“Camp is starting and this is about to be a grind, this is about to be **** week. It’s going to be rough. You’re going to be here all day. I can’t wait for camp. I can’t wait to get after it. The intensity and eagerness I see is making me even more excited for camp to start.” Brad Kaaya - UM FALL CAMPaign 2015
One year ago, the Miami Hurricanes began fall camp with all eyes on the quarterbacks, a position so unstable that two true freshmen and a newly arrived transfer battled for the job. Thursday morning, when fall camp opens for the 2015 installment of Hurricanes football, the quarterback is the only position 100-percent secure. Great place to start.
Yet, how do you replace first-round NFL Draft pick Ereck Flowers at left tackle, 1st-round receiver Phillip Dorsett, 3rd-round tight end Clive Walford, 3rd-round running back and all-time UM rusher Duke Johnson? Who replaces 4th-round offensive guard Jon Feliciano and his center, Shane McDermott, now fighting for a spot on the Dallas Cowboys’ roster? Who replaces Butkus Award finalist and 2nd-round linebacker Denzel Perryman, and Ladarius Gunter.
“Obviously those guys were talented, and they’re going to have big-time futures in the NFL. I think you make up for them the way we did,” offensive coordinator James Coley said. “We recruited. Just like you recruited Brad Kaaya, you go out and recruit [tackles] Trevor Darling and Kc McDermott. You didn’t expect them to play so early, but they did. You go out and recruit your [running backs] Joe Yearby, Gus Edwards and Mark Walton. At tight end you sign David Njoku and Chris Herndon and Standish Dobard. That’s how you replace them.’’
The Hurricanes can only hope - Darling, McDermott and Yearby all played last year, though McDermott’s season was cut short in late September when he tore the medial collateral ligament of his left knee and had subsequent surgery. Starting right guard Danny Isidora is back, as well as projected center Nick Linder, who started four games, but was banged up and hurting near the end of the season.
Walton is the newest tailback standout from Miami Booker T. Washington, battling junior Edwards, sophomore Trayone Gray and sophomore Yearby, who was suspended for the spring game for violating an undisclosed rule and missed much of July’s workouts with a personal issue.
“There are no issues with Joe,” Kaaya said, adding that Yearby “was back” by late July “in seven-on-sevens making plays and scoring touchdowns. He looks bigger and faster.”
2014 Mackey Award finalist Walford’s heir apparent is junior Dobard, who has started three games in his career, with seven catches for 147 yards — and one costly fumble in the third quarter of last year’s FSU game. Replacing leading receiver Dorsett will be a challenge that the Canes hope is met by an array of talent, including Rashawn Scott, back after sitting out 2014 with a clavicle injury; and Stacy Coley, who went through a sophomore slump following a breakout freshman year. Compact sophomore slot receiver Braxton Berrios, another year removed from an ACL tear, looks bigger than ever and said recently on 560 WQAM radio that he was timed in the 40 in “4.41 and 4.43.”
Defensively, the Canes have bolstered their depth on the defensive line with the return of rush end Al-Quadin Muhammad after suspension, but have yet to prove they can disrupt quarterbacks. And while Jermaine Grace has shown he can dominate from the weak side, senior Raphael Kirby (54 tackles last season) moves into the middle to replace a national star in Perryman (110).
The defensive backs are led by senior safety Deon Bush, but will he stay healthy? Newcomer Jaquan Johnson has impressed in the offseason. At cornerback, it’s now or never for senior Tracy Howard, who came in as a five-star recruit and has plenty of motivation to surge.
Miami’s Five Biggest Fall Camp Storylines
1. Will Brad Kaaya Suffer From a Sophomore Slump?
Kaaya had an excellent first year at Miami as he threw for 3,198 yards, 26 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. Last year, there were no expectations of Kaaya since he was put through a baptism by fire in his first season. Now that he has been named to preseason watch lists for the Davey O’Brien Award and the Manning Award, among other accolades, can Kaaya live up or exceed expectations in his sophomore season?
2. Who Can Replace Phillip Dorsett and Clive Walford’s Production?
Now that wide receiver Phillip Dorsett and tight end Clive Walford are in the NFL, who are the players that will replace their production?
Stacy Coley has been considered one Miami’s hardest workers on the roster, but that hasn’t translated into production on the field. The Hurricanes will also rely on Braxton Berrios, Herb Waters and Standish Dobard to replace Dorsett’s and Walford’s production.
3. Lack of Experience on the Offensive Line
Miami loses 111 career starts with the departure of offensive linemen Ereck Flowers, Jon Feliciano and Shane McDermott. The only full-time starter returning up front is right guard Daniel Isidora. Kc McDerrmott and Trevor Darling have gotten some meaningful snaps on the line but they're not very proven. Kaaya isn't mobile, so the offensive line will need to come together in a hurry.
4. Can Miami’s Front Seven Improve?
The Hurricanes’ defense ranked No. 14 in the country last season, but defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio took a lot of heat. In Miami's four losses against Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Pittsburgh, the Canes gave up a combined 1,082 rushing yards. The biggest question among the front seven is at linebacker, where tackling machine Denzel Perryman now plays for the San Diego
Chargers. Raphael Kirby will be asked to take Perryman’s place. Jermaine Grace is undersized (6-1, 208), but he made a number of plays during the spring game.
