If you’ve been following the team over fall camp, you know it has been Mark Pope that has been receiving the most praise of freshmen receivers from the staff and players in interviews. This week, he even began to start working in at first team and rotating with Lawrence Cager at Z receiver.
“It’s been going great so far, going out there and doing what I’ve got to do,” Pope said on his rise. “It’s just about staying focused and doing what the coaches ask.”
UM receivers coach Ron Dugans has told all of the freshman receivers that they’ll be playing this year and to stay ready for when their number is called. Pope’s relationship with Dugans was a big reason that he ended up at Miami and he elaborated on what makes Dugans such a good coach.
“Coach Dugans is just a great guy,” Pope said. “He’s going to make sure you’re good not just in football, but in life too. He definitely be on me about the playbook, though.”
As he’s worked with all three units at different points in camp, Pope has the unique perspective of having caught passes from all four of UM QB’s.
“The quarterbacks, I love all of them,” Pope said. “Everyone is so accurate, put the ball right in my chest, and there’s not much more you can ask for. They can do it all.”
The Hurricanes’ coaches made a blooper reel of all the freshmen players’ miscues called “Welcome to College Football” and play the tape in team meetings. Pope admits he’s made reel in the first few weeks of camp.
“(Laughs) I made it once,” Pope said. “I was loafing off the ball and Mike Jackson just drove me into the sidelines.”
Who is the hardest hitter on the UM defense?
“I’d say Amari (Carter) from what I’ve seen. I haven’t got welcomed (hit) by him yet, though. He’s got to catch me first.”
**Freshman wide receiver Marquez Ezzard is making the transition from playing in a triple-option offense in high school to Miami’s pro-spread attack.
“I feel really good about what we got going on,” Ezzard said. “It was hard coming in and learning a completely new offense type, but I stay learning.”
Ezzard has seen mostly third team reps from the slot behind Jeff Thomas and Mike Harley. To see more time, Ezzard is just going to keep grinding every day as he continues to become more comfortable with the offense.
“Coach Dugans said we’ve got to do it every day and keep getting better and better,” Ezzard said. “Keep grinding and learning, learning the playbook. I’m getting better with the offense.”
Coming to Miami from Georgia, Ezzard wasn’t completely starting over. He’s been good friends with fellow freshman Realus “Unc” George since they were kids and they’re currently roommates together at UM.
“I like Realus, he’s my boy,” Ezzard said. “We grew up together. It’s been cool living with him.”
Ezzard reports he’s down 7 pounds from when he arrived to UM in late May and will play this season at 208 pounds. How does he feel he performed in Saturday’s scrimmage?
“I felt like I did really good,” Ezzard said. “I stayed in the playbook (beforehand) like coach Dugans said and it paid off, made some plays.”
“It’s been going great so far, going out there and doing what I’ve got to do,” Pope said on his rise. “It’s just about staying focused and doing what the coaches ask.”
UM receivers coach Ron Dugans has told all of the freshman receivers that they’ll be playing this year and to stay ready for when their number is called. Pope’s relationship with Dugans was a big reason that he ended up at Miami and he elaborated on what makes Dugans such a good coach.
“Coach Dugans is just a great guy,” Pope said. “He’s going to make sure you’re good not just in football, but in life too. He definitely be on me about the playbook, though.”
As he’s worked with all three units at different points in camp, Pope has the unique perspective of having caught passes from all four of UM QB’s.
“The quarterbacks, I love all of them,” Pope said. “Everyone is so accurate, put the ball right in my chest, and there’s not much more you can ask for. They can do it all.”
The Hurricanes’ coaches made a blooper reel of all the freshmen players’ miscues called “Welcome to College Football” and play the tape in team meetings. Pope admits he’s made reel in the first few weeks of camp.
“(Laughs) I made it once,” Pope said. “I was loafing off the ball and Mike Jackson just drove me into the sidelines.”
Who is the hardest hitter on the UM defense?
“I’d say Amari (Carter) from what I’ve seen. I haven’t got welcomed (hit) by him yet, though. He’s got to catch me first.”
**Freshman wide receiver Marquez Ezzard is making the transition from playing in a triple-option offense in high school to Miami’s pro-spread attack.
“I feel really good about what we got going on,” Ezzard said. “It was hard coming in and learning a completely new offense type, but I stay learning.”
Ezzard has seen mostly third team reps from the slot behind Jeff Thomas and Mike Harley. To see more time, Ezzard is just going to keep grinding every day as he continues to become more comfortable with the offense.
“Coach Dugans said we’ve got to do it every day and keep getting better and better,” Ezzard said. “Keep grinding and learning, learning the playbook. I’m getting better with the offense.”
Coming to Miami from Georgia, Ezzard wasn’t completely starting over. He’s been good friends with fellow freshman Realus “Unc” George since they were kids and they’re currently roommates together at UM.
“I like Realus, he’s my boy,” Ezzard said. “We grew up together. It’s been cool living with him.”
Ezzard reports he’s down 7 pounds from when he arrived to UM in late May and will play this season at 208 pounds. How does he feel he performed in Saturday’s scrimmage?
“I felt like I did really good,” Ezzard said. “I stayed in the playbook (beforehand) like coach Dugans said and it paid off, made some plays.”
