Miami Hurricanes Fans Should Expect An Improved On-Field Product In The 2023 Spring Game
I sincerely hope that what I've seen from the Miami Hurricanes over their past fourteen practices will translate over the course of their two hour(ish) spring football game on Friday night.
They don't have championship level depth just yet, but these Canes have shown superior intensity and competition levels on the Greentree practice fields than I have witnessed in recent years.
The first thing you can look for Friday night is their pace and organization. Practices are run at a military-like tempo.
"How you do anything is how you do everything." Head coach Mario Cristobal repeats this mantra time and time again. His assistant coaches and players take it to heart. They approach every single drill like it matters.
I've been watching Miami spring games long enough to remember thinking some years, "Yikes, do we really want this to be televised? These guys look nowhere near regular season form." I don't anticipate feeling that way this year.
Sure, there will be some miscues and teachable moments, but I expect the Hurricanes to more closely resemble what you might see when you tune in to a spring game of an SEC team.
The second thing you can count in are some eye-popping playmakers. The wide receiver room, a team weakness in 2022, is improving. New receivers coach Kevin Beard takes a ton of pride in making these young men better.
You won't be disappointed by early enrollees Ray Ray Joseph and Robby Washington. I could see either or both of them busting off a big run after catch for some serious YAC.
Jacolby George is returning to form and Colbie Young, Miami's leading wideout last year, has trimmed down for extra speed to go with his long, 6-5 frame. 6-4 Isaiah Horton, a redshirt freshman, looks comfortable and capable.
Quarterbacks are the headline makers. Tyler Van Dyke will run the first team offense. His shoulder is fully healed and he has quickly adapted to Shannon Dawson's air raid offense. Don't be surprised to witness the Hurricanes taking vertical shots down the field. That has been a much bigger emphasis this year.
The backup QBs have been impressive. Sophomore Jacurri Brown is dramatically improving his throwing accuracy. Meanwhile, he's always ready to make plays with his legs. Early enrollee freshman Emory Williams has a strong base with his footwork and throwing mechanics.
Miami's revamped offensive line will be talked about frequently on the ACC Network Extra (ACCNX streaming) broadcast. Transfers Javion Cohen, Matt Lee, and early enrollee Francis Mauigoa are holding down starting spots.
On the defensive line, watch out for early enrollee Rueben "Hurricane" Bain, who looks un-blockable at times. Returning standouts Nyjalik Kelly and Akheem Mesidor will likely flash, too.
The biggest start on the D-line is their coach, Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor. You can anticipate JT getting plenty of attention on the broadcast.
Lastly, you will see areas that are incomplete. Miami's defensive line, defensive backfield, and running back rotation are quite thin at the moment.
Top D-tackles Leonard Taylor and Jared Harrison-Hunte have been out with minor injuries. The safety room has only seen limited work for junior James Williams as he recovers from an offseason shoulder procedure. Williams has been working individual drills but will likely sit out the spring game.
The running back room only has two scholarship players present for spring: Henry Parrish Jr and Don Chaney Jr. Both have been excellent in spring practices but their position group will feel very incomplete until early enrollee freshmen Mark Fletcher and Christopher Johnson arrive.
Because of that, you can anticipate a heavy workload for a trio of walk-on running backs in the spring game. Watch out for speedy redshirt freshman Mike Peraino. He might have a standout performance the way walk-on Devon Perry did last year. The same can be said for Terrell Walden II and Syncere Sampson. Miami could go at least five deep on Friday night.
The Miami Hurricanes spring football game will kick off at 7:30pm on Friday, April 14th from DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
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