Miami Hurricanes News and Notes: Season Previews, All-Time All-Americans, NFL Updates

Good Morning Canes Fam,

State of Declarations

Candis R McLean delivered the next installment in our Preseason Preview series, analyzing the Hurricanes regular season finale matchup against the Duke Blue Devils.

‘The New Miami’ will in fact be new. Nothing may be more evident than Jarren Williams being named the starting QB ahead of the season. NYCanesGuy pens why the best answer for the Hurricanes may be the one that few saw coming.

Butch Davis may have assembled his best team at FIU in his short tenure with the program. State of the U’s Gabriel Urrutia previews the Panthers roster ahead of neutral site matchup with the Hurricanes.

It’s that time of year again, where the State of the U staff gather round and provide predictions for the season to come. Learn which positions we consider strengths and weaknesses along with who we think will be breakout this year.

Thursday’s Post Practice Interviews

During yesterday’s post practice presser, DE Jonathan Garvin spoke about the emergence of DT Jon Ford. He also updates us on the development along the offensive line.

Starting center Corey Gaynor dishes on QB Jarren Williams embracing his role. He also provides some words of wisdom for his teammates. “Embrace the moment, take it all in, because it doesn’t last forever.”

Jarren Williams talked about the standard of being the starting QB at The U. QB1 also pointed out that he has been working on the timing with the receivers and tight ends. The offensive line earned some praise from the No. 15 on their progress through camp.

DT Pat Bethel spoke about the defensive lines chemistry and complemented the Canes O-line.

McCloud Returns To LB

After experimenting with Zach McCloud at striker to begin fall camp, the senior has officially moved back to linebacker.

Injury Updates

RB Lorenzo Lingard continues to rehab from a knee injury that ended his freshman season. He’s likely to miss the season opener, but could be back for Miami’s tilt against North Carolina on September 7th.

LB Patrick Joyner suffered a “lower leg injury” during a summer workout. Early projections forecast him returning to field by early October.

Miami x Marvel Vol. II

The 2018 season opener saw the Marvel brand produce an incredible cover for Miami vs. LSU. That trend continued this past weekend when the Disney owned brand tweeted out three cover variants for Miami vs. Florida ahead of the 2019 season opener in Orlando.

Head Coach in Waiting?

On Monday, The Athletic’s ($) Bruce Feldman revealed a list of 40 college football assistant coaches to watch in 2019. One of UM’s new coaching hires made the list. It was defensive coordinator Blake Baker squeezing in at 40.

The Manny Diaz protégé, 36, did very well at Louisiana Tech. His Bulldogs defense ranked among the nation’s best in several categories in 2018, including fourth in sacks, 12th in TFLs and 25th in opponent yards per play. Baker should be able to have another top defense in Coral Gables with the front seven talent he inherits from his old boss. Expect him to become a hot commodity among other Power 5 programs.

Two-Team Race For Dazalin Worsham

After the Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) 247 Sports four–star receiver decommitted from the Crimson Tide immediately after his visit to Miami, there was an expectation that Worsham’s commitment to Miami would be imminent. Nearly a month later, Worsham is still uncommitted. According to reports, the 2020 WR’s recruitment is a battle between Miami and Alabama.

Worsham has discussed the possibility of attending UM’s season opener against Florida next weekend.

What Uniforms Will UM be Wearing for Week 0???

It’s a good question for those who want to be as color coordinated as possible. According to the fine folks at the U Equipment Room, the team will be wearing their away (white) jerseys next week. No decision has been made on the color scheme for the pants, cleats and helmets.

Six Former Hurricanes Named to CBS’s All-Time All-America Team

First Team: S Ed Reed

Second Team: OL Bryant McKinnie, DL Warren Sapp, LB Ray Lewis, S Sean Taylor, KR Devin Hester

Honorable Mentions: WR Michael Irvin, DL Ted Hendricks, Bennie Blades, PR Devin Hester

The 305 Beat

DE Trevon Hill was a major addition to the Hurricanes defensive line this offseason. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald spoke with Hill about his transition from Hokie to Hurricane.

