Miami's second scrimmage of fall camp went down on Greentree, and it basically signals the end of fall camp.

As we start shifting into Stanford mode, here's what stood out from the scrimmage and overall from recent practices.

- Darian Mensah is Mensah. I don't lose a second of sleep about him. He's going to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country, easy.

- Dereon Coleman is a name pushing up. He's not the starter, not the number two, but he's stringing together good showings and earning more work. His arm is as live as it's been — quick release, no windup.

- Luke Nickel continues to find his way. His internal clock is speeding up — he's playing faster, going through reads quicker, and he's got legs on him. He's similar to a Gunnar Stockton where he rises when the pads come on with his ability to take hits and extend plays.

- CharMar Brown had a great day. People look at his yards-per-carry and think it's low, but part of that is his role being short yardage. Add back that long touchdown against Florida that got called back and his numbers look a lot cleaner.

He's not going down on one tackle. Never too high, never too low — you know exactly what you're getting.

- Javian Mallory keeps giving us a reason to talk about him. Consistency is the number-one sign of a freshman who's actually ready to play, and he's got it — he can catch, block, and run. Nothing catches your eye specifically, but he turns into a different player with the helmet and pads on.

- Our deep-ball game is going to be significantly better this year. Not just because Mensah throws a great deep ball — it's the number of receivers who are actually good at going deep. Josh Moore, Malachi Toney, Cooper Barkate, Vance Spafford, Dre Jacobs with a handful of others can all take the top off a defense.

- Cooper Barkate is going to draw a lot of one-on-one matchups teams create by bracketing Toney, and when he's isolated, he's smooth, agile, has great hands, and wins contested catches. He came to Miami from Duke already a thousand-yard receiver saying he wanted to get better, not cash out — and it's shown up every day since spring.

- Elija Lofton is a consistent riser. He was explosive again today.

I think there's still another level in him — the one where he's breaking tackles and scoring in real games — but the trajectory is right.

- Left tackle, right tackle, and center feel settled: Samson Okunlola at left tackle, Matthew McCoy at right tackle, Ryan Rodriguez at center. I don't see any of those three spots changing hands.

- The o-line in general is facing two of the best defensive tackles in college football every day in practice. That's going to prepare them for anything the regular season throws at them.

- We lost one of the best defensive end pairings Miami's had in Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, and I still leave this camp feeling really good about this group. Disruptive is the word.

Doesn't matter what front they're in the result is the same: pressure, and they're getting to the quarterback.

- It starts in the middle. Ahmad Moten and Justin Scott are collapsing the pocket into the quarterback's lap play after play. That's the kind of interior push SEC teams used to be known for.

- Keona Davis, Booker Pickett, and Asharri Charles all jumped out today — getting into the backfield, getting after it.

- Like Mallory, JJ Dunnigan keeps giving us reasons to talk about him.

If this secondary were thin anywhere, he'd be the easiest freshman All-American call — that's how good the room is that he's not a lock to start. He covers outside guys, tight ends, slot receivers and can blitz and clean things up in the run game. I don't see how he's not heavily in the rotation, similar to what Bryce Fitzgerald did last season.

- Camdin Portis — son of former UM and NFL back Clinton Portis — is progressing well from spring to fall. He's understanding the playbook and playing in the right spot more consistently.

- Jaelen Waters and Dylan Day both continue to look like playable options on the back end.

- Jake Weinberg was the best touchback guy in the country last year by a wide margin, and over the last two weeks his field-goal consistency has caught up to that leg. Kicker is a volatile position by nature, but I'm feeling good about where he's trending heading into Stanford.

One other thing

- People have been asking about the ruling on fifth-year eligibility and what it means for Miami.

I don't sense us being active in that market. It's not off the table, but nothing I'm hearing suggests we're diving into it with the season so close.

Big picture

- This offense runs the ball, has since Mario got here, and it's not changing. The size and physicality up front, the depth in the running back room — that's the nature of this team, and it showed up again today with the young offensive linemen doing what they do best: bulldozing people. There will still be plenty of explosive pass plays.

- Corey Hetherman's design, the talent from the back end to the D-line, and a group that's now in year two of the system — I think we've got a shot at a top-five defense.

Camp was a success. Guys stayed healthy, guys competed at a high level in brutal heat, and the strength staff deserves a standing ovation for how these guys held up. I feel great about this team health-wise and talent-wise.

