Plentiful touches and players lined up everywhere in store for Miami Canes’ new offense

AUGUST 05, 2023 2:57 PM
University of Miami fans distraught about last season’s under-performing offense should be in for a treat in 2023.
Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, known for his prolific passing with the Air Raid offense at Houston, spoke about his position groups Saturday, saying that the Canes have “a long way to go,’’ but more than hinting that the touches should be plentiful come this season.
Dawson said he’ll play as many receivers at one time as he “feels comfortable’’ with. “At any given times, we’ve had 12 guys touch balls in games before. “That’s everybody,’’ he said, “tight ends and running backs [included].
“I mean, 8 to 10,’’ he added. “Two deep across the board is typical. Go play ball.’’
There was no media availability to watch practice Saturday, the fourth since camp began on Tuesday, but 6-5, 213-pound junior Colbie Young and 6-0, 176-pound junior Jacolby George had been starting on the outside, with veteran Xavier Restrepo again excelling in the slot.
Dawson described George as a player who “flashes at times like the real deal, then he’ll go spurts without noticing him. Just consistency.’’
He also said redshirt freshman Isaiah Horton was “up and down.’’
“He’s got to do everything all day right, that’s the best way to put that. He’s shown some flashes of `Hey, this kid’s extremely talented.’ But it ain’t all about that, either. He has to be a complete teammate, complete everything. He has the ability to do that, because he’s a good kid and his future is bright. He’s talented. Consistency is going to win with him over time.”
Dawson said the Hurricanes have been going deeper in practice, but that “those plays take time.’’
“That connection down the field of quarterback-receiver timing, it takes time. We’re not where we need to be with that.”
TIGHT ENDS
With tight end Elijah Arroyo back, along with talented Jaleel Skinner and eighth-year physical senior Cam McCormick — not to mention freshmen Jackson Carver and Riley Williams — Dawson said they’ll be “all over the place.’’
“...Line ‘em up everywhere,’’ he said. “They can be an outside receiver, they can be inside. They’re going to move around. The best thing is if you got a guy that really threatens the defense with his ball skills and movement and body control, you can be elite at that position.’’
RUNNING BACKS
That play-a-lot-of-them attitude extends to the running backs, who include Nebraska transfer Ajay Allen, a 5-11, 186-pound second-year sophomore and returning starter Henry Parrish, a fourth-year junior now a sturdy 5-10 and 190 pounds. Chris Johnson is the state track champ out of Fort Lauderdale Dillard. And fourth-year redshirt sophomore Donald Chaney, Jr., is also in the mix.
When asked specifically Saturday about 6-2, 225-pound Plantation American Heritage freshman Mark Fletcher’s first week of practice, Dawson made it obvious by his facial expression and delivery that Fletcher already has made his mark. “He’s adjusted quite well,’’ the coach said. “The kid is talented.’’
BACKUP QUARTERBACKS
Sophomore Jacurri Brown and true freshmen Emory Williams have “been extremely consistent for the four practices,’’ Dawson said. “Been very pleased. As far as picking up the pass game, knowing where to go with the ball on time, those two guys have made huge strides since I’ve been here. Very proud of them. Their attitudes are off the chart.”
He said he’s seen “huge strides in pocket accuracy’’ from Brown, such as “sitting in the pocket and intermediate in-the-middle-of-the-field throws.”
“His comfort level with those right now have improved drastically.”
Dawson said that Wiliams “has a decent command of the offense in the sense that he was asked to do a lot of these things in his previous life, so a lot of the communication stuff and everything comes extremely naturally to him.
“Both of those kids are extremely talented. And the best part about both of them is they root for each other, which is what I like to see.’’
OFFENSIVE LINE
How many linemen would Dawson be comfortable playing at this point?
“If those [starting] guys can play the whole season...’’ Dawson said with a laugh about starters left tackle Jalen Rivers, left guard Javion Cohen, center Matt Lee, right guard Anez Cooper and right tackle Francis Mauigoa.
“You better have 8 to 10,’’ Dawson said. “You want two deep across the board. We got good, able bodies. If I had to sit down with [offensive] line coach [Alex] Mirabal right now, I don’t know what he would say about if we had to play tomorrow. But ultimately I think we have the bodies at the end of camp we would feel good about — two deep or close to two deep.’’
At left tackle, Jalen Rivers, who played left guard last year, “is doing great,’’ Dawson said.
O-LINEMAN TRANSFERRING
While that starting offensive line is looking better by the day, according to those who have watched all four practices, one reserve lineman who apparently won’t be with the Canes anymore is Hurricanes offensive guard Laurance Seymour. On3.com’s Matt Zenitz reported on Saturday that Seymour has entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Seymore, a 6-3, 215-pound third-year sophomore out of Miami Central High, started three of his six games last season and played in two games as a freshman in 2021. On3 had him ranked as the 12th-best interior offensive lineman and 195th-best overall prospect in the 2021 recruiting.
MACKEY AWARD
Hurricanes redshirt sophomore Elijah Arroyo was nominated for the 2023 Mackey Award that honors the nation’s top tight end at season’s end.
The 6-4, 235-pound Arroyo, out of Independence High in Frisco, Texas, only played in four games last season before tearing the anterior cruciate ligamant of his left knee during practice. He finished the season with five catches for 66 yards. A consensus four-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals, Arroyo was ranked the No. 4 tight end nationally and No. 21 player in Texas by 247Sports.
RIMINGTON TROPHY
UCF transfer Matt Lee, one of the top centers in the nation last season, was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list. Lee, who spent his first four seasons in Orlando, was rated in 2022 as the third best center nationally by Pro Football Focus, earning a 90.6 pass-blocking grade and 80.6 run-blocking grade.
As of Saturday, Lee was the fifth Hurricane to earn a major preseason honor, along with safety Kam Kinchens (Nagurski Trophy, Wuerffel Trophy), offensive guard Javion Cohen (Outland Trophy), kicker Andy Borregales (Lou Groza) and Arroyo.