5. Al Golden
Will his legacy face its waterloo or 2015 his Phenix year?
One year ago, the Miami Hurricanes began fall camp with all eyes on the quarterbacks, a position so unstable that two true freshmen and a newly arrived transfer battled for the job. Thursday morning, when fall camp opens for the 2015 installment of Hurricanes football, the quarterback is the only position 100-percent secure. Great place to start.
Yet, how do you replace first-round NFL Draft pick Ereck Flowers at left tackle, 1st-round receiver Phillip Dorsett, 3rd-round tight end Clive Walford, 3rd-round running back and all-time UM rusher Duke Johnson? Who replaces 4th-round offensive guard Jon Feliciano and his center, Shane McDermott, now fighting for a spot on the Dallas Cowboys’ roster? Who replaces Butkus Award finalist and 2nd-round linebacker Denzel Perryman, and Ladarius Gunter.
“Obviously those guys were talented, and they’re going to have big-time futures in the NFL. I think you make up for them the way we did,” offensive coordinator James Coley said. “We recruited. Just like you recruited Brad Kaaya, you go out and recruit [tackles] Trevor Darling and Kc McDermott. You didn’t expect them to play so early, but they did. You go out and recruit your [running backs] Joe Yearby, Gus Edwards and Mark Walton. At tight end you sign David Njoku and Chris Herndon and Standish Dobard. That’s how you replace them.’’
The Hurricanes can only hope - Darling, McDermott and Yearby all played last year, though McDermott’s season was cut short in late September when he tore the medial collateral ligament of his left knee and had subsequent surgery. Starting right guard Danny Isidora is back, as well as projected center Nick Linder, who started four games, but was banged up and hurting near the end of the season.
Walton is the newest tailback standout from Miami Booker T. Washington, battling junior Edwards, sophomore Trayone Gray and sophomore Yearby, who was suspended for the spring game for violating an undisclosed rule and missed much of July’s workouts with a personal issue.
“There are no issues with Joe,” Kaaya said, adding that Yearby “was back” by late July “in seven-on-sevens making plays and scoring touchdowns. He looks bigger and faster.”
2014 Mackey Award finalist Walford’s heir apparent is junior Dobard, who has started three games in his career, with seven catches for 147 yards — and one costly fumble in the third quarter of last year’s FSU game. Replacing leading receiver Dorsett will be a challenge that the Canes hope is met by an array of talent, including Rashawn Scott, back after sitting out 2014 with a clavicle injury; and Stacy Coley, who went through a sophomore slump following a breakout freshman year. Compact sophomore slot receiver Braxton Berrios, another year removed from an ACL tear, looks bigger than ever and said recently on 560 WQAM radio that he was timed in the 40 in “4.41 and 4.43.”
Defensively, the Canes have bolstered their depth on the defensive line with the return of rush end Al-Quadin Muhammad after suspension, but have yet to prove they can disrupt quarterbacks. And while Jermaine Grace has shown he can dominate from the weak side, senior Raphael Kirby (54 tackles last season) moves into the middle to replace a national star in Perryman (110).
The defensive backs are led by senior safety Deon Bush, but will he stay healthy? Newcomer Jaquan Johnson has impressed in the offseason. At cornerback, it’s now or never for senior Tracy Howard, who came in as a five-star recruit and has plenty of motivation to surge.
Miami’s Five Biggest Fall Camp Storylines
1. Will Brad Kaaya Suffer From a Sophomore Slump?
Kaaya had an excellent first year at Miami as he threw for 3,198 yards, 26 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. Last year, there were no expectations of Kaaya since he was put through a baptism by fire in his first season. Now that he has been named to preseason watch lists for the Davey O’Brien Award and the Manning Award, among other accolades, can Kaaya live up or exceed expectations in his sophomore season?
2. Who Can Replace Phillip Dorsett and Clive Walford’s Production?
Now that wide receiver Phillip Dorsett and tight end Clive Walford are in the NFL, who are the players that will replace their production?
Stacy Coley has been considered one Miami’s hardest workers on the roster, but that hasn’t translated into production on the field. The Hurricanes will also rely on Braxton Berrios, Herb Waters and Standish Dobard to replace Dorsett’s and Walford’s production.
3. Lack of Experience on the Offensive Line
Miami loses 111 career starts with the departure of offensive linemen Ereck Flowers, Jon Feliciano and Shane McDermott. The only full-time starter returning up front is right guard Daniel Isidora. Kc McDerrmott and Trevor Darling have gotten some meaningful snaps on the line but they're not very proven. Kaaya isn't mobile, so the offensive line will need to come together in a hurry.
4. Can Miami’s Front Seven Improve?
The Hurricanes’ defense ranked No. 14 in the country last season, but defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio took a lot of heat. In Miami's four losses against Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Pittsburgh, the Canes gave up a combined 1,082 rushing yards. The biggest question among the front seven is at linebacker, where tackling machine Denzel Perryman now plays for the San Diego
Chargers. Raphael Kirby will be asked to take Perryman’s place. Jermaine Grace is undersized (6-1, 208), but he made a number of plays during the spring game.
5. Al Golden
Will his legacy face its waterloo or 2015 his Phenix year?
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