The quarterback's a veteran, the skill positions are loaded, the offensive line has what it needs and just needs reps, and the defense — that's the story. I didn't expect this defensive line to rebuild this fast, and the DBs might be the best group in the country.

We've got two weeks before Stanford. I'm excited for it.

Full breakdown and reaction in the video — check it out below.

 

So are we just gonna ignore what Fletcher did all playoffs? Gotcha….

He had to change what he said originally because he’s so shook up in this thread

 

So are we just gonna ignore what Fletcher did all playoffs? Gotcha….

No but at Miami we actually do hope we bring in better players. Just cause we are attached to certain players doesn't mean better players aren't on the way. Pringle being MORE productive than Fletcher would be really good news. Or would it be bad for some reason? Pringle already at 6 ypc BTW. I expect better in 2026 with better blocking.

 

He had to change what he said originally because he’s so shook up in this thread

Nope. Pringle is the best inside runner, best running DUO, best inside or outside zone too. It's the vision. He gets to holes our other RB's never see. Fletcher can run over guys, but that's not easy work.

 

Nope. Pringle is the best inside runner, best running DUO, best inside or outside zone too. It's the vision. He gets to holes our other RB's never see. Fletcher can run over guys, but that's not easy work.

I’m not even laughing about your opinion I’m laughing about how goofy you’ve been about it

Just FYI

 

Nope. Pringle is the best inside runner, best running DUO, best inside or outside zone too. It's the vision. He gets to holes our other RB's never see. Fletcher can run over guys, but that's not easy work.

I’m not even laughing about your opinion I’m laughing about how goofy you’ve been about it

Just FYI

I've been clear from the start and haven't changed at all.

 

No but at Miami we actually do hope we bring in better players. Just cause we are attached to certain players doesn't mean better players aren't on the way. Pringle being MORE productive than Fletcher would be really good news. Or would it be bad for some reason? Pringle already at 6 ypc BTW. I expect better in 2026 with better blocking.

Show me where Pringle has been more productive than Fletcher up to this point. Don’t worry I’ll ******* wait.

 

No but at Miami we actually do hope we bring in better players. Just cause we are attached to certain players doesn't mean better players aren't on the way. Pringle being MORE productive than Fletcher would be really good news. Or would it be bad for some reason? Pringle already at 6 ypc BTW. I expect better in 2026 with better blocking.

Show me where Pringle has been more productive than Fletcher up to this point. Don’t worry I’ll ******* wait.

6.0 ypc including work in his starts. That came when the running game was complete garbage and he found something. yeah Fletcher played great in the playoffs but we also don't know what Pringle could've done. I suspect he'd do work. He's got to get a little stronger and improve blocking. But yeah these are jumps we expect a 2nd year player to make. Looking forward to having 2 talented backs.

I mean I certainly hope Fletcher isn't the best RB Miami will get moving forward. I hope Mallory also raises our RB room.

 

6.0 ypc including work in his starts. That came when the running game was complete garbage and he found something. yeah Fletcher played great in the playoffs but we also don't know what Pringle could've done. I suspect he'd do work. He's got to get a little stronger and improve blocking. But yeah these are jumps we expect a 2nd year player to make. Looking forward to having 2 talented backs.

I mean I certainly hope Fletcher isn't the best RB Miami will get moving forward. I hope Mallory also raises our RB room.

Remember they put Pringle in the playoffs, got blown up, and didn’t see the field after that?

Idk what your issue is with Fletcher. You must be one of those ******** who has trashed him for 3 going on 4 years when he’s been nothing but productive for this team.

 

6.0 ypc including work in his starts. That came when the running game was complete garbage and he found something. yeah Fletcher played great in the playoffs but we also don't know what Pringle could've done. I suspect he'd do work. He's got to get a little stronger and improve blocking. But yeah these are jumps we expect a 2nd year player to make. Looking forward to having 2 talented backs.

I mean I certainly hope Fletcher isn't the best RB Miami will get moving forward. I hope Mallory also raises our RB room.

Remember they put Pringle in the playoffs, got blown up, and didn’t see the field after that?

Idk what your issue is with Fletcher. You must be one of those ******** who has trashed him for 3 going on 4 years when he’s been nothing but productive for this team.

