off of what they learned last year.

Zach McCloud is  the team’s starting week-side linebacker. Waynmon Steen, Avery Huff, and Tirek Austin-Cave fill out the weak side

As a freshman in 2018, Steen recorded two tackles. He missed all of 2019 due to knee surgery. A redshirt freshman, Huff figures to be in the mix as well.

At middle linebacker, you have a bunch of players ready to break out. Bradley Jennings and Sam Brooks would certainly fit that description.

For his part, Jennings recorded eight tackles last year, and now looks to man the middle linebacker position with Brooks. Brooks certainly made an impact in his only start against Louisiana Tech last December. He recorded 12 tackles, and gave Miami Hurricanes fans a preview of potential future play. in total, he recorded 18 tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss. now, it’s time to see if he can put it all together.

The linebacker unit has a lot of raw talent, and it will be fascinating to watch them develop over the course of the season.

 

Defensive Back/Striker

By: Jaccare Givens

Starters: CB DJ Ivey, CB Al Blades Jr., S Bubba Bolden, S Amari Carter, Striker Gilbert Frierson

Bound for a breakout: Te’Cory Couch, Gilbert Frierson

I am going out on a limb and saying that Carter and Frierson will be with the 1st unit Thursday night. But you will also see Gurvan Hall, Te’Cory Couch, and Keontra Smith getting in the rotation this season. Couch has been very impressive throughout camp and to me he will be season end be the corner opposite of Al Blades. Couch and Frierson are my breakout players to have great seasons and make all ACC teams. Frierson because he had bright spots last year and with this being his 2nd year in the system I expect he will continue to improve and he’s at the right position to maximize his talent. Blades is the best player in this group by far but I do see Couch also building off a strong camp and being UM leader in INTs this year because he has a great nose for the ball.

 

Miami Hurricanes: Kirk Herbstreit has ‘Canes as sleeper CFP team

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Leave it to Kirk Herbstreit to get Miami Hurricanes fans excited. He made a prediction, but perhaps it is not so outlandish.

On Saturday’s edition of College Gameday , he said that Miami was his sleeper team to make the college football playoff.

Miami is loaded with talent, there is no doubt about that. For starters, D’Eriq King should be able to make an immediate impact. At wide receiver, Michael Harley, Mark Pope, and Dee Wiggins should all be able to help carry the load in the passing game.

Offensively, perhaps one of the deepest groups is running back. The positional group has played well over the course of the past couple of scrimmages. Jaylan Knighton, Cam’Ron Harris, and Don Chaney Jr. are definitely capable of carrying the load.

Miami Hurricanes have talent defensively

Defensively, the Hurricanes lost a big-time player in Greg Rousseau, but they still have a ton of talent. Names like Quincy Roche, Jaelen Phillips, and Zach McCloud should help fill the hole. In the secondary, Al Blades and Bubba Bolden should be able to hold things down.

This Miami Hurricanes roster is extremely deep offensively. Although the defense has some moving parts, they should be able to play at a high level as well. There is definitely talent there, and in particular, the linebacker position intrigues me. I’ll be interested to see what kind of production Miami is able to get from that position group.

In the meantime, this prediction from Herbstreit certainly excites me. In what is a down year for college football, now could be the chance for Miami to show what they have. This is an extremely talented roster, and it’s generated extremely worthy buzz over the past couple of months. Now, it’s time for the Miami Hurricanes to live up to that buzz.

Let the fun begin.

King goes off in last scrimmage before season opener

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Manny Diaz and the Canes held their last fall scrimmage and what better setting than the site of next Thursday’s home opener vs. UAB. Last week, Diaz mentioned that Friday would serve more as a situational scrimmage to see how his players would react in and approach mid-game adversity. Coaches did their best to create a very game-like atmosphere with crowd noise as well as music being blared in between downs. Here are some key notes and stats from Friday’s scrimmage:

 

  • Miami’s newest starter at QB and Heisman trophy candidate showed on Friday night that he thrives on adversity. The team started the second quarter down 24-0 and in response, D’Eriq King connected on 24 of 34 passes for 330 yards and six touchdown passes while running for 84 yards and 9 carries.
  • The beneficiaries of King’s performance were spread out across the board. Freshman receiver Jeremiah Payton led the wideouts with 95 yards on 3 catches with a touchdown. Mike Harley caught five passes for 78 yards and a TD while Mark Pope had four catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns.
  • Diaz on the team’s execution in the red zone: “That’s the whole key. You’ve got to finish drives and I thought our execution, we did a bunch of different things down there and I thought we were crisp. No assignment issues and everyone seemed to know what to do and do it at a high level.”
  • Defensively, Miami started a front-4 of Jaelan Phillips, Jon Ford, Nesta Silvera, and Quincy Roche. According to a Canes press release, called their performance a “steady disruption” of the offense’s backfield.
  • Stat-wise, Silvera, Roche, and freshman DT Jared Harrison-Hunte all had sacks while Cam Williams and Sam Brooks each had a QB pressure. Diaz added: “We’re going to have to have some depth as well, so even when the other guys went in I thought we were able to be disruptive with the front like what you would expect.”

