Spring Game Fantasy Football Draft, Miami Hurricanes style: Gary Ferman, Matt Shodell pick their teams
The Miami Hurricanes’ Spring Game will be held on Friday night at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, the culmination of the team’s 15 spring practice sessions.
There will be 1s vs. 1s, 2s vs. 2s, substitutions and combinations of 1s vs. 2s etc.
Fans will be able to glean the talent level/improvements of specific players and position groups to some extent, and certainly it will be interesting to see how the new schemes of Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and defensive coordinator Lance Guidry look.
Also interesting?
Taking a shot at creating your own Miami teams for the Spring Game, fantasy football style. So CaneSport Publisher Gary Ferman and CaneSport Managing Editor Matt Shodell put together their cheat sheets and hammered out their own fantasy Spring Game teams for the Miami Hurricanes … with the caveat that we are only including players that have been healthy in spring practice.
It was round by round snake draft style, with Ferman getting the first overall pick since, well, he’s the publisher. The Miami Spring Game draft results includes why each player was picked where and the rationale, which you can see at the very bottom of this item.
Ferman and Shodell each made 22 picks, for a first team offense and first team defense, one at each spot. It’s orange vs. green, Ferman vs. Shodell.
Which team is better? You be the judge.
GARY FERMAN’S SPRING TEAM
OFFENSE
RB Henry Parrish
WR Xavier Restrepo
WR Colbie Young
WR Isaiah Horton
TE Cam McCormick
OT Jalen Rivers
OG Javion Cohen
C Ryan Rodriguez
OG Logan Sagapolu
OT Samson Okunlola
DEFENSE
DE Nyjalik Kelly
DT Jacob Lichtenstein
DT Ahmad Moten
DE Chantz Williams
MLB Francisco Mauigoa
OLB Wesley Bissainthe
Nickel Jaden Harris
CB Chris Graves
S Kaleb Spencer
S Brian Balom
CB Terry Roberts
Emory Williams (L) and Jacurri Brown with Shannon Dawson in background (photo by Neil Gershman)
MATT SHODELL’S SPRING TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Jacurri Brown
RB Don Chaney
WR Jacolby George
WR Ray Ray Joseph
WR Brashard Smith
TE Jaleel Skinner
OT Michael McLaughlin
OG Tommy Kinsler
C Matt Lee
OG Anez Cooper
OT Francis Mauigoa
DEFENSE
DE Akheem Mesidor
DT Branson Deen
DT Thomas Gore
DE Rueben Bain
MLB Corey Flagg
OLB Keontra Smith
Nickel Te’Cory Couch
CB Davonte Brown
S Kam Kinchens
S Markeith Williams
CB Daryl Porter, Jr.
MIAMI ROUND BY ROUND PICKS / EXPLANATION
Ferman made a power move pairing Van Dyke with Restrepo (photo by Neil Gershman)
GARY FERMAN ROUND 1
QB Tyler Van Dyke: “He is the clearly the most elite player on the team with total respect to Kam Kinchens.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 1
S Kam Kinchens: “With all respect to Mr. Ferman, I’ll take the only All-American returning on this roster. Kinchens is the best safety in the league and one of the best in the country.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 2
DE Akheem Mesidor: “Good luck to Tyler Van Dyke, I now have the two best defensive players on the roster.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 2
OG Javion Cohen: “Could project as the highest NFL Draft pick on the team next year.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 3
WR Xavier Restrepo: “There is nobody that my quarterback loves to throw the ball to more.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 3
C Matt Lee: “By far the only real center on this team, and he’s the guy that coaches are saying has really stood out not just as a player but as a leader this spring.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 4
Nickel Te’Cory Couch: “With Jaden Harris the backup here, I just am not comfortable at all with the depth and wanted to lock in a solid returning starter.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 4
LT Jalen Rivers: “I’m giving my QB the security blanket on the left side of the line.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 5
DE Nyjalik Kelly: “Has the most upside of all the remaining defensive linemen.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 5
RG Anez Cooper: “Another solid returning starter on my team who can knock back a not great defensive tackle position backward.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 6
RT Francis Mauigoa: “Have to have a 5-star true freshman who has been working with the first team since practice 2 on my depth chart.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 6
MLB Francisco Mauigoa: “Has been one of the most consistent performers in spring practice and will make a major impact in the fall.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 7
WR Colbie Young: “Can make big plays down the field.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 7
DE Rueben Bain: “Love what I have seen from this true freshman this spring, with Jahfari Harvey out he will get every chance to show what he can do in the Spring Game.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 8