Christy Cabrera Chirinos of the hurricanesports.com sat down with the Hurricanes’ new starting QB as he embraces his new role.

David Furones of the Sun Sentinel spoke with new safeties Bubba Bolden and Keontra Smith as they both get acquainted with UM’s standard at the position.

At overcoming a wrist injury this spring, DT Jon Ford is on track to be a defensive stalwart for the Hurricanes this year. Susan Miller Degnan of the Miami Herald spoke with UM players and coaches about Ford’s prospects in 2019.

Cam Mellor of Pro Football Focus ranked all 130 FBS starting quarterbacks. Miami QB Jarren Williams lands at number 77 on the list.

Manny Navarro of the The Athletic ($) shared Miami Strength and Conditioning Coach David Feeley’s workout warriors from this past summer.

The Sun Sentinel’s David Hyde penned an article spotlighting the next great celebrity from Australia. He just happens to be Miami’s starting punter Louis Hedley.

The Other ‘QB1’ Makes its Debut

Miami named their QB1 earlier this week. Ironically, the third season of the aptly named QB1: Beyond the Lights premieres today on Netflix. If the show sounds familiar, the first season of the series featured current UM QB Tate Martell as he went through his senior season at Bishop Gorman HS (LV). You can also spot future Canes TE Brevin Jordan and S Bubba Bolden in season one.

To be honest, the Hurricane connection between the latest offering of the docu-series is fairly weak. UM gave one of the stars of the show, Warren Easton QB Lance LeGendre, an offer after receiving a visit from UM OC Dan Enos this past January.

Besides that, it’s another well produced football documentary that should tide you over. At least until next Saturday.

ProCanes NFL Updates

Jamal Carter has built his career on being a safety. From his days at the U to being drafted by the Broncos, Carter became notorious for his acumen as a hard-hitting safety. However, Carter is now transitioning to inside linebacker for Denver, attempting to make the final roster.

Calais Campbell is back with another installment in his Youtube series Mini Interviews. The most recent episode has the DL sitting down for a conversation with Jags QB Nick Foles.

Last week, Atlanta Falcons LB Jermaine Grace got a pick and came up just short of taking it to the house for the score. On Thursday, Grace tallied two tackles and four assists in the second week of the preseason.

Baltimore Ravens DC Wink Martindale stated that DT Gerald Willis is still getting used to the speed of the pro game. That adjustment period will be short with just three games left in the preseason.

Tuesday marked the second episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks docu-series that follows the Oakland Raiders during the 2019 preseason. If you were looking for any Canes connections, you’re going to be out of luck. TE Erik Swoope was placed on waivers a couple of weeks ago.

Buffalo Bills rookie safety Jaquan Johnson may be running with the third-team defense, but his performance in his first preseason game was reminiscent of a veteran. Johnson led all Bills with eight tackles and had one tackle for loss. The performance had a positive impact on Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News takeaways from the game

Brendan Marks of the Charlotte Observer gives CB Corn Elder the nod in the Panther’s competition for the starting nickel corner.

RJ McIntosh has made a good impression on the New York Giants brass. The college DT is making the transition to 3-4 defensive end for the G-Men. Mike Lombardo of NJ.com projects McIntosh and DL Olsen Pierre to make the Giants final 53-man roster.

Mark Walton rushed for a touchdown in his first preseason game as a Miami Dolphin. Can he extend his TD streak against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend?

After enduring an undisclosed injury in the early portion of Dolphin’s training camp, TE Clive Walford turned in an impressive two catch for 34-yard performance last weekend. Walford could make the final cut if he’s able to produce in the final three games of the preseason.

It was a scary scene on Monday in Berea, Ohio. Cleveland Browns DE Chad Thomas went down with a neck injury during practice and had to be immobilized on a stretcher. Thomas did have movement in all his extremities before he was transported to University Hospitals for further testing and evaluation.

