The University of Miami football program has hired Rob Likens as wide receivers coach, head coach Manny Diaz announced Friday.
"We are excited to welcome Rob and his family to Coral Gables," Diaz said. "Rob has extensive experience with fast-paced, high-octane offenses and he can serve as a great teacher and motivator to the young men in our receivers room."
Over his 28-year coaching career Likens has been an offensive coordinator at four schools, including the past two seasons at Arizona State, where he was also the quarterbacks coach.
In 2019, the Sun Devils started a true freshman quarterback, Jayden Daniels, for the first time in school history. Daniels threw for 2,943 yards with 17 touchdowns and just two interceptions, eclipsing the 300-yard passing mark on five occasions. He threw for a season-high 408 yards in ASU's 31-28 upset over sixth-ranked Oregon. Running back Eno Benjamin rushed for 1,083 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior, finishing his career with 15 100-yard rushing games. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk caught 65 passes for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns, ranking second nationally in yards after catch (10.9). Aiyuk also ranked sixth nationally in all-purpose yards (155.8 per game). Benjamin and Aiyuk both earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors. The Sun Devils also turned the ball over just 14 times, ranking sixth in the country in turnover margin.
In 2018, ASU was the only Power 5 program to boast a 3,000-yard passer (Manny Wilkins), 1,500-yard rusher (Benjamin) and 1,000-yard receiver (N'Keal Harry). Wilkins accounted for 28 total touchdowns, while Benjamin set a school single-season record with 1,642 rushing yards. He broke ASU's single-game rushing mark with 312 yards in a win over Oregon State. Harry caught 73 passes for 1,088 yards and nine touchdowns and was later selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Both Benjamin and Harry earned first-team all-conference honors.
Likens spent the 2017 season as the Sun Devils' wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. ASU had the 10th highest-graded passing attack in the nation according to Pro Football Focus after being graded 86th in 2016. The 76-spot swing in the passing game rankings was the third highest in all of FBS. Harry racked up 82 catches for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns to earn first-team All-Pac-12 honors. The Sun Devils had five different receivers with 100-plus yard games in 2017, a school record.
Likens arrived in Tempe after two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Kansas. He spent the 2013 and 2014 seasons at California as assistant head coach and outside receivers coach, adding the title of passing game coordinator his second season.
In 2014, Likens' passing game, led by future NFL top overall draft pick Jared Goff, ranked sixth in the NCAA in passing yards per game (346) and broke the school's single-season passing yardage record with 4,152 yards. Additionally, three of Cal's top four receivers were Biletnikoff Award candidates in Chris Harper, Kenny Lawler and Bryce Treggs.
Cal's passing game during Likens' first season with the Golden Bears set single-season school records for passing yardage (3,977), pass completions (368) and pass attempts (622), while also establishing new single-game marks for passing yardage (521 vs. Washington State) and pass attempts (65 vs. Northwestern).
FOOTBALL NEWS
There’s A Big Difference Between Talent And Production
Production is very important when placing expectations
By marshthomas
The other night, I was discussing the Miami Hurricanes with fellow fans on Twitter, as I usually do. As the evening went on, I began talking to several people about the Canes wide receiver room, and the players we have at that position. In what is often the case with me, I disagreed with several Miami fans.
Call me negative, but I prefer to be labeled as an honest and realistic Hurricanes fan, which is rare within the Miami community. I’m not saying that the wide receiver room isn’t talented, of course they are. UM has Dee Wiggins (who I’m a HUGE fan of), Mark Pope, Mike Harley, Jeremiah Payton and several others who could very well turn out to be superstars in the future. However, to say that the wide receiver room at Miami is “stacked” or “loaded” is completely false.
You know what program has a stacked WR group? The Ohio State Buckeyes, with guys like Garrett Wilson and Chris Olavem, or the Purdue Boilermakers with the incredible duo of Rondale Moore and David Bell.
The LSU Tigers this past season had two wide receivers with over 1,000 yards, and two more WR’s who had over 500 yards, with three of those guys catch 10-plus touchdowns. That is what you would call a stacked WR room. In the same year, Miami had one receiver who went over 500 yards, and only one with 5 touchdowns.