While UAB won’t have any game film on the Canes, Miami will have film study as UAB opened up their season on Thursday night, winning 45-35 against Central Arkansas and Diaz knows that the scoreboard doesn’t fully acknowledge UAB’s talent.

 

“You still see a very, very good defensive football team in UAB, an outstanding rushing attack, very balanced, multiple guys going in there and running for big yards, and you still see Watkins as their leading receiver and the tight ends were dynamic — especially in the red zone. They’re a very experienced team who’s been in games. The moment will not be too big to them and we know we’ll have to play our best to beat them.”

Keep it locked at Five Reasons Sports for the latest in Miami Hurricanes coverage and be sure to tune into #TheSixthRing this coming Tuesday night at 7:30. We will dive deeper into the season opener as well as predictions the rest of the way.

 

 

Miami Dolphins fielding trade offers for quarterback Josh Rosen

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The Miami Dolphins are fielding offers for a quarterback. Don’t worry, it’s not Tua Tagovailoa. Instead, the organization is fielding trade offers for Josh Rosen.

According to a tweet from Adam Schefter,  the team has fielded recent trade inquiries in recent days for the former UCLA star.

Rosen was traded to the Dolphins during the second night of the 2019 NFL Draft in exchange for Miami’s second-round pick. He  was named the backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick before the start of the season

Rosen would play in six games last season for the Dolphins, starting three of them. He lost all three of his starts in what was a rebuilding year for the organization. He threw for 567 yards, one touchdown, and five interceptions. It was not a banner year for him to say the least.

This move makes sense for Miami. Rosen is still young enough to where he has trade value. He could be worth it for a team willing to take on a project player. With Miami having a capable veteran in Ryan Fitzpatrick and a potential star in Tagovailoa, there really is no room for Rosen.

Miami Dolphins have stability in quarterback room

The one-two combination of Fitzpatrick and Tagovailoa should be enough to carry the team. The stability in the quarterback room is certainly welcome for the Miami Dolphins, as they look to continue building the team. This newfound stability is something they have not had in years. Simply put, there is really no room for Rosen.

As far as value for what the Miami Dolphins could get in a trade, a fourth-round pick would probably be the best get for Miami. For what it’s worth, he is still under contract for two seasons.

There is no doubt that Rosen has a level of talent. It was evident during his time at UCLA. He recorded 9,341 passing yards and 59 touchdowns in three seasons in Westwood.

Maybe, he will be able to get back to that level on an NFL field. at 23 years of age, he certainly could be worth a flyer for any team willing to take on a quarterback.

Miami Dolphins: Raekwon McMillan trade highlights busy Saturday

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was a scratch for Saturday’s practice as his mother died on Saturday morning. Having missed last Friday’s practice for what the Dolphins described as personal reasons, it became clear that something was wrong for Fitzpatrick. As a report for ESPN notes, the team knelt in prayer in support for Fitzpatrick.

Miami Dolphins trade Raekwon McMillan

The Miami Dolphins made a move on Saturday, trading linebacker Raekwon McMillan to the Oakland Raiders for a fourth-round pick.

McMillan played in 28 games for the Dolphins over the past two seasons. Now that the Dolphins have  additional linebacker depth, McMillan is falling down the depth chart.

Perhaps even a bigger piece of this is that he is in the final year of his contract.

Miami was wise to get something for the former Ohio State linebacker instead of letting him walk. With the newfound depth at the linebacker position, that could have been a potential possibility.

Either way, the Dolphins have continued to stock up on draft picks. We saw it with the trade of Kalen Ballage. It will be interesting to see what Miami does with this draft pick.

Here are some initial reactions to the trade of McMillan, courtesy of the Five Reasons Sports Team.

 

The Chase is Over: Smith becomes commit #22 for Canes

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Despite a majority of Miami’s current recruiting class hailing from South Florida, Canes coaches are fully aware that talent exists outside of the area, even though they didn’t have to go that far for their next commitment.

