Miami Hurricanes News and Notes: First Day of Camp, The Feeley Effect

Good Morning Canes Fam,

State of Declarations

What’s one of the best ways to open up a passing game? It’s establishing a potent rushing attack. State of the U’s Marshall Thomas points out why a consistent running game will be beneficial for the Canes offense this season.

Miami owned the transfer portal in the offseason. One of the big additions was former Virginia Tech DE Trevon Hill. We examine what led to this playmaker leaving Blacksburg for Coral Gables in the latest edition of our Player Profile series.

With a revamped offense, there’s optimism that the Hurricanes can finally take advantage of a talented receiving corp. SOTU’s John Reynolds examines UM’s 2019 wide receivers.

Freshman CB Trajan Bandy returned an interception back for an epic pick-six return. Read about one of the biggest plays in an unforgettable night at Hard Rock Stadium by Evan Hadrick in play #29 of our 100 Greatest Plays in Miami History series.

IT’S THE FIRST DAY OF CAMP!!!

Today is the first day of fall camp for the Hurricanes ahead of their season opener against the University of Florida on August 24th. The team will return to the newly renovated Greentree Practice Fields at 7pm for an open practice — tickets are sold out.

Here are the players who won’t be reporting to practice this weekend.

LB Avery Huff (not enrolled)

S Bubba Bolden (taking a summer class)

Miami received some good news when senior DE Trevon Hill announced on social media that he has been cleared to join the team. There was concern that the Virginia native would be prevented from practicing with his new team due to academic clearances.

The good news didn’t stop there on Thursday. According to Christoper Stock of the InsideTheU.com, former UCLA Bruin LB Jaelan Phillips has been admitted to UM. Phillips is currently in California and it could be a week or two before he shows up to camp.

The Redlands, California native will be sitting out for the 2019 season.

Below are a list of players that are expected to be limited participants to start camp:

LB Bradley Jennings Jr. (groin)

LB Waynmon Steed (left knee)

LB Patrick Joyner (“lower-leg injury”)

Linebacker De’Andre Wilder is no longer listed on the Hurricanes official roster. Wilder suffered a neck injury in 2018.

The Feeley Effect

Outside of the US Women’s soccer dominating competition, the biggest story this summer has been new strength and conditioning coach David Feeley’s impact on the roster. Players have shown off significant physical change and have sung the praises of the new boss of the weight room. The new S&C coordinator was featured ESPN 2’s Gymratts this past week.

Ahead of practice today, Canes Football hit the scales. Here are some of the more significant measurable from Miami’s updated roster.

• RB Cam’ron Harris gained 15 pounds and now weighs in at 205 pounds.
• WR Jeff Thomas gained 10 pounds this summer and is up to 180 pounds.
• OL Zion Nelson has gained 45 pounds since arriving to Coral Gables this spring.
• OL Tommy Kennedy gained 9 pounds and is listed at 294 pounds.
• DE Gregory Rousseau gained 10 pounds and is listed at 6’6”, 260 pounds.
• DE Jon Garvin added six pounds and is up to 256 lbs.
• LB Mike Pinckney gained five pounds and is 230 pounds
• LB Shaq Quarterman up 10 lbs, upping his weight to 230 pounds.

Recruiting Updates

Last weekend the Hurricanes scored their fifth commitment over the last two months when Oakleaf DE Chantz Williams announced his decision to join The U. That number could grow once more this weekend after South Dade High School G Jonathan Denis announces his decision on Saturday.

Denis, a four-star prospect according to 247 Sports, moved his announcement date up a week after initially marking a commitment date on the first weekend of August. Regardless of when Denis makes his decision, the crystal balls lean in favor of him becoming a Hurricane.

Another commitment to keep an eye will take place next Tuesday. Deerfield Beach RB Jaylan Knighton is set to announce his college decision that day alongside some teammates. The four-star back is believed to be trending towards a commitment to Ohio State based on 247’s crystal ball prediction algorithms. However, UM is believed to be in contention to get a pledge from Knighton.

Miami Nights Vol.2?!?

With a week to catch up with commits, it’s being reported that the Hurricanes are hosting an invite-only event similar to “Miami Nights” on Saturday. 2020 targets Winter Park (FL) athlete Marcus Clarke and Miramar safety Brian Balom headline the unsigned targets who have RSVP’d for the event. A host of ‘20 commits such as Naples TE Domenic Mammarelli, Mallard Creek DE Quentin Williams and Deerfield Beach WR Xavier Restrepo will also be attending. There will also be a sizeable contingent of underclassmen on campus coinciding with UM’s nightly practices to this weekend.

Kendrick Norton Update

Kendrick Norton was placed on the Miami Dolphins reserve/non-football injury list. The move means that the UM alum will be ineligible to practice of play in game this season. Following a July 4th accident Norton had his left arm amputated, ultimately ending his football career.

In a show of good faith, the Dolphins have guaranteed the entirety of Norton’s 2019 salary for the season.

Norton has begun his transition into life after football, starting his own Youtube channel.

ProCanes NFL Updates

The entire NFL will be in full training camp mode come the weekend. We’re talking about practices and scrimmages, but real football is right around the corner.

As with any training camp, the players who don’t show up for the first practice garner the most headlines. For Cleveland Browns RB Duke Johnson Jr, that was not the case. Despite being adamant in his stance to want a trade from Cleveland, Duke showed up for work this week. The ProCane back is now represented by Drew Rosenhaus, who was at the Browns’ facilities in the hopes of trying to negotiate a trade for his client.

The Browns currently have Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Trayone Gray, D’Ernest Johnson and Dontrell Hilliard in the running back room.

According to ESPN Staff Writer Jamison Henley, DT Gerald Willis III is projected to be “on the bubble” as the Baltimore Ravens begin training camp.

We’re less than a week away from ProCane and football legend, Ed Reed, being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Last week, it was announced that Edward Reed Sr. (Ed’s Dad) will present his son for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

DE Allen Bailey signed a two-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday.

The Dallas Cowboys cut WR Allen Hurns on Tuesday, days before the team was scheduled to report to Oxnard, California for camp. On Thursday, Hurns visited the Miami Dolphins’ training camp.

Bills RB Frank Gore was placed on the team’s NFI (Non-Football Injury) list. The move was touted as a precautionary measure as Gore enters his 15th season. The ProCane back passed his physical on Thursday and was promptly removed from the NFI list soon after.

On Tuesday ProCane punter Justin Vogel was signed by the Denver Broncos.

The latest episode of Mini Interviews hosted by Jacksonville Jaguars and ProCanes DE Calais Campbell was released on Youtube.

305 Beat

The 2019 season draws closer by the day for Canes Football. In his latest article, Manny Navarro of The Athletic highlights the 22 most important players on Miami’s roster entering the season.

With training camp getting underway for UM this evening, there are plenty of storylines to play out. Susan Miller Degnan of the Miami Herald discusses some of the delights and concerns as camp gets under way.

Christy Chirinos and Kevin Lerner of the Sun Sentinel joined forces to countdown the top 15 players on UM’s football roster.

Cameron Ghorbi of hurricanessports.com dives into the history that makes up the Florida vs Miami rivalry.

Non-Football Headlines

The focus is on football season, but the other fall sports continue to put in the work. Both Mens and Women’s Basketball stepped up their preparation ahead of their trip to Italy next month.

Go Canes and Have a Great Day!