In an era of quarterbacks getting a shot as freshmen, it's still rare to see a true freshman get a chance to take the reins at a high-major program with the type of prestige Miami has. Second-year signal caller Brad Kaaya turned heads during his rookie campaign and Miami will go as far as he takes him. This is what made Kaaya's freshman season in Coral Gables so special. 3,198 yards through the air and a 26-to-12 touchdown-to-interception ratio would be pretty strong for anyone. For a true freshman it's enough to get hype going about the potential of being a future No. 1 overall pick.
And the potential is certainly there for Kaaya to develop from a phenom into a superstar. He was a four-star prospect, according to 247sports' composite rankings, and a top-10 quarterback in the Class of 2014 out of Chaminade College Preparatory School in Los Angeles. The Hurricanes are never short on talent either, so the sophomore should have the weapons to make this offense hum.
He has a stable of running backs that can all catch the ball out of the backfield. This stable, headlined by Gus Edwards,
can provide the outlets for providing Kaaya with excellent check downs when his receivers are tightly covered down field, or that great dump off in the event his offensive linemen aren't holding off all the defenders. In Miami’s first scrimmage, all four of the Hurricanes running backs – Edwards, Walton, Joe Yearby and Trayone Gray – got time with the first team. All four got time with the ones again Saturday and RB Coach Tim (Ice) Harris said the competition remains fierce at that spot. “I just think they’re really complementing each other. We have two big ones and Mark’s kind of a combo,” Harris said. “Joe is a slasher, but our big guys are big. Gus is 241. Gray is 220. They all complement each other and we’re not afraid to roll them in there. I’m very pleased with that group right now. A lot of competition coming up before that’s settled, for sure. Everyone has been rotating.’’ with the first and second teams.“Even with everything going the way it has, Harris said, referring to Gus Edwards’ bruised foot, “we’re in a great place in the running back room. The competition is really bringing out the best in all of them.’’ Harris said the 6-2, 240-pound Edwards, often used in short-yardage situations, is now looked at as “an every-down back.’’
The coach said true freshman Walton, who ran for 1,472 yards and 22 touchdowns last season at Miami Booker T. Washington High, has been “stepping in and showing the older guys he’s come here to make a difference. “He really has embraced learning from the older guys. …The way he competes is uplifting.’’
The Coastal division is pretty wide open--as usual--and if Kaaya turns into a star then the Canes have as good a chance as anyone to usurp Georgia Tech and reach the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship.
“We’re all getting better as a unit and working toward winning the Coastal,” Rush end Al-Quadin Muhammad repeatedly said that they want to win the 2015 Coastal Division title of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
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