Miami Hurricanes veteran defensive back Xavier Lucas spoke after the Hurricanes full week of spring practices together inside the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility.
Lucas spoke highly on new Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah, the wide receiver room, and the new transfers to the squad.
Check out everything he said:
Q: This week in spring practice, how do you feel like the DB room is progressing so far?
We've been making progress, but you know, it's a lot of room for improvement, and we're looking to get better.
Q: On what it’s like to defend receiver Cooper Barkate in practice:
He’s a great guy. He’s twitchy, great routes. … has knowledge of the game. He’s a great dude, but all the receivers, they’re all working at their craft. You might see them tomorrow in the facility. They’re just working to get better and we’re just competing.
Q: Now that you're a year older, how different does it feel? How much better do you feel you are now?
I feel pretty good, but I still gotta, improve as a player, mentally and physically, but, I'm just trying to slow the game down as much as I can.
Q: I remember last year, one of the biggest things that the coach had moved preaching was just communication, with the whole defense. Now that, he's been here another year, a lot of guys who transferred in you, Ethan [O'Conner], and a whole bunch of other guys who transferred in have been here a year already. Do you feel like you guys are starting from like a higher level this spring than you were a year ago?
I would say yes because of the jump we took from last year, but we hit the reset button and we're just trying to, work on our craft. Like we've from start from zero and work our way up to 100.
Q: What point last year do you think you guys got to like a good level of communication-wise? Was it spring, fall, a couple weeks in? Like when did you guys feel like you were like in a good spot?
That's really like stuff off the field. Just coming in extra and just, DBs working with D-linemen or working with linebackers, going over the film and what to say to this call or that call and certain formations, but that's really what stood out. So it wasn't, there really wasn't a certain point because we was always working at it.
Q: On freshman defensive back JJ Dunnigan and the rest of the young secondary
He’s a great kid. He’s smart. He has the size and the physicality, every trait you could want… All the [defensive backs], they’re coming in, they’re young, they have a bunch of raw talent. … Now that I look at it, they’re bigger than we were back then, but it’s a great group of guys and they’re improving day by day.
Q: On quarterback Darian Mensah
He’s an experienced quarterback. I’m pretty sure he knows what you’re doing half of the time, but he’s very smart, makes great throws, very accurate. But he’s a pretty humble, great guy. I like being around him.
Q: Omar. I think he's the only transfer DB that's off the head. What's he like and what skill set does he have?
Omar, he's quiet, but on the field, it's a different story. You've seen the film, just turn it on and he can play.
Q: What was he like in high school and how was he grown since then?
He's the same way. Just high motor, love to hit, can cover. He's a Swiss army knife. He can do it all.
Lucas spoke highly on new Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah, the wide receiver room, and the new transfers to the squad.
Check out everything he said:
Q: This week in spring practice, how do you feel like the DB room is progressing so far?
We've been making progress, but you know, it's a lot of room for improvement, and we're looking to get better.
Q: On what it’s like to defend receiver Cooper Barkate in practice:
He’s a great guy. He’s twitchy, great routes. … has knowledge of the game. He’s a great dude, but all the receivers, they’re all working at their craft. You might see them tomorrow in the facility. They’re just working to get better and we’re just competing.
Q: Now that you're a year older, how different does it feel? How much better do you feel you are now?
I feel pretty good, but I still gotta, improve as a player, mentally and physically, but, I'm just trying to slow the game down as much as I can.
Q: I remember last year, one of the biggest things that the coach had moved preaching was just communication, with the whole defense. Now that, he's been here another year, a lot of guys who transferred in you, Ethan [O'Conner], and a whole bunch of other guys who transferred in have been here a year already. Do you feel like you guys are starting from like a higher level this spring than you were a year ago?
I would say yes because of the jump we took from last year, but we hit the reset button and we're just trying to, work on our craft. Like we've from start from zero and work our way up to 100.
Q: What point last year do you think you guys got to like a good level of communication-wise? Was it spring, fall, a couple weeks in? Like when did you guys feel like you were like in a good spot?
That's really like stuff off the field. Just coming in extra and just, DBs working with D-linemen or working with linebackers, going over the film and what to say to this call or that call and certain formations, but that's really what stood out. So it wasn't, there really wasn't a certain point because we was always working at it.
Q: On freshman defensive back JJ Dunnigan and the rest of the young secondary
He’s a great kid. He’s smart. He has the size and the physicality, every trait you could want… All the [defensive backs], they’re coming in, they’re young, they have a bunch of raw talent. … Now that I look at it, they’re bigger than we were back then, but it’s a great group of guys and they’re improving day by day.
Q: On quarterback Darian Mensah
He’s an experienced quarterback. I’m pretty sure he knows what you’re doing half of the time, but he’s very smart, makes great throws, very accurate. But he’s a pretty humble, great guy. I like being around him.
Q: Omar. I think he's the only transfer DB that's off the head. What's he like and what skill set does he have?
Omar, he's quiet, but on the field, it's a different story. You've seen the film, just turn it on and he can play.
Q: What was he like in high school and how was he grown since then?
He's the same way. Just high motor, love to hit, can cover. He's a Swiss army knife. He can do it all.
