Friday's and Saturday's practices were again open to the media. We are not media, but we can read and make sentences and have never had to blow Rupert Murdoch, so hooray on all counts.
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Former Hurricanes Calais Campbell, Jon Beason, Brian Monroe, andFrancesco Zampogna attended Friday's practice. At least 4 NFL scouts were in attendance.
- At Saturday's practice, signees Ray Ray Armstrong, Dyron Dye, Stephen Plein, and Billy Sanders were in attendance, along with prospects Jeff Lucand Quinton Dunbar (who enjoyed himself so much he committed to Miami the following day).
- Center A.J. Trump is doing his job ambisnaptrously: right-handed under center and left-handed from the shotgun.
- QB Taylor Cook has been running the second group while Cannon Smith is with the threes. Jacory Harris is finding WR Aldarius Johnson a lot in practice; Aldarius says Jacory's passes have much more sting on them these days. "You can tell he's a lot stronger."
- WR Tommy Streeter is playing very well coming off a red-shirt year:
"It really surprised me to see him fly around like that,'' former Northwestern teammate and fellow UM receiver Aldarius Johnson said. "He looked pretty good for a guy coming off injury, being out all that time after surgery and having therapy. He talked a lot of smack before today's practice. Then, he came out and did what he said he was going to do. He stepped up today. It was like old times...He can stretch the field. That gives me and Laron and the other guys the underneath stuff. He can make a big impact."
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Ramon Buchanon's move from safety to strongside linebacker after the Virginia game appears permanent.
- By all accounts, Sam Shields looks very natural at corner though he is clearly still learning the position. Shannon says Shields is coming along better than he expected.
- RB Mike James continues to be impressive in the Fan Expectation Projection Utopia that is spring ball, breaking tackles on several occasions to rip off long gains in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills.
- DE Marcus Robinson has gained 15 pounds. He says that his freshman season was a bit of a disappointment: "I wish I'd have done more tackling, more sacks, more everything." HONGRY BABY CANES R HONGRY.
- Sean Spence singled out Kendall Thompkins (redshirt freshman) and Mike James as two offensive player's who have caught his eye so far this spring.
Thus endeth the glory of media-access at practice. Next peek: Thursday, March 12 at Traz Powell.