CORAL GABLES – Reunited and it feels so good.
This was the consensus feeling when the University of Miami Hurricanes held its morning practice and annual Media Day festivities on campus for much of Monday (Aug. 13).
One of the prevailing themes taken from their Media Day was this: Miami clearly knows where’s it at right now and where it wants to go in the near future.
Ranked at No. 8 in the USA Today coaches’ preseason poll, players on both sides of the ball shared the overall goal for the team: a national championship. Moreover, they want to take everything one week at a time with a win.
Ranked in the preseason top 10 for the first time in 13 years, the Hurricanes are returning 14 starters from last season. And speaking of last season, there were glimpses of the swagger returning.
In just two seasons, head coach Mark Richt has made an indelible impact on his alma mater’s football program both on and off the field.
The Hurricanes opened the season with 10 straight wins and posted their first double-digit win season since 2003. Three consecutive losses ending the year dampened the mood of what was a breakout season.
Miami finished last season ranked No. 13 in the coaches poll, but climbed to as high as No. 2 in the poll last season after blowing out Notre Dame 41-8 on Nov. 11.
“I don’t think guys are thinking much about last year and how we finished,” Richt said. “Especially in the middle of camp, they are focused on every day and every play mentality. It is hot, it is testing them physically, it is testing them mentally, and practices are at a high tempo, that is what they are focused on.”
Now we will learn early which direction this season is going for the Hurricanes as they take their talents to Arlington, Texas for the season opener in a stiff test against LSU on Sept. 2.
Offensively, quarterback Malik Rosier is not elite. But the consummate young professional can get the job done running the ball, taking advantage of zone reads, and making throws that are safe.
The playmaker for Miami is wide receiver Ahmmon Richards, who missed the end of last season with a left knee injury. His importance was illustrated on the field.
“I learned a lot throughout that year,” Richards said. “I am confident it is going to help me this year, just mentally just going through something, just being able to stay within yourself. It’s a lot I learned from last year.”
Richards broke Michael Irvin’s freshman receiving record at the school. He’s healthy now and arguably one of the best receivers in the country.
The nation was introduced to the turnover chain, courtesy of 31 turnovers forced by the Miami defense last season, third most in the country. It made a loud fashion statement, to say the least.
The defensive backs for Miami are talented. They’re by NFL prospect Jaquan Johnson, who returned for his senior season and started all 13 games as a junior.
The linebackers in front of them have depth and are led by All-ACC players Shaquille Quarterman and Michael Pinckney, who are playmakers on the very talented defense.
“They now know what to do; they understand the scheme,” defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. “Now what I am hitting them up with all the time, how do you make the players around you better?”
The most significant addition is tackle Gerald Willis III, who took last year off for personal issues. A former five-star recruit who transferred from Florida after his freshman year, Willis is a difference maker who will help the defense fearsome again.
In Richt’s first two years he led Miami to its first bowl win in a decade, then its first 10-win season since 2003.
The opponents on Miami’s schedule that also make an appearance in the preseason coaches poll are No. 17 Virginia Tech, No. 19 Florida State, and No. 24 LSU.
The AP Top 25 preseason poll is scheduled to be released on Aug. 20.
WWW prediction: Miami’s two regular-season losses will be the opener on Sept. 2 against LSU at AT&T Stadium in Dallas and on Nov. 17 on the road at Virginia Tech. But Miami will win the ACC Coastal with a 10-2 record and take its talents to the ACC title game against defending conference champion Clemson.
Editor’s Note: West Lamy is both a special contributing writer for New Era Prep and the owner/publisher of worldwidewest.com. He’s been covering the Miami Hurricanes since the 2016 season, Richt’s first as the head coach.
