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Braxton Berrios has flown a bit under the radar during his Hurricane career. The 5’9 receiver from North Carolina came in as a four-star prospect that played at “The Opening” and in the Under Armor game. That’s a lot of hype. Add in offers from Clemson, Tennessee, Oregon, and Ohio State and you’ve got the makings of an All-ACC player.
Instead, Berrios has been underutilized in Gables. He showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman in 2014 catching 3 touchdowns and starting four games but then tapered off before being injured in 2015. During the spring game of 2016, and a new regime with a more established offensive mindset, I thought Berrios would become Kaaya’s go-to possession guy with Coley there for speed and Herndon as a check down guy. That’s how it appeared in the spring game where Berrios caught 8 balls for 127 yard and a TD.
Above, #8 saves Kaaya from a sure-fire interception with a great adjustment to a wrong shoulder throw.
Above, Braxton snags this high throw and keeps one foot in.
During the season it seemed as though he slipped back into obscurity with the first-round level rise of David Njoku, the freshman All-American season Ahmmon Richards churned out, and Stacy Coley having a big senior year. With Coley and Njoku in the NFL, it’s time for Berrios to shine.
How can the ‘Canes offense get him the ball?
He’s not the deep threat Coley was and shouldn’t be asked to be. Save that for Richards, Mike Harley, and Jeff Thomas. Berrios strikes me as a Wes... no I’m just playing... he’s a guy that can work off bubbles, slants, quick outs. Nice crisp quick routes that are safe for the QB and will incorporate well into the gameplan.
I would like to see him work as the bubble guy in RPO. He’s tough, seemingly sure-handed, and you need quicks and hips not breakaway speed.
He can work as an outside receiver if you’re going to run snag as an RPO or play-action. He proved in the spring he can catch a slant and work up field.
Snag
I personally love snag, especially if Miami wants to stick with the RPO game and screens. I think Berrios could run the bubble (H) or the slant and sit (Z).
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Above, Berrios catches a slant and scores in the spring game
He could also be a guy that works the hitch on the back side of power RPO:
That’s Richards vs WVU, and I wouldn’t expect Braxton to do that with the ball after quite as electrically, but as we saw on the FAMU punt return he can move. BTW, he did average 11.3 yards / punt return so maybe we all just crack on the guy too hard re the fair catches.
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