 

On Thursday afternoon, Miami received a commitment from four-star athlete Chase Smith. Smith hails from Bayside High School in Palm Bay, FL and is ranked as the 14th-best athlete in the country, 260th-overall according to the 247Sports Composite. He chose the Canes over a multitude of Power 5 schools. LBs coach Jonathan Patke and defensive coordinator Blake Baker will receive credit for his commitment.

 

 

The reason Smith is considered an “athlete” is because he plays and excels on both sides of the ball for Bayside. At 6’3”, 190 lbs., he caught 50 passes for 716 yards as a receiver in 2019 while playing a good amount on defense. He even ran track in his sophomore year. However, Smith will ultimately suit up at either linebacker or striker for defensive coordinator Blake Baker and the Canes. 

 

247Sports national recruiting analyst Greg Biggins considers Smith “one of the most versatile players in the country” and notes that “he can blitz off the edge as well as drop back in coverage…has a safety frame but a linebacker skill set.” That versatility would be a big help for the linebacker position and actually caters to the striker position for Miami so this sounds like a match made in heaven for both parties. 

 

A big pull for Smith that ultimately led to choosing Miami was his family ties. His father Willie was an All-American tight end for the Canes in the mid-80s while his mother and brother also attended Miami. 

 

Smith is commit #22 for Manny Diaz in this class and the third commit at linebacker, joining Tyler Johnson and Deshawn Troutman. Miami’s class now ranks 8th in the nation with two open spots left. 

 

Stay tuned to @5ReasonsSports and @5ReasonsCanes for the latest in Miami Hurricanes coverage.

 

Tua impresses as second week of Dolphins training camp begins

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Rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa impresses with three touchdown passes to start the second week of Miami Dolphins training camp. As you would expect, the first week of NFL training camp has been a bit of a roller coaster ride, especially for the younger players. And although every player is sure to have it’s up and down moments, none gets more attention than those playing the most critical position on the roster–the quarterbacks.

After the first week of practice, we heard various reports on the 2020 5th-overall pick.

 

Towards the end of last week, a majority of the fanbase took an all-too-familiar stance. The Sky Is Falling.

Sure, it was only the 4th-padded practice.

And who cares about the horrific injury Tua suffered eight months ago.

Fans wanted results. They wanted to hear the same rave reviews that Joe Burrow was getting in Cincinnati.

Hell, some went as far as to question whether or not Tua was a unique talent.

With a weekend to regroup and a Sunday walk-through to help give the younger guys a sense of what’s to come in the next few weeks, Dolphins fans got exactly what they had hoped.

According to every beat writer in attendance for today’s practice, rookie QB had the best practice of his young NFL career.

 

Tua starting to turn heads

One play that has received the most attention from Monday’s practice is a 69-yard (nice) touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Malcolm Perry. Here’s a look at the play, which shows off Tagovailoa’s accuracy and showcases Perry’s abilities as a pass-catcher. Perfect throw and catch. https://twitter.com/MiamiDolphins/status/1297975843789168642?s=20

All other reports suggest that Mack Hollins was the recipient of not one, but TUA Tagovailoa touchdown passes. Which may spell the beginning of the end of the ridiculous ‘tUa Is oNlY goOd bEcAuSe oF hIs FiRSt RoUnD aLaBAmA wIdE ReCiEvErs” narrative.

Nevertheless, today is precisely what you want to hear about the rookie QB. The same QB that many of us have already concluded as the savior. But for Ryan Fitzpatrick–one of Tua’s most knowledgeable advisors, sometimes it’s just about getting better day in and day out. Here’s what Miami’s veteran signal-caller had to say about the promising young rookie.

“Yeah, he’s doing a great job and I know it’s your guys’ job to look at and evaluate every single day and every throw; but it’s something for us as quarterbacks and for me, I just like to see progress and sometimes it’s not necessarily a completion, but it’s the thought process and making sure the ball is going to the right spot at the right time. Sometimes there’s not going to be – some things are not going to look pretty, but it’s the right decision and that’s, for me, a step in the right direction.

#InTuaWeTrust

I know it’s easier said than done, but fans need to be extra patient with Tagovailoa. He is eight months removed from a devastating injury, and he’s going to take time to get acclimated to the NFL game. 2020 will be a season, unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed. So, let Ryan Fitzpatrick start week 1 vs New England.

Because soon enough, Tua Tagovailoa will be the Miami Dolphins starting QB. And there won’t be any turning back from there.