This has been a problem for the Hurricanes for a while now, and not just for the wide receivers, but for nearly every position, and the team at large. Miami fans, and I've been guilty of this hundreds of times, we always seem to label a certain position group and also the team before they’ve actually proven anything.
And there's several reasons why we do this. When it comes to individual players and in-turn position groups, we’ll hype them up based on the high school they attended, or the stars they received while in high school. We’ll carry that same argument sometimes until these players are juniors or even seniors, even though they haven’t proven anything at the college level.
It’s another thing to say that Miami is loaded with their defensive ends, because that actually has some truth to it. When you have Gregory Rousseau and Quincy Roche at DE, then you can say loudly that the Canes are “stacked” at that position, because you have past production to back up that statement
Perfect example of this is with the Hurricanes quarterback situation these past two off-seasons. Last year, Tate Martell was labeled early on as the guy who will be the next great Miami QB, and many picked him to be the 2019 starter, and this was before anybody saw him throw a pass at UM. We did this because Martell was such a highly-touted prospect out of high school, and made some plays while at Ohio State.
Fast-forward to the actual season, and Martell was in fact not the guy, struggling with Dan Enos’ offense, resulting in Jarren Williams winning the starting job.
On the other hand, there’s been a lot of hype surrounding D’Eriq King, along with an equal amount of doubt and questions. With this situation, the excitement and expectations placed upon King are valid, as he’s a quarterback who has put up incredible stats at the college level, and has proven that he can be a top player at this position.
Houston QB D'Eriq King could be the next Kelly Bryant. I'm sure a few SEC teams will inquire regarding his services.
4,925 passing yards, 50 touchdowns with another 1,421 rushing and 28 touchdowns on the ground during his career.
Now, I will again say that Miami’s wide receiver have the POTENTIAL to be a very dangerous group, if they’re able to actually produce. Same goes for the entire Hurricanes team
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 01:47 PM
LOL PB! I asked Tom awhile back if you were GoCanes
Posted by: CGNC | February 11, 2020 at 02:11 PM
I'm still riding the 50%(we win some we lose some) taxi with Aero and CGNC till I actually see us pound a few teams in a real game.
I have been about 8-4 every since
LSU slapped the Kool Aid out of our mouth.
We have all our apples bet that King stays healthy for 13 games,that could be tough to do with the swiss cheese posse lurching around three yards behind him every play.
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 11:39 AM
LOL! Yes, you me, Aero and Raize are from the "show-me-state". Tsully has apparently put us on the 7% bus which is probably most fuel efficient LOL.
Posted by: CGNC | February 11, 2020 at 02:14 PM
Posted by: pb | February 11, 2020 at 05:51 AM
LOL! Welcome back.
Posted by: CGNC | February 11, 2020 at 02:20 PM
LOL! Yes, you me, Aero and Raize are from the "show-me-state". Tsully has apparently put us on the 7% bus which is probably most fuel efficient LOL.
Posted by: CGNC | February 11, 2020 at 02:14 PM
LOL Outstanding As Always CGNC!
Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | February 11, 2020 at 02:22 PM
J.W., Willie Will from Nashville, DJ Moonbat.
Posted by: The Herb | February 11, 2020 at 02:51 PM
That's a plan Tee! Since I developed AFIB my beer drinking consumption (power drinking) has been drastically curtailed. As I asked my cardiologist about drinking beer and he told me one to 2 maybe 3, unless I wanted to end up back in the hospital, So I guess I would have to do a majority of the driving on the bus and I'm quite sure that would be okay with you, right Tee..?
Posted by: HerbieIbis | February 11, 2020 at 02:58 PM
LOL! Yes, you me, Aero and Raize are from the "show-me-state". Tsully has apparently put us on the 7% bus which is probably most fuel efficient LOL.
Posted by: CGNC | February 11, 2020 at 02:14 PM
LOL Outstanding As Always CGNC!
Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | February 11, 2020 at 02:22 PM
*********************************
I was gonna see if there was a 5% sidecar.....but I'll be a team player and ride with the 7%
Posted by: raizecane | February 11, 2020 at 02:59 PM
mr. pb:
i gave a shout-out to "pb and esteban" the post before you wrote endearing things about pb, which eventually led to your "outing"
. . . but you never gave me a thank you or tip o' the cap for the anonymous compliment
bad form; and negative karma points in your soul's bank acct.
ijs
Posted by: alpine | February 11, 2020 at 03:10 PM
Solar, I'm with u on the WR'S. Pope was supposed to be this great game breaker for us and the dude has pissed away 2 years. One thing we do lack, besides a go to WR, is bigger WR'S. Wiggins is it as far as height goes. We used to have A basketball team at wr and not enough speed, now we don't have a 6'3, 6'4 guys that can win a jump ball.
I do we need to go after Tyrik Black, who has 2 years left a use one of those ships forward. Still have one left for a lineman in the summer.
I think we have 3 healthy LB'S for the Spring and 4 CB's.
I think we have 5 Lb's laid up. Need a little more talent at that position.
Kids need to be coached better. The tudes might change on OH since we are finally going 21 century. Why would any WR come play in an antiquated offense we were running, especially with a bunch of breaches in the levee. By the time they got their head around the Qb was on his azz.
Hopefully Kinchins can teach them how to run routes to get seperation.
Posted by: HerbIbis | February 11, 2020 at 03:12 PM
It's fun to predict 10 11 12 game wins every season in February and I get it and think its great for our morale on the space considering what we have been through.
So if its alright with everybody Ill sit back and enjoy the wins, not be dumbfounded by the losses and pretty much content with us moving in the right direction, thanks!
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 12:56 PM
seems i'm on the solar-train:
- 58-0 in february
- as the season goes by, adapt
- if it's a season like the last couple, take the hopes out of the shirt-pocket (the one near the heart); put them in tupperware; stash in freezer until february rolls around once more; then unfreeze; put hopes back in pocket; drink lots of koolaid; . . .
Posted by: alpine | February 11, 2020 at 03:19 PM
herb - re: LB'S
https://www.stateoftheu.com/2020/2/11/21133165/miami-hurricanes-football-linebacker-room-in-limbo-after-key-departures-and-lingering-injuries-more
available linebackers this spring are going to be:
RS Fr. Avery Huff
RS Sr. Zach McCloud
RS Jr. Waynmon Steed (missed all ‘19)
RS So. walk-on Ryan Ragone
RS Fr. walk-on Zac Smith
RS Jr. walk-on Colvin Alford
RS. Fr. walk-on Jake Hoffman
RS So. Patrick Joyner Jr.
Posted by: alpine | February 11, 2020 at 03:21 PM
herb - regarding tyrik black
. . . marsh thomas says rico bussey would be better; what do you think?
https://www.stateoftheu.com/2020/2/11/21132820/miami-hurricanes-offense-football-rico-bussey-north-texas-rhett-lashlee-transfer-portal-receiver-um
Posted by: alpine | February 11, 2020 at 03:23 PM
Posted by: alpine | February 11, 2020 at 03:19 PM
You get it
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 03:25 PM
You can tell how the people on Canespace have matured and evolved over the last 13 years.
Nobody on here has to hide the remote or fancy knick knacks during games, guys like soup can go outside and tidy up the yard in the third quarter.
I remember fearing the news of what AngryCane or Canez1 had destroyed by halftime every Saturday.
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 03:35 PM
Posted by: CGNC | February 11, 2020 at 02:11 PM
It's been tough not dropping a "Hi CGNC..." for so long! Appreciate the welcome back!
Posted by: pb | February 11, 2020 at 03:59 PM
Posted by: alpine | February 11, 2020 at 03:10 PM
Apologies sir. An oversight, not a slight I promise.
Still trying to figure out who you are cause you are definitely not a new kid on this block either.
Posted by: pb | February 11, 2020 at 04:01 PM
Herbster That's Perfectly Fine With Me. One on The Bus, One at the TailGate, and One Inside The Rock! Matter of Fact That's our Motto on the 10% Bus!
Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | February 11, 2020 at 04:14 PM
Raize Good Job. I am sure The 7% Bus with CGNC, Solar and Aero will be a lively Bus.
Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | February 11, 2020 at 04:16 PM
Alpine U can Pick The 7% Percent Bus with CGNC or the 10% Bus with Yours Truly. to help with matters if you think we are going anywhere from 5-7 to 7-5 ride the 7% Bus with CGNC. If you think we go 8-4 you have to choose between the 7% Bus or the 10% Bus. If you think we go 9-3 or 10-2 You ride on the 10% Bus with Me. If you think we are going 11-1 you can either pick the 10% Bus or 12% Bus and obviously if you think we go undefeated and 12-0 you ride on the 12% Bus with The Soupster!
Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | February 11, 2020 at 04:20 PM
Alpine, I'm all for Rico Bussey Jr over Tyrik Black! He's got alot of experience. He has the height and size we need with lots of speed. He is familiar with the offense. I think he needs to be the top WR we go after now.
Posted by: Joe | February 11, 2020 at 04:31 PM
I got u Alpine But the dude had a busted wheel and who knows, how he'll be able to perform. Don't care but if we use more than one ship, it will count forward. Rather have someone, if that's the case that has more than one year.
Posted by: The Herb | February 11, 2020 at 04:55 PM
ron mexico
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 05:02 PM
Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | February 11, 2020 at 04:20 PM
well configured, terrance!
- in february, i'll always be riding the 12%
- come august, and i'll do that thing where you jump from one moving bus to another . . . joining you on the 10%
. . . i'll bring a case of austrian radler with me
Posted by: alpine | February 11, 2020 at 05:14 PM
In an ironic history twist
Terrence Sullivan enacts forced busing on a sports blog.
Civil Rights activist and self proclaimed know it all solarcane refuses to sit in the bus, and instead runs alongside it drawing attention to the injustice.
Mr.solarcane remarked "Ill be dammed if I will let sully pick my seat."
updates at 11.
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 05:15 PM
joe, herb, appreciate the feedback re: receivers
didn't know bussey had a "busted wheel" (good one, herb)
. . . i assume it's a type of injury where a good percent never make it back to where they were before?
i think on this one, i'll take the cop-out approach; wait to see who comes and that's who i'll want
Posted by: alpine | February 11, 2020 at 05:19 PM
Apologies sir. An oversight, not a slight I promise.
Still trying to figure out who you are cause you are definitely not a new kid on this block either.
Posted by: pb | February 11, 2020 at 04:01 PM
- apologies accepted
- and you're right, not new; changed aliases, like you
. . . but most of my canespace history was as a lurker
Posted by: alpine | February 11, 2020 at 05:22 PM
ron mexico
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 05:02 PM
For the win!!
Go 'canes!!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | February 11, 2020 at 05:39 PM
Yours Truly is Spearheading The 10% Bus Who Wants In!
Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | February 11, 2020 at 11:18 AM
TSully up to the 10% bus over from the 7-5, 8-4, 9-3 in recent weeks?
#StillTrendingUp
Posted by: 86Cane | February 11, 2020 at 05:40 PM
Solar LOL U Got Me Dying laughing!
Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | February 11, 2020 at 05:46 PM
TSully up to the 10% bus over from the 7-5, 8-4, 9-3 in recent weeks?
#StillTrendingUp
Posted by: 86Cane | February 11, 2020 at 05:40 PM
Yes Sir Soupster I am going with a 10-2 Regular Season as My Final Answer So I will be spearheading The Bus and The Herbster is riding with me any more takers on the 10% Bus!
Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | February 11, 2020 at 05:48 PM
1. LSU slapped the Kool Aid out of our mouth.
2/ We have all our apples bet that King stays healthy for 13 games,that could be tough to do with the swiss cheese posse lurching around three yards behind him every play.
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 11:39 AM
1. I still have the scar.
2. "Swiss Cheese? Ah, yes indeed. But we have a new offense, new coordinator and a new OL coach. Going to cut sacks by 50%. Moving from Swiss to straight cheddar!
Posted by: 86Cane | February 11, 2020 at 05:51 PM
LOL PB! I asked Tom awhile back if you were GoCanes
Posted by: CGNC | February 11, 2020 at 02:11 PM
Can't divulge my secrets, sources and methods.
Posted by: 86Cane | February 11, 2020 at 05:55 PM
Solar LOL U Got Me Dying laughing!
Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | February 11, 2020 at 05:46 PM
Thanks Sully,
you know you and me are as tight as rusted nuts.
