CORAL GABLES – Let the action begin.
After a much-needed break from the football field, the Miami Hurricanes are preparing to get back into it in a big way. With a slew of personnel changes that will take place this upcoming season, we can expect to see some exciting developments unfold over the next several months.
But for now, it’s time to just focus on the spring football circuit.
Starting tomorrow morning (Mar. 20), Miami’s practices will be available only for the media to view in a limited time frame. None of the Hurricanes practices are available for the public to view, save for a scrimmage game inside Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, April 14 at 6 p.m.
For the time being, most of the talk will be about the quarterback position.
Redshirt senior-to-be signal caller Malik Rosier is more motivated than ever, as he looks to silence all doubters with his play over the next several weeks and beyond. It could be one of Rosier’s true breakthrough moments, as he knows he’ll be competing with fellow quarterback N’Kosi Perry for the top player job at Miami.
We’re at this point primarily because of Miami’s strong 10-0 start and rough season-ending three game losing streak last year. Though Rosier accounted for a UM-record 31 total touchdowns last season, there were some concerns on whether or not he’s “the guy” to lead Miami to a national title.
Without going into any details on Rosier’s challenges last season – they are well documented in many other publications – the fresh start and clean slate could be what he needs to get his mojo back.
With that said, a few other positions will need to be defined as well over the next several months. Running back may not be one of them, though.
Junior-to-be Travis Homer will almost certainly go into this season as Miami’s undisputed No. 1 at running back. He had a stellar sophomore year at the position, accounting for 1,185 all-purpose yards and nine total touchdowns.
At the wide receiver position, fellow junior-to-be Ahmmon Richards could be Miami’s No. 1 option. He was slowed by a series of injuries, including one that cut short his season at the tail end of last year, but is determined to return to his All-American level of production in 2018.
Also at receiver is Darrell Langham, who will be going into his final season as a Hurricane. He will be best remembered for his game-winning catches from last year against Florida State and Georgia Tech.
On the defensive side of the ball, junior-to-be Zach McCloud is part of a ferocious linebacker corps that include the likes of All-Americans Shaquille Quartermann and Michael Pinckney. All three are homegrown products that have played together since starting early in 2016.
There are a whole lot of exciting storylines involving this year’s Miami team. We’ll get to them as they all unfold.
But for now, here’s the spring football practice schedule for Miami:
Below is the list of the 13 practice sessions that are open to the media, according to Miami associate director of communications Camron Ghorbi:
· Tuesday, March 20 (9:30 a.m.)
· Thursday, March 22 (9:30 a.m.)
· Saturday, March 24 (9:30 a.m.)
· Tuesday, March 27 (9:30 a.m.)
· Thursday, March 29 (9:30 a.m.)
· Saturday, March 31 (9:30 a.m.)
· Tuesday, April 3 (9:30 a.m.)
· Thursday, April 5 (9:30 a.m.)
· Tuesday, April 10 (9:30 a.m.)
· Thursday, April 12 (9:30 a.m.)
· Saturday, April 14 (6 p.m.)
· Tuesday, April 17 (9:30 a.m.)
· Thursday, April 19 (9:30 a.m.)
NOTE: More information about the Miami scrimmage at Hard Rock Stadium will be released at a later date.
