Keys For Miami Hurricanes' Passing Offense In 2024 From UM Legend Lamar Thomas
**Update: Alex Donno and Brian Smith break down Miami's kay players for a CFP run in new video below.
Who will emerge as the top weapons next season for Miami Hurricanes transfer quarterback Cam Ward?
Miami's top two wideouts from 2023 are both back next season. Xavier Restrepo was top 20 in America with 1,093 receiving yards and ranked 18th with 85 receptions. Jacolby George scored a team high 8 receiving touchdowns. However, Miami lost third leading receiver Colbie Young to Georgia in the transfer portal.
UM Sports Hall of Famer and two-time national champion receiver Lamar Thomas joined me and Bruce Warner on my Locked On Canes Podcast.
Thomas is anxious to see who fills Young's shoes, noting that Miami will need a true outside threat to open things up for Restrepo and company.
"When I played, we had Horace Copeland and Kevin Williams taking the top off to open things up for me and Darryl Spencer," Thomas said. He noted that Jacolby George had a great year, but Thomas has concerns about his "dumb mistakes" on and off the field. "I don't consider him that main outside guy yet. I've even told (Miami WR coach) Kevin Beard, who's doing an outstanding job, that we've got to make sure (George) understands how important he really is."
The Hurricanes have options within. Isaiah Horton seems to be the most likely outside threat to win Young's former starting job. In limited action, Horton caught 13 passes for 168 yards, including a 52 yard touchdown. True freshman Joshisa Trader has reportedly been impressive in offseason workouts and could also compete to start. Externally, it's expected that Miami could seek a transfer receiver when the portal reopens in April.
-Thomas expects Miami to find more stability with Ward under center after inconsistencies from Tyler Van Dyke. "We all know that our quarterback last year went through something. He's been going through something since his freshman year. After his freshman year, he changed." Thomas notes this about Cam Ward, "when the plays break down, he can run. In today's college football, that's what it's going to. When all else fails and those defensive ends lose their contain, (Ward) can get out of the pocket and make a play."
-Thomas expects Ward to make Miami more exciting. "You can call the perfect defense, but if a guy can get out of it, extend plays, and make big plays out of it, it doesn't matter what defense you called."
-Thomas wants to see more receptions for the tight ends. "The tight end is the quarterback's best friend. You get a good tight end and he makes everything happen because you're now dealing with a guy that is closer to the quarterback that can really hurt you. It opens up everything for the guys on the outside."
-Thomas said he believes in Miami OC Shannon Dawson. "Not only does Dawson need to be on point, but the quarterback needs to be on point. You can call the best plays, but if he has a problem going through progressions like we saw (with Van Dyke) it doesn't matter what plays you call. With Shannon and a quarterback on the same page, who gives you more options, I know we should be better."
