OPINION: Miami Hurricanes Spring Awards & More
Today we are giving out our spring game awards & more as the Miami Hurricanes wrapped up the 15 practices with Saturday’s Spring Game at Cobb Stadium:
SPRING OFFENSIVE MVP
(photo by Neil Gershman)
QB CAM WARD
Easy pick, right? Ward should be one of the nation’s most dynamic playmakers, and he’s got all the tangibles and intangibles you want from leadership to work ethic to being a great teammate and then just flat out being a great player. You could see in the Spring Game (and closed practices, for those on hand) that he’s got some of that Pat Mahomes in him with different arm angles, lightning-quick throws while on the move, mobility, etc. He’s in store for an outstanding season based on everything we’ve seen and heard.
SPRING DEFENSIVE MVP
LB WESLEY BISSAINTHE
We could also put Bissainthe in the conversation as most improved player this spring, as he really looks like he’s settled in on defense and is playing at a consistently high level. But the truth is not many guys on defense stood out consistently this spring, perhaps in part because this is shaping up to be an outstanding Miami offense that’s tough to stop. After two up-and-down seasons year 3 looks like it could be a breakout for Bissainthe.
MOST IMPROVED ON DEFENSE
(photo by Neil Gershman)
CB JADAIS RICHARD
Richard arrived from Vanderbilt and barely played last year, but this spring he showed the speed, hips and skills to stick with Miami’s top receivers. The only issue he had was getting a bit handsy with the ball in the air. We aren’t getting wrapped up in his missed tackle in the spring game when Xavier Restrepo broke free for a long gain. Look for him to push to start when fall drills roll around.
MOST FUN SPRING MATCHUP TO WATCH
NICKEL MISHAEL POWELL VS. WR XAVIER RESTREPO
Every practice in one-on-ones there were multiple times Washington transfer Mishael Powell would lock onto 1,000-yard returning receiver Xavier Restrepo. And while Powell would stick with Restrepo fairly well, it seemed almost every time Restrepo would position his body to make the catch … sometimes in spectacular style. Regardless, every time they lined up on each other, all eyes were on them. It was a great, competitive battle to watch.
SURPRISE OFFENSIVE FRESHMAN
TE/RB ELIJA LOFTON
Did we know Lofton was good? Sure. Did we know he would pick up the offense this well this quickly at multiple positions and set himself up for a major role on offense? Not so much. He looks the part of a future star as an H-back or really wherever you want to line him up. He’s got the smarts and physical tools for a big immediate impact.
SURPRISE DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN
LB CAM PRUITT
Pruitt was extremely impressive, and he wound up starting at SAM in the spring game. He’s got the quickness and hard hitting you want in a Miami linebacker and we expect him to play a lot of reps on special teams and defense this year. Miami needed to develop depth at LB, and with Pruitt and Popo Aguirre stepping up things are trending the right way.
HAVE TO STEP UP MORE
(photo by Neil Gershman)
DT CJ CLARK, NICKEL MISHAEL POWELL
The Miami offense appears to be a powerful unit while on the other side of the ball there are more question marks. With the expectation heading into spring that starters at DT and nickel were shored up with CJ Clark and Mishael Powell … well, this spring showed there is still room to grow for both. Clark spent half of drills as a backup and wasn’t a difference-maker for the most part, and Powell struggled in coverage quite a bit (albeit usually matched up with Xavier Restrepo, as we pointed out earlier). Miami needs both these guys to be high level players for the defense to really get things going.
BIGGEST REMAINING NEED ON OFFENSE
TOP SHELF RB
Miami is expected to target another receiver plus a running back, but given Mark Fletcher’s injury situation and Henry Parrish’s departure landing a starting back in the portal is a must. You could see in the spring game that Chris Johnson has speed but isn’t a guy that breaks tackles, and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey still has work to do as a true freshman. TreVonte’ Citizen has to regain his burst off a major knee injury and Ajay Allen was out this spring. Adding a top back to the arsenal will truly make this an all-around scary offense. Oregon State’s Damien Martinez could be one that makes a lot of sense.
BIGGEST REMAINING NEED ON DEFENSE
There are a lot of needs here, we think, from another DE to a DT, cornerback and safety. Heck, some more linebacker experience would be good as well. There is just not much depth here. But if we can only pick one, it’s a playmaker on the interior of the line. There is very little quality depth from what we see and it’s unclear even if transfer arrival CJ Clark is going to be able to be the guy Miami hopes. The Canes HAVE to be stout up front.
POSITION WE ARE NO LONGER WORRIED ABOUT
TIGHT END
Coming into the spring there were concerns with DT and LB depth, the DB situation and TE. We still have question marks on the defensive side, but no longer on offense. Elija Lofton looks ready to break out as a freshman running and receiving, and Elijah Arroyo also looks like he’s back to being a physical presence who can make plays down the field in the passing game. Riley Williams flashed in the Spring Game and Cam McCormick can help as a blocker. So scratch one worry off the list.
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