Thomas was diagnosed with a neck strain. The second-year star was able to return to Browns’ Practice Facility and is considered day-to-day. The artist known as ‘Major Nine’ appeared to be in good spirits after being released from the hospital.

Cleveland Browns TE David Njoku sat out Monday’s practice with a knee injury. The injury doesn't appear to be serious according to reports.

Doug Kyed of NESN went through players who he perceived as locks, longshots and somewhere in-between to make the New England Patriots 53-man roster. For our ProCane purposes, he considers WR Phillip Dorsett close to a lock to make the team. WR Braxton Berrios, DE Ufomba Kamalu and DE Trent Harris are considered on the bubble to make the final roster. OT Tyree St. Louis and C Tyler Gauthier are both considered longshots.

RB Duke Johnson is a now a Houston Texan, but fans are going to have to wait a bit longer to see the team’s new acquisition. Johnson will not suit up for Saturday’s game according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The ProCane RB is still rehabbing from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss practices before he was traded.

Nice start to the preseason for Joe Jackson. I have to admit that I didn’t see him as a right end, but Jackson makes it work. The physicality with which Jackson plays is impressive. He can knock blockers around with his power, but he also shows the overall quickness necessary to get to the edge and cause problems in the pocket. The guy plays as a high effort/motor guy, which is the type of guy that Rod Marinelli covets in his rotation.

Bryan Broaddus of Dallas Cowboys.com

S Rayshawn Jenkins appears to have flipped the switch entering his third year with the Los Angeles Chargers. The ProCane is reportedly having an excellent camp and is vying for the starting free safety job.

LB Denzel Perryman seems to have reclaimed his starting spot on the Chargers defense.

Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images

RB Travis Homer missed Seattle’s first preseason game with a quadricep injury. The RB returned to practice on Thursday.

The Seahawks also signed former UM LB Juwon Young last weekend.

Safety Adrian Colbert made his return to the field last weekend, but his night was cut short. The free safety was ejected from the preseason contest between the Cowboys and Niners after being penalized for targeting a defenseless receiver in the 3rd quarter.

Friday’s Preseason Schedule

Buffalo Bills vs Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears vs New York Giants

Miami Dolphins vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Non-Football Roundup

Both Hurricanes Men’s and Women’s Basketball touched down in Italy as of last weekend. Each squad will embark on a preseason round robin, to go along with some sightseeing on the trip.

Men’s Hoops opened their tour with a 73-69 win over Stella Azzurra Academy. Dejan Vasiljevic led the team with 20 points.

On Wednesday, the Canes took on BC Šilute in Florence, Italy. Miami jumped out to a 51-43 lead at halftime. Miami went on to win by 105-75 final. Junior guard Kameron McGusty led the way with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Forward Sam Waardenburg recorded a double-double (10 pts, 13 rebs).

The men will take on LCC International University in Costa Masnaga, Italy on Saturday in the final game of their tour.

In Women’s Hoops, the Hurricanes took on a pair of familiar faces when they squared off with the Dutch National Team. The Hurricanes emerged victorious over former UM stars Emese Hof and Laura Cornelius in a close 61-59 victory.

The Canes lost a close game to the Florence All-Stars 71-67 on Monday. Kelsey Marshall led the way with 14 points. Once again, the Hurricanes faced another WBB alum in Hannah Shaw.

The ladies closed out their tour of Italy in their final game on Wednesday against the Venice All-Stars. The Canes leapt to a 30-10 lead to begin the game. They would go on to cruise to a 102-42 win. Forward Brianna Jackson scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds. Freshman Syndee Roby added 12 points and five rebounds.

Hurricanes Women’s Volleyball has ramped up their preparation for the regular season over the past few weeks. The team will get its first semblance of action in an exhibition against FIU next Friday.

Junior outside hitter Eilzaveta Lukianova was named a Preseason All-ACC Team member last week.

Go Canes and Have a Great Day!