It wasn’t perfect, but at least it was more fun than last year. Even with so many guys out, including Javion Cohen and Anez Cooper as late scratches, you could see signs of progress. Let’s go through some of the good and bad:
- The story of the day was the performance of the true freshmen. Francis Mauigoia is as talented as any Miami freshman I’ve seen in a decade. He pulled with ease, displaced defenders as a down blocker, and showed rare acceleration to reach the safety on Jacolby George’s long catch-and-run. He’s special. Reuben Bain got three sacks and beat tackles in a variety of ways- power-rushing with leverage and lower-body strength, using his hands to get guys off balance, bending at the top of his rush, and retracing to the QB with pure motor. Ray Ray Joseph made a bunch of plays, but the most impressive might have been taking a lick and holding onto the ball between two linebackers. Emory Williams impressed me with his poise and confidence as a young player. He was directing traffic like a veteran. The key for him this summer will be getting leaner and twitchier. Riley Williams has everything you want in a long, athletic TE and beat our first team for a long would-be TD. Samson Okunlola needs to get stronger, but you can see the movement skills and flexibility.
- Overall, you are starting to see some of Mario’s recruiting on the field. The second-year guys flashed just as much as the freshmen. Ahmad Moten had two sacks against the first team (only one was called) and continues to emerge as a quality rotation piece with size and first-step quickness. Cyrus Moss is never going to be an edge setter, but he has a unique combination of pass-rush bend and the ability to play in space as a former safety. He blew up the Robbie Washington screen and can be as versatile as Coach Guidry needs him to be. He had two clean sacks off of Okunlola and Chris Washington, respectively. Nyjalik Kelly stands out and looks the part of an NFL talent. I liked how Jaleel Skinner played- the added weight allows him to break tackles as a long-striding, after-the-catch threat.
- The offense is more QB-friendly, but the QBs were uneven today. Tyler Van Dyke struggled some with the inside pressure due to the absence of his top guards. While he threw the ball very well, there were a lot of sacks that weren’t called. Overall, this system fits him and allows him to play loose and free. Remember, he is a multi-sport athlete and not an overcoached, fundamental QB. He thrives in rhythm. It was a bummer to see Jacurri Brown have his worst day of the spring under the lights. He was missing throws he has to make. Like Cristobal mentioned in his presser, he has had much better days in spring.
- I thought we needed two Portal WRs headed into spring, but we may only need one. Colbie Young and Xavier Restrepo are looking like legitimate ACC starting WRs. Young has gotten faster with added weight, while Restrepo’s RB build allows him to break tackles in a full-contact setting. Those two are consistent on and off the field. Jacolby George and Isaiah Horton had good days and need to build off that into the summer. They have the talent but aren’t as consistent as the top two guys.
- Francisco Mauigoa is even better than I thought. While he was a good player at Washington State, he has looked like a difference-maker in spring. He made plays on Saturday as a rusher, shooting gaps in the run game and chasing down George with pure speed. Remember, he came up as a QB and is getting more and more confident as a LB.
- There were a lot of starters on the sideline and a lot of walk-ons on the field. We need to continue to build depth. One walk-on that keeps making plays is #43, Rocky Shelton. He is a former scholarship player at Duke (via St. Thomas Aquinas) and he will give the offense a good look on the scout team.
- The corners had a nice day. With that said, expect Portal help there. I agree with @Menmon – Terry Roberts will probably help us more on special teams than on defense. From a pure eyeball test, nobody is more physically impressive than Chris Graves. He needs a good summer.
- It was a beautiful day on campus and at the stadium. Expect a lot of recruiting momentum in the next couple months.
Now it’s time to hit the Portal, heal up and solidify the roster. We are starting to see glimpses of Miami-caliber size and athleticism. Just need more of it.
- The story of the day was the performance of the true freshmen. Francis Mauigoia is as talented as any Miami freshman I’ve seen in a decade. He pulled with ease, displaced defenders as a down blocker, and showed rare acceleration to reach the safety on Jacolby George’s long catch-and-run. He’s special. Reuben Bain got three sacks and beat tackles in a variety of ways- power-rushing with leverage and lower-body strength, using his hands to get guys off balance, bending at the top of his rush, and retracing to the QB with pure motor. Ray Ray Joseph made a bunch of plays, but the most impressive might have been taking a lick and holding onto the ball between two linebackers. Emory Williams impressed me with his poise and confidence as a young player. He was directing traffic like a veteran. The key for him this summer will be getting leaner and twitchier. Riley Williams has everything you want in a long, athletic TE and beat our first team for a long would-be TD. Samson Okunlola needs to get stronger, but you can see the movement skills and flexibility.
- Overall, you are starting to see some of Mario’s recruiting on the field. The second-year guys flashed just as much as the freshmen. Ahmad Moten had two sacks against the first team (only one was called) and continues to emerge as a quality rotation piece with size and first-step quickness. Cyrus Moss is never going to be an edge setter, but he has a unique combination of pass-rush bend and the ability to play in space as a former safety. He blew up the Robbie Washington screen and can be as versatile as Coach Guidry needs him to be. He had two clean sacks off of Okunlola and Chris Washington, respectively. Nyjalik Kelly stands out and looks the part of an NFL talent. I liked how Jaleel Skinner played- the added weight allows him to break tackles as a long-striding, after-the-catch threat.
- The offense is more QB-friendly, but the QBs were uneven today. Tyler Van Dyke struggled some with the inside pressure due to the absence of his top guards. While he threw the ball very well, there were a lot of sacks that weren’t called. Overall, this system fits him and allows him to play loose and free. Remember, he is a multi-sport athlete and not an overcoached, fundamental QB. He thrives in rhythm. It was a bummer to see Jacurri Brown have his worst day of the spring under the lights. He was missing throws he has to make. Like Cristobal mentioned in his presser, he has had much better days in spring.
- I thought we needed two Portal WRs headed into spring, but we may only need one. Colbie Young and Xavier Restrepo are looking like legitimate ACC starting WRs. Young has gotten faster with added weight, while Restrepo’s RB build allows him to break tackles in a full-contact setting. Those two are consistent on and off the field. Jacolby George and Isaiah Horton had good days and need to build off that into the summer. They have the talent but aren’t as consistent as the top two guys.
- Francisco Mauigoa is even better than I thought. While he was a good player at Washington State, he has looked like a difference-maker in spring. He made plays on Saturday as a rusher, shooting gaps in the run game and chasing down George with pure speed. Remember, he came up as a QB and is getting more and more confident as a LB.
- There were a lot of starters on the sideline and a lot of walk-ons on the field. We need to continue to build depth. One walk-on that keeps making plays is #43, Rocky Shelton. He is a former scholarship player at Duke (via St. Thomas Aquinas) and he will give the offense a good look on the scout team.
- The corners had a nice day. With that said, expect Portal help there. I agree with @Menmon – Terry Roberts will probably help us more on special teams than on defense. From a pure eyeball test, nobody is more physically impressive than Chris Graves. He needs a good summer.
- It was a beautiful day on campus and at the stadium. Expect a lot of recruiting momentum in the next couple months.
Now it’s time to hit the Portal, heal up and solidify the roster. We are starting to see glimpses of Miami-caliber size and athleticism. Just need more of it.