He did not get blown up. He missed an assignment. But Fletcher missed one too so whatever. He was just a pup playing in one of his first games. He didn't get used until late. Is it not logical that coaches would coach him up?

Why would I have an issue with Fletcher if I think Pringle is better? Why do I have to not like one? Perhaps I like both and view one slightly better.

People are strange man.

 

NC State, first drive. He was blown up so badly that they inserted Marty Brown and Bauman as HBs out of pony personnel a play later and Pringle was pulled from blocking duty altogether. It was a 2nd and 6 in the red area, precisely the play where a RB needs to block. After that, Marty Brown was the chip blocker on pure passing downs and on 3rd and 10+, Bauman was inserted as well. And don't tell me that didn't happen, I just clicked through the game and can give you timestamps if you want.


We have no idea if he hasn't done so, which he'll have to show in two weeks. Nobody is ruling out an improvement, you're pretending to do so.


1. Not a big claim, the coaching staff pulled him out of these duties for evident reasons that you choose to ignore. 2. Saying that someone can't block is not an indictment on his capabilities to block in the future. That's what you say, not what we say. Or I say, for that matter.

The notion that Fletcher is not a better RB than Pringle is absolutely nonsensical. He's more consistent and capable in pass protection, adaquate as a pass catcher and has shown enough consistent production to be considered the best RB in the backfield. Mark Fletcher has posted 172, 90, 133 and 112 in the postseason even with the rest of the offense being invisiable at times. Pringle is a second-year player who was probably 15 lbs too light to assume anything more than backup duty last season.

Can Pringle develop into the best RB in the room? Sure. Is he now? No. Is this bad? No.

Don't bother I already did time stamps of the nc state game a couple pages ago and the goalposts got moved immediately after presenting the data.

 

He did not get blown up. He missed an assignment. But Fletcher missed one too so whatever. He was just a pup playing in one of his first games. He didn't get used until late. Is it not logical that coaches would coach him up?

Why would I have an issue with Fletcher if I think Pringle is better? Why do I have to not like one? Perhaps I like both and view one slightly better.

People are strange man.

You don’t know **** and it’s pretty clear

 

He did not get blown up. He missed an assignment. But Fletcher missed one too so whatever. He was just a pup playing in one of his first games. He didn't get used until late. Is it not logical that coaches would coach him up?

Why would I have an issue with Fletcher if I think Pringle is better? Why do I have to not like one? Perhaps I like both and view one slightly better.

People are strange man.

You don’t know **** and it’s pretty clear

Lashing out doesn't make someone correct. Still don't understand why it's so controversial to say. Especially hearing D$ mentioning how they are trying to use Pringle as a returner, both punt and kickoff, trying to get him the ball as a receiver, and he's been breaking long runs on a regular basis. He's very good and that's the truth of it. Get your popcorn.

 

You guys can split hairs all you want with the backs, last year Miami was outside the Top 100 in the country in yards before contact. That has to get MUCH better or I don't care who you have in the backfield, we're not reaching our ceiling on offense.

Won't ever change here.

The preference for inside runs, and the tight splits make things harder than they should be.

On the vast majority of run plays, we're running against numbers mismatch.

Coaches don't seem to care.

Look at the natty. One outside run in the first quarter, and the rest went up the middle against their 4-3 for zero points in the half. Second half outside runs got us 21 points. If the coaches cared about special teams and effective run schemes, we would have won by 2 TDs +.

Run schemes not changing.

 

Won't ever change here.

The preference for inside runs, and the tight splits make things harder than they should be.

On the vast majority of run plays, we're running against numbers mismatch.

Coaches don't seem to care.

Look at the natty. One outside run in the first quarter, and the rest went up the middle against their 4-3 for zero points in the half. Second half outside runs got us 21 points. If the coaches cared about special teams and effective run schemes, we would have won by 2 TDs +.

Run schemes not changing.

On his long TD run, number 4 and Number 1 on Indiana literally **** themselves and looked very afraid to tackle Fletcher. That was a big part of why he went 50+ yards there. Also, number 7 was clearly daydreaming to start that play

 

Won't ever change here.

The preference for inside runs, and the tight splits make things harder than they should be.

On the vast majority of run plays, we're running against numbers mismatch.

Coaches don't seem to care.