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 05:55 PM
I remember fearing the news of what AngryCane or Canez1 had destroyed by halftime every Saturday.
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 03:35 PM
Shyte got broken up for sure. Lots of shyte.
I think one reason that the prices of Flat Screen TVs have gone down so much over the years is all the new TVs Canes fans had to buy after breaking a few each year. AngryCane was good for 3-4 a year no doubt.
Posted by: 86Cane | February 11, 2020 at 05:59 PM
If you think we go 9-3 or 10-2 You ride on the 10% Bus with Me. If you think we are going 11-1 you can either pick the 10% Bus or 12% Bus and obviously if you think we go undefeated and 12-0 you ride on the 12% Bus with The Soupster!
Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | February 11, 2020 at 04:20 PM
WELL PLAYED SIR!
NOTICE TO CONSUMERS: If you start out on the 7% bus there will NOT be any seat jumping allowed later on in the season after we win 8 or 9 or 10 or 12 games. You will just have to park that 7% bus and walk with Solar from there on in.
PLEASE CONFIRM RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE.
Posted by: 86Cane | February 11, 2020 at 06:02 PM
Posted by: 86Cane | February 11, 2020 at 06:02 PM
Sometimes you know me better than I know myself
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 06:23 PM
I remember fearing the news of what AngryCane or Canez1 had destroyed by halftime every Saturday.
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 03:35 PM
*******************************************
I have seen it with my own eyes.....wasn't pretty.
Posted by: raizecane | February 11, 2020 at 06:58 PM
There was a Lurker on here at one time.
Posted by: The Herb | February 11, 2020 at 07:07 PM
some mat drill stuff
https://twitter.com/i/status/1225573638759276544
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 07:07 PM
sully,
explains how, where, and why you ride what bus where.
https://youtu.be/qqhyIIZt87A
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 07:16 PM
Lashlee and company got Thad Franklin to recommit. Franklin is aN absolute beast. RB-U is back!
Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | February 11, 2020 at 07:24 PM
Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | February 11, 2020 at 07:24 PM
Huge!!
Posted by: pb | February 11, 2020 at 07:53 PM
"I think I can play wherever," Franklin said. "I mean if a [depth chart] is deep I might have to look at something else, but it's really not that deep at Miami."
the kiss of death again?
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 08:10 PM
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 08:10 PM
This is one of these situations where Ed Reed needs to step in and tell this kid look, either you're going to compete or go somewhere else. Show him the depth chart at running back in 2001.
Posted by: DuvalCane | February 11, 2020 at 08:43 PM
Solar,
Great movie. Carr the floor Walker was none other than Clifton James and if u remember played in 2 James Bond movies, the Man With The Golden Gun and Live and Let die, I believe that last one was right.
Posted by: HerbieIbis | February 11, 2020 at 08:51 PM
Duval.
I agree 100 % the kid gets everybody fired up hangs around till next season sees he is gonna sit a year than plays for Georgia
Posted by: solarcane | February 11, 2020 at 08:52 PM
So we got us a McGahee type back, in Franklin. Hope he is not a like Francy, commit decommit, commit again and is now freezing his azz off at Braska.
Need to get Yulkieth Brown although LSU is his dream team.
Plenty of bugs on both sides of the line. Going to need to bring in 2 above good DT'S. We got one but of the 4 or 5 good ones, only one has as one of his top teams. The oh line looks a little better as we have 3 that have us in their top 5.
Got to take at LB, as well and get Hood.
Got flip James William's back. This is where Ed Reed could be real handy. Personally think the dude will be a De or LB.
Posted by: HerbieIbis | February 11, 2020 at 09:52 PM
Show him the depth chart at running back in 2001.
Posted by: DuvalCane | February 11, 2020 at 08:43 PM
Bada boom, bada bing.
I vote Duval 2020!
Posted by: 58 Straight | February 11, 2020 at 09:57 PM
I really like the 2021class of commits. Size, speed and talent are all there throughout to really shock the college football world. These are potential “Ed Reed type” players, in the sense that they have a chance to be special in the right environment. I hope we can keep them all in the fold, then bring in some more decommits and fence sitters.
Bottom line: the coaches need to start winning some games — win and they will come!
Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | February 11, 2020 at 10:06 PM