Peter Ariz shared his thoughts immediately after the media portion of Tuesday's practice. The transcript is below:
“That’s a big deal because he’s a respected guy in the building. He’s an NFL-caliber coach, and there was real interest in him leaving before. For Miami to retain him—especially with the continuity in that room—that’s huge. You feel really good about the development those guys are getting.”
“I was five feet away from a tackling drill, and when he hit—it sounded different. He popped Will Harris through the bag. You felt it. That’s what stood out.
“And even in coverage, he had some good reps in one-on-ones. If he can stay healthy, he’s got the physical tools to work himself into a role.”
“He’s continuing to get more comfortable—not just as a pass catcher, but physically. That’s the key. Miami’s going to want to play with multiple tight ends, even if you mix in some four-receiver sets. So he’s got a real opportunity here to carve out a role alongside Lofton.”
“And then Jarquez Carter—he’s built like a fire hydrant. Straight muscle. Not very tall, but everything he does is explosive. There’s no wasted movement. He’s powerful, he’s got pop, and he’s a guy I’m definitely keeping an eye on.
“Those two—similar size, similar explosiveness, former high school teammates—that’s going to be an interesting battle inside.”
“Logan Nagle—he looks like a true defensive tackle now. Not a tweener. He’s got the size, and early returns there are good.”
“Are they working him there for nothing? No. I think it’s realistic he plays this year. Maybe not a starter right now, but O-line six through eight? That’s very much in play.”
“Elija Lofton had a bobbling touchdown catch on Dylan Day—good coverage, but Lofton made the play.
“Bryce Fitzgerald had a really nice breakup on Malachi Toney in the end zone. Didn’t get his head turned, but got his hands in there early—clean play, no flag.
“Cooper Barkate beat Ethan O’Connor on a slant.
“Jaelen Waters had an interception on Milan Parris. Ball might’ve been a bit underthrown, but good job undercutting it.
“Vance Spafford beat Ryan Mack in the slot on a quick in-breaking route.
“Jaboree Antoine had tight coverage on Daylyn Upshaw—called a hold, but it was physical both ways.”
“But then later, Wyman comes back in the goal line period and deflects a slant to Wingo. That’s where you see it—he fits that nickel role. Quick, instinctive, good in short areas.
“Tackling-wise, he’s still got to improve—Will Harris got on him for going high—but in coverage, I’ve seen a lot to like.”
“There was a fade to Cooper Barkate from Darian Mensah that went off his hands—tight coverage from Jabari Antoine.
“And then Ethan O’Connor had tight coverage on Barkate on the final rep—forced an incompletion.”
“That’s Greentree, though. That’s how you build toughness. It’s competitive.”
“And again, just overall—the energy, the physicality, the competitiveness—it’s ramping up. You’re seeing guys start to pop a little more as they get into pads.
“Good battles today. Really good battles.”
Will Harris / DB Group
Peter Ariz: “You’re starting to feel it now. The pads are on, there’s more physicality—even in individual drills. And one thing I really got a good look at today was Will Harris working with the defensive backs, especially the safeties. He’s engaged, he’s commanding, and the guys have their full attention. Very organized, very detail-oriented. You can tell there’s real coaching happening there.“That’s a big deal because he’s a respected guy in the building. He’s an NFL-caliber coach, and there was real interest in him leaving before. For Miami to retain him—especially with the continuity in that room—that’s huge. You feel really good about the development those guys are getting.”
Ryan Mack
Peter Ariz: “I’ve got to shout out Ryan Mack. He’s a guy who’s been banged up his first couple years, but physically—he looks different. The size is there now, and you always knew about the track speed and the twitch.“I was five feet away from a tackling drill, and when he hit—it sounded different. He popped Will Harris through the bag. You felt it. That’s what stood out.
“And even in coverage, he had some good reps in one-on-ones. If he can stay healthy, he’s got the physical tools to work himself into a role.”
Luka Gilbert
Peter Ariz: “When you’re watching those early warmups with the tight ends and backs, Luka Gilbert just stands out immediately. He towers over that group. The size jumps out.“He’s continuing to get more comfortable—not just as a pass catcher, but physically. That’s the key. Miami’s going to want to play with multiple tight ends, even if you mix in some four-receiver sets. So he’s got a real opportunity here to carve out a role alongside Lofton.”
