http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000371548/article/2014-college-football-team-rankings-18
Gators ranked ahead of us ... not sure how that happens.
35. Miami (Fla.)
Coach: Al Golden
2013 record: 9-4
Top players to watch: DE Anthony Chickillo (6-4, 277, senior); WR Stacy Coley (6-1, 185, sophomore); WR Phillip Dorsett (5-10, 185, senior); OT Ereck Flowers (6-6, 322, junior); CB Ladarius Gunter (6-2, 198, senior); TB Duke Johnson (5-9, 206, junior); LB Denzel Perryman (6-0, 242, senior); TE Clive Walford (6-4, 263, senior)
The outlook: UM has lost at least four games for eight consecutive seasons, the longest such stretch for the school since the 1970s, and the fans are restless. The offense has some big-time playmakers, but the quarterback situation looks dire. Johnson is an explosive runner who is returning from a broken leg suffered midway through last season. He has good speed and toughness, and is equally at home running up the middle as he is outside the tackles. He was an excellent receiver in 2012, but barely saw the ball in that role last fall; he needs to be an important part of the passing game again. Coley and Dorsett are speedy guys on the outside. Coley was inconsistent as a true freshman -- he would make spectacular catches, then drop one he should have caught -- but he has speed and a high ceiling. Dorsett is more of a No. 2 or 3 receiver, but he's a No. 2 or 3 who can run by corners and get deep. Walford also is dangerous. He's a better receiver than blocker, and has the speed and savvy to get deep down the seam. Flowers is a physical presence at left tackle, and also is a good pass blocker with excellent footwork. Chickillo is a good athlete who has yet to put it all together; he probably would've been best served by redshirting as a true freshman in 2011, but UM coaches had to throw him in the fray. He showed some growth last season and should be a solid all-around end this fall. Perryman lacks height, but, man, the guy is a huge hitter. He'll be playing middle linebacker for the first time this fall, and 125 tackles is a legit goal for one of the most talented linebackers in the nation. Gunter is an intriguing prospect because of his height, and played relatively well last fall, when he had three picks and nine pass breakups. He still is far from elite, though. Senior Ryan Williams was supposed to start at quarterback, but he suffered a torn ACL in spring practice. He hopes to be back in late September, but who knows? Redshirt freshman Kevin Olsen, who has a strong arm but doesn't truly appear to be ready, and well-traveled senior Jake Heaps (BYU, then Kansas before moving on to UM this summer) are the guys vying for the starting job in Williams' absence. There are playmakers galore, but will Walford or the receivers get the ball consistently? And the defensive line needs to make huge strides. UM's run defense has been awful for the past four seasons. The non-conference schedule features tests against Cincinnati and Nebraska, and the season opens with a trip to Louisville. UM misses Clemson, which is a plus. But the conference schedule still is tough -- Miami plays Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Florida State in a late October/early November three-game stretch, for instance -- and if this team wins more than eight, Golden will have done a notable job.
Gators ranked ahead of us ... not sure how that happens.
35. Miami (Fla.)
Coach: Al Golden
2013 record: 9-4
Top players to watch: DE Anthony Chickillo (6-4, 277, senior); WR Stacy Coley (6-1, 185, sophomore); WR Phillip Dorsett (5-10, 185, senior); OT Ereck Flowers (6-6, 322, junior); CB Ladarius Gunter (6-2, 198, senior); TB Duke Johnson (5-9, 206, junior); LB Denzel Perryman (6-0, 242, senior); TE Clive Walford (6-4, 263, senior)
The outlook: UM has lost at least four games for eight consecutive seasons, the longest such stretch for the school since the 1970s, and the fans are restless. The offense has some big-time playmakers, but the quarterback situation looks dire. Johnson is an explosive runner who is returning from a broken leg suffered midway through last season. He has good speed and toughness, and is equally at home running up the middle as he is outside the tackles. He was an excellent receiver in 2012, but barely saw the ball in that role last fall; he needs to be an important part of the passing game again. Coley and Dorsett are speedy guys on the outside. Coley was inconsistent as a true freshman -- he would make spectacular catches, then drop one he should have caught -- but he has speed and a high ceiling. Dorsett is more of a No. 2 or 3 receiver, but he's a No. 2 or 3 who can run by corners and get deep. Walford also is dangerous. He's a better receiver than blocker, and has the speed and savvy to get deep down the seam. Flowers is a physical presence at left tackle, and also is a good pass blocker with excellent footwork. Chickillo is a good athlete who has yet to put it all together; he probably would've been best served by redshirting as a true freshman in 2011, but UM coaches had to throw him in the fray. He showed some growth last season and should be a solid all-around end this fall. Perryman lacks height, but, man, the guy is a huge hitter. He'll be playing middle linebacker for the first time this fall, and 125 tackles is a legit goal for one of the most talented linebackers in the nation. Gunter is an intriguing prospect because of his height, and played relatively well last fall, when he had three picks and nine pass breakups. He still is far from elite, though. Senior Ryan Williams was supposed to start at quarterback, but he suffered a torn ACL in spring practice. He hopes to be back in late September, but who knows? Redshirt freshman Kevin Olsen, who has a strong arm but doesn't truly appear to be ready, and well-traveled senior Jake Heaps (BYU, then Kansas before moving on to UM this summer) are the guys vying for the starting job in Williams' absence. There are playmakers galore, but will Walford or the receivers get the ball consistently? And the defensive line needs to make huge strides. UM's run defense has been awful for the past four seasons. The non-conference schedule features tests against Cincinnati and Nebraska, and the season opens with a trip to Louisville. UM misses Clemson, which is a plus. But the conference schedule still is tough -- Miami plays Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Florida State in a late October/early November three-game stretch, for instance -- and if this team wins more than eight, Golden will have done a notable job.