Look at the natty. One outside run in the first quarter, and the rest went up the middle against their 4-3 for zero points in the half. Second half outside runs got us 21 points. If the coaches cared about special teams and effective run schemes, we would have won by 2 TDs +.

Run schemes not changing.

So you totally ignored the fact where I said the run blocking was levels better in 2024 when we had a QB and WRs that scared people down the field running the same run scheme??

 

Won't ever change here.

The preference for inside runs, and the tight splits make things harder than they should be.

On the vast majority of run plays, we're running against numbers mismatch.

Coaches don't seem to care.

Look at the natty. One outside run in the first quarter, and the rest went up the middle against their 4-3 for zero points in the half. Second half outside runs got us 21 points. If the coaches cared about special teams and effective run schemes, we would have won by 2 TDs +.

Run schemes not changing.

Yea duo is known as a low ceiling type of run but you wont be behind the chains and can stay on schedule.. In marriage to our pass game its suppose to put defenses in conflict but alot of our pass game was limited or shelved last season for a few reasons (rpos and such).. Mario and Mirabal openly fell in love with Harbaugh/Michigan stuff but they were more varied in run game than we have been last couple year. We love duo and have to bang our head alot to get out of it.. I think if we varied even just a little more, we would be much more dominant.. But even so, with Mensah I think we should be back on schedule..

Now if we are starting 2 freshman AND having McCoy at tackle, oline might be issue all season and it makes sense about the talk coming out of camp we will lean on run game more, that is alot to ask oline to pass pro with that setup..

 

NC State, first drive. He was blown up so badly that they inserted Marty Brown and Bauman as HBs out of pony personnel a play later and Pringle was pulled from blocking duty altogether. It was a 2nd and 6 in the red area, precisely the play where a RB needs to block. After that, Marty Brown was the chip blocker on pure passing downs and on 3rd and 10+, Bauman was inserted as well. And don't tell me that didn't happen, I just clicked through the game and can give you timestamps if you want.


We have no idea if he hasn't done so, which he'll have to show in two weeks. Nobody is ruling out an improvement, you're pretending to do so.


1. Not a big claim, the coaching staff pulled him out of these duties for evident reasons that you choose to ignore. 2. Saying that someone can't block is not an indictment on his capabilities to block in the future. That's what you say, not what we say. Or I say, for that matter.

The notion that Fletcher is not a better RB than Pringle is absolutely nonsensical. He's more consistent and capable in pass protection, adaquate as a pass catcher and has shown enough consistent production to be considered the best RB in the backfield. Mark Fletcher has posted 172, 90, 133 and 112 in the postseason even with the rest of the offense being invisiable at times. Pringle is a second-year player who was probably 15 lbs too light to assume anything more than backup duty last season.

Can Pringle develop into the best RB in the room? Sure. Is he now? No. Is this bad? No.

Sorry fam but this looks like an OK block a freshman RB. He took on the defender with a head of steam and forced him wide so Beck can get it off, Beck ended up eating it after Cici got beat. His man didn't get to him. His job is to lose slowly. He's 190 lb and there's only so much he can do. The answer also to this can is Mensah to spit it out to him in the flat for a TD. Punish the D for blitzing. Mensah has the feet for that. I am not the best at grading these but he did allow the QB enough time to get a pass off.

 

Yea duo is known as a low ceiling type of run but you wont be behind the chains and can stay on schedule.. In marriage to our pass game its suppose to put defenses in conflict but alot of our pass game was limited or shelved last season for a few reasons (rpos and such).. Mario and Mirabal openly fell in love with Harbaugh/Michigan stuff but they were more varied in run game than we have been last couple year. We love duo and have to bang our head alot to get out of it.. I think if we caried even just a little more, we would be much more dominant.. But even so, with Mensah I think we should be back on schedule..

Now if we are starting 2 freshman AND having McCoy at tackle, oline might be issue all season and it makes sense about the talk coming out of camp we will lean on run game more, that is alot to ask oline to pass pro with that setup..

Here's the kicker tho, DUO isn't just an inside run. It can be used to hit the B or C gaps too. I was watching a video of the old Georgia OL coach explaining how they used DUO to attack the CB. As Langdon Tangwell was saying last year it usually goes up the A gap because we are moving guys off the line. I am not the best X and O person so feel free to correct me.

 

Jaboree lives?

 

Jaboree lives?

Pringle is a better DB than Antoine