Mykah Newton / Jarquez Carter
Peter Ariz: “I finally got a good look up close at some of these young defensive linemen. Mykah Newton—he’s added weight, probably in that 280 range now. He’s got pop. You see the quickness.“And then Jarquez Carter—he’s built like a fire hydrant. Straight muscle. Not very tall, but everything he does is explosive. There’s no wasted movement. He’s powerful, he’s got pop, and he’s a guy I’m definitely keeping an eye on.
“Those two—similar size, similar explosiveness, former high school teammates—that’s going to be an interesting battle inside.”
Frederic Sainteus / Isaac Chukwurah / Logan Nagle
Peter Ariz: “Frederic Sainteus and Isaac Chukwurah—I kind of group them together. Both a little raw right now, but you can see the traits. They may not be early contributors, but as the year goes on, could they work into the rotation like we saw last year at defensive end? I think that’s possible.“Logan Nagle—he looks like a true defensive tackle now. Not a tweener. He’s got the size, and early returns there are good.”
Jaden Wilkerson
Peter Ariz: “Jaden Wilkerson is running with the twos at left tackle, and he looks the part. He’s stout, he’s wide, strong base—really sturdy lower body. Looks like he’s trimmed some bad weight and kept the strength.“Are they working him there for nothing? No. I think it’s realistic he plays this year. Maybe not a starter right now, but O-line six through eight? That’s very much in play.”
One-on-Ones – Early Period
Peter Ariz: “Started off with Xavier Lucas breaking up a pass to VanDrevius Jacobs—nice play there.“Elija Lofton had a bobbling touchdown catch on Dylan Day—good coverage, but Lofton made the play.
“Bryce Fitzgerald had a really nice breakup on Malachi Toney in the end zone. Didn’t get his head turned, but got his hands in there early—clean play, no flag.
“Cooper Barkate beat Ethan O’Connor on a slant.
“Jaelen Waters had an interception on Milan Parris. Ball might’ve been a bit underthrown, but good job undercutting it.
“Vance Spafford beat Ryan Mack in the slot on a quick in-breaking route.
“Jaboree Antoine had tight coverage on Daylyn Upshaw—called a hold, but it was physical both ways.”
Somourian Wingo vs. Jontavius Wyman
Peter Ariz: “One of the most impressive plays—Somourian Wingo got by Jontavius Wyman with a great release and showed that long speed to separate for a touchdown.“But then later, Wyman comes back in the goal line period and deflects a slant to Wingo. That’s where you see it—he fits that nickel role. Quick, instinctive, good in short areas.
“Tackling-wise, he’s still got to improve—Will Harris got on him for going high—but in coverage, I’ve seen a lot to like.”
Goal Line / Red Zone Work
Peter Ariz: “Malachi Toney beat Chris Ewald from the slot for a touchdown.“There was a fade to Cooper Barkate from Darian Mensah that went off his hands—tight coverage from Jabari Antoine.
“And then Ethan O’Connor had tight coverage on Barkate on the final rep—forced an incompletion.”
OJ Frederique vs. VanDrevius Jacobs
Peter Ariz: “That was one of the more physical reps of the day—OJ Frederique and VanDrevius Jacobs on a fade. Frederique breaks it up, gets a little extra physical at the end, and Jacobs didn’t love it. They had to get separated.“That’s Greentree, though. That’s how you build toughness. It’s competitive.”
Seven-on-Seven / General Observations
Peter Ariz: “Seven-on-seven was a lot of screens—more emphasis on perimeter blocking now that the pads are on. Not a ton to take away from that, just part of the install and physical progression.”Coaching / Program Notes
Peter Ariz: “Terry Jefferson is working with the quarterbacks this spring—it’s kind of a trial run to see how that fits long-term.“And again, just overall—the energy, the physicality, the competitiveness—it’s ramping up. You’re seeing guys start to pop a little more as they get into pads.
“Good battles today. Really good battles.”
