rok
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The Hurricanes like what they see in Adrian Colbert — and believe he has enough size, speed and smarts to play cornerback.
The Post has learned that Colbert, who played safety at Texas and arrived at UM last week as a transfer, has switched to cornerback full-time, rather than part time as previously thought. Yes, he’s already defending Stacy Coley one-on-one during UM’s player-led 7-on-7 practices.
Colbert, 6-foot-1 and 206 pounds, played in 38 games at Texas before graduating in May. He is eligible immediately.
Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, who held that position at Texas from 2011-13, and UM safeties coach Ephraim Banda (graduate assistant, 2012-15) know him well. But cornerbacks coach Mike Rumph will coach him in Coral Gables.
“He’s been a safety and a track kid, but with his speed and size and him being a veteran, I like him at corner,” Rumph said. “I’m excited about him and seeing what he can do.
“He does a lot of the stuff well that you can’t coach. That’s what I’ve been harping on. He gives a good effort. He’s physical. He doesn’t turn down on hits or tackles. He played special teams. And he’s urgent – being a 22-year-old who played at Texas, he understands working hard.
“I’m just blessed we have him here. Hopefully some of my younger players can learn about competiveness, about working hard every day. That’s what I’m looking for in the secondary. Everything else I can coach. I’m looking for those kids to be tenacious, come out there and fight every day in practice and it’ll transition over to the games.”
Colbert started four games in 2014 and registered his only career interception before losing his job to freshman Jason Hall. He tied for the Longhorns’ lead in special teams tackles (six) that season. Last year, he played in 12 games as a reserve.
Colbert, from Mineral Wells (Texas) High, was a four-star prospect and the fifth-best safety prospect in the 2012 class according to 247Sports. Rivals rated him a three-star recruit and 24th at his position. He was a state champion in the 200-meter dash and medaled in the 400 as a senior. He ran track at Texas and competed in three outdoor meets last spring. His personal bests were 10.6 seconds in the 100-meter dash, 22.03 in the 200 and 48.85 in the 400.
“He can ride,” Rumph said, when asked about Colbert’s speed. “He’re working hard in the weight room and doing some track and hurdle drills to get him a little faster.”
Cornerback is a problem area for UM. Diaz has commented that none of the cornerbacks — including senior Corn Elder — played to the standard he wanted in the spring. UM kicked the tires on former Florida standout J.C. Jackson, but because of his legal issues is no longer pursuing him, according to a program source (the Miami Herald‘s Barry Jackson also reported this). It’s possible that UM, which has a scholarship open, could still add a transfer cornerback, should a good one become available.
Elder started seven of 13 games last year, recording 11 pass break-ups and two interceptions. Sophomore Sheldrick Redwine (12 games, mostly on special teams) started opposite Elder in the spring. In the spring, the only other scholarship cornerbacks were sophomores Michael Jackson and Terrance Henley and redshirt sophomore Ryan Mayes, none of whom have broken out.
That number will grow from five to seven this summer, at least.
The Hurricanes also bring in freshman Malek Young, from Coconut Creek High. Young has played wide receiver most of his life. UM has also discussed the possibility of using sophomore safety Jaquan Johnson as a nickel corner.
“I’ve got some projects, but I love those projects,” said Rumph, who knows a little about versatility. He played cornerback at UM and both corner and safety in a five-year NFL career.
“Hopefully we can do a good job recruiting the 2017 DBs and getting the numbers back to where they need to be.”
The Post has learned that Colbert, who played safety at Texas and arrived at UM last week as a transfer, has switched to cornerback full-time, rather than part time as previously thought. Yes, he’s already defending Stacy Coley one-on-one during UM’s player-led 7-on-7 practices.
Colbert, 6-foot-1 and 206 pounds, played in 38 games at Texas before graduating in May. He is eligible immediately.
Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, who held that position at Texas from 2011-13, and UM safeties coach Ephraim Banda (graduate assistant, 2012-15) know him well. But cornerbacks coach Mike Rumph will coach him in Coral Gables.
“He’s been a safety and a track kid, but with his speed and size and him being a veteran, I like him at corner,” Rumph said. “I’m excited about him and seeing what he can do.
“He does a lot of the stuff well that you can’t coach. That’s what I’ve been harping on. He gives a good effort. He’s physical. He doesn’t turn down on hits or tackles. He played special teams. And he’s urgent – being a 22-year-old who played at Texas, he understands working hard.
“I’m just blessed we have him here. Hopefully some of my younger players can learn about competiveness, about working hard every day. That’s what I’m looking for in the secondary. Everything else I can coach. I’m looking for those kids to be tenacious, come out there and fight every day in practice and it’ll transition over to the games.”
Colbert started four games in 2014 and registered his only career interception before losing his job to freshman Jason Hall. He tied for the Longhorns’ lead in special teams tackles (six) that season. Last year, he played in 12 games as a reserve.
Colbert, from Mineral Wells (Texas) High, was a four-star prospect and the fifth-best safety prospect in the 2012 class according to 247Sports. Rivals rated him a three-star recruit and 24th at his position. He was a state champion in the 200-meter dash and medaled in the 400 as a senior. He ran track at Texas and competed in three outdoor meets last spring. His personal bests were 10.6 seconds in the 100-meter dash, 22.03 in the 200 and 48.85 in the 400.
“He can ride,” Rumph said, when asked about Colbert’s speed. “He’re working hard in the weight room and doing some track and hurdle drills to get him a little faster.”
Cornerback is a problem area for UM. Diaz has commented that none of the cornerbacks — including senior Corn Elder — played to the standard he wanted in the spring. UM kicked the tires on former Florida standout J.C. Jackson, but because of his legal issues is no longer pursuing him, according to a program source (the Miami Herald‘s Barry Jackson also reported this). It’s possible that UM, which has a scholarship open, could still add a transfer cornerback, should a good one become available.
Elder started seven of 13 games last year, recording 11 pass break-ups and two interceptions. Sophomore Sheldrick Redwine (12 games, mostly on special teams) started opposite Elder in the spring. In the spring, the only other scholarship cornerbacks were sophomores Michael Jackson and Terrance Henley and redshirt sophomore Ryan Mayes, none of whom have broken out.
That number will grow from five to seven this summer, at least.
The Hurricanes also bring in freshman Malek Young, from Coconut Creek High. Young has played wide receiver most of his life. UM has also discussed the possibility of using sophomore safety Jaquan Johnson as a nickel corner.
“I’ve got some projects, but I love those projects,” said Rumph, who knows a little about versatility. He played cornerback at UM and both corner and safety in a five-year NFL career.
“Hopefully we can do a good job recruiting the 2017 DBs and getting the numbers back to where they need to be.”