DT Branson Deen: “While I think he will be a role guy when Leonard Taylor and Jared Harrison-Hunte are back, he’s the best option up the middle right now from what I have seen.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 8
WR Isaiah Horton: “Has been the talk of spring football on the offensive side of the ball.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 9
OLB Wesley Bissainthe: “Should be ready to bust out in the spring game.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 9
DT Thomas Gore: “Good luck to Ferman’s team with the rest of this defensive tackle depth chart.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 10
CB Davonte Brown: “Of what I’ve seen so far this spring he seems to be the best cover corner, and happy to have him in round 10.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 10
RB Henry Parrish: “He’s healthy and motivated for a big season.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 11
RT Samson Okunlola: “Has been getting progressively better with every practice and is ready to dominate.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 11
S Markeith Williams: “As much as I like true freshman Kaleb Spencer and how he’s looking, Williams has been the guy that really stepped up and passed by Brian Balom on the depth chart. I think Williams has a very bright future.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 12
CB Daryl Porter, Jr.: “While Miami took Terry Roberts in the portal and has Chris Graves with a lot of potential, it’s Porter that has worked his way up with the ones a lot this spring and I think he will build off a rough 2022 season.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 12
TE Cam McCormick: “Grown man playing with boys.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 13
RG Logan Sagapolu: “Best available offensive lineman.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 13
TE Jaleel Skinner: “I would have taken Skinner over McCormick anyway, but I knew Ferman was high on the eighth-year guy so I just waited. Skinner has great receiving skills and can flourish in this offense … if he holds onto the ball.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 14
QB Jacurri Brown: “Love how Jacurri fits as a dual threat in Shannon Dawson’s offense. I think he’s the best big thing at Miami. He looks great this spring. And Emory Williams is also a guy with a bright future.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 14
Nickel Jaden Harris: “Has been making decent progress this spring.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 15
DT Jacob Lichtenstein: “Veteran presence who has played a lot of football and loves the new defense.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 15
WR Jacolby George: “He’s with the ones this spring for a reason and looks like a different guy in this offense. I think he can have a big year.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 16
RB Don Chaney: “He’s built in that speed/power mold that Cristobal loves, unlike Parrish, and if he stays healthy and slims down could be a major weapon for this team.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 16
CB Chris Graves: “Young cornerback who has been coming strong this spring.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 17
CB Terry Roberts: “Veteran transfer ready to play right now.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 17
WR Ray Ray Joseph: “This is a true freshman who is truly explosive. I can’t wait to see what he does starting with the spring game.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 18
WR Brashard Smith: “Brashard to me is just a hair ahead of Robby Washington, was a tough call for me because Brashard has struggled holding onto the ball in the past and must show that’s behind him.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 18
S Kaleb Spencer: “Has stood out amongst the freshmen.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 19
S Brian Balom: “Showed loyalty to the program by coming back.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 19
MLB Corey Flagg: “Has missed a couple of practices, will see if he participates Friday night but regardless he showed last year he can beat out a touted transfer and now he has to show it again.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 20
LG Tommy Kinsler: “Has some work to do but has a bright future if he keeps working hard.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 20
DT Ahmad Moten: “Space eater in the middle.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 21
DE Chantz Williams: “Can be very productive at times.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 21
OLB Keontra Smith: “Veteran who may not be the most athletic but can get the job done.”
MATT SHODELL ROUND 22
LT Michael McLaughlin: “McLaughlin is going to Disney World as my final pick, and I’m just not sure there is a lot of depth at tackle for Miami so hopefully Zion Nelson gets back healthy.”
GARY FERMAN ROUND 22
C Ryan Rodriguez: “Best center available as the backup to Matt Lee.”
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