On Friday night, the Hurricanes finally took the field at DRV PNK Stadium for their annual spring game and in the process, gave Miami fans their first glimpse at this year’s new-look team.
Those fans saw quarterback Tyler Van Dyke – who was hampered last season by a shoulder injury – slinging passes down the field and looking comfortable in a new offensive system.
They saw why freshman defensive lineman Rueben Bain, Jr. a four-star prospect coming out of Miami Central High School last fall, was one of the most coveted recruits in the country.
They saw receiver Xavier Restrepo, who last season worked through an injury of his own, diving for catches and making multiple big plays for Van Dyke, his friend and roommate.
And they saw kicker Andres Borregales, one of Miami’s most consistent performers last fall, pick up right where he left off, connecting on a pair of field goals, including one from 51 yards out.
There were highlight-worthy plays on both sides of the ball and there was, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal noted, indications that the Hurricanes have grown during their 15 spring workouts.
But, the coach pointed out, the work of preparing for the 2023 season is far from finished.
“We set out to get a lot of competitive situations. Thought we did that,” Cristobal said of Friday’s scrimmage. “We played physical in spurts. We were successful in spurts on both sides of the ball and showed some signs of inconsistency. But overall, progress. We really feel like we have progressed. But we’ve got to continue to progress from here.”
Many of the Hurricanes echoed that sentiment.
“We can’t take our foot off the pedal,” said safety Kamren Kinchens, who had a pair of tackles in the first half Friday night and is coming off an All-American campaign in 2022. “Our bodies need to rest now, but the thing is, we can’t let the mental side go. We can get treatment, let our bodies take a break, but we’ve got to make sure our minds are in-tune 24/7, that can be off the field, with school, anything like that. We have to be on point with everything.”
Added Restrepo, “It’s about staying healthy now, enhancing our bodies, getting faster, stronger and smarter. Studying defenses, all of that stuff. Football IQ, everything.”
But before turning the focus to the offseason, there was the spring game.
Restrepo, who averaged 11.4 yards per catch last season despite missing five games because of his injury, was a bright spot for the first-string offense, hauling in three catches for 69 yards in the first half, which allowed for tackling and followed more of a traditional game format.
Fellow receiver Jacolby George had a pair of catches for 46 yards in the first half, including a spectacular 15-yard touchdown grab in the corner of the end zone on a pass thrown by Van Dyke.
Van Dyke, meanwhile, was poised in offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s scheme.
The quarterback – the 2021 ACC Rookie of the Year – completed 13 of 19 passes for 185 yards, his touchdown pass to George giving the offense an edge in the scoring system that pitted it against the defense.
“I felt comfortable. To be able to have the freedom to go wherever with the ball is nice. Based on what the defense gives you, you can change the plays,” Van Dyke said of Dawson’s system. “It gives a quarterback a lot of freedom to put the ball in the right spots.
“I thought we communicated well with all the plays tonight. That was the biggest thing. I thought we executed well. I mean, there’s definitely some things we could have done better, as always. We always need to improve on lots of stuff, but overall, I thought tonight was good.”
More than a few of Miami’s defenders stepped up and made big plays, too.
Francisco Mauigoa – a transfer from Washington State – notched four tackles, including a tackle for loss, while Bain totaled three sacks, all in the first half.
His performance, understandably, drew rave reviews from his head coach.
“He’s got a relentless motor and a ton of pride,” Cristobal said of Bain. “He’s been coached really, really, really well over at his high school. They just go hard, so he’s used to this practice regimen, the structure and he’s extremely disruptive and he’s very, very tough. He does not shy away. It doesn’t matter if it’s a senior offensive lineman or a freshman that came in with him, the guy’s going to get after somebody’s butt, and he did tonight.”
Another freshman earning praise from Cristobal? Receiver Nathaniel “Ray Ray” Joseph, who showed off some of his dazzling speed late when he scored on a 79-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Emory Williams.
“These are Miami Hurricanes. This is what Miami needs to always have, and lots of them. Remember playing here, that’s what our teammates looked like,” said Cristobal, a national champion offensive lineman during his own time at Miami. “Today was a good glimpse of roster addition and enhancements. Ray Ray is a diehard, diehard Cane through and through. A must-have guy. Tonight, he showed why. You just see the catches, but you should see him block, see him throw his body around. The guy really is a tremendous competitor and an elite, awesome human being that really has an incredible impact on the team.”
With the spring game now behind them, the Hurricanes will turn their focus to offseason workouts. Several of them pointed out this week how they plan to bring teammates into the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility with them to continue preparing for the season that awaits.
And before long, it will be time for preseason camp and a Sept. 1 season opener against Miami of Ohio.
“The habits that are formed and the culture that you work to create are just as important,” Cristobal said Thursday when discussing the work the Hurricanes will do moving forward. “The coaches go on the road in the coming weeks and they’re going to be gone for a while. [The players] have to be great leaders. They have to force the issue of culture. They have to make sure it’s implemented in everything that we do on a daily basis, that our workouts look like we’re there, that their player-led practices look as if its coaches running it.
“We have to continue to take steps as a program. [Spring football] was a really good step, with new coordinators in the building, with new coaches and a lot of new players. But we have to continue taking steps.”
Yo! Yo! Yo!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | April 15, 2023 at 09:34 PM
I watched the UM baseball team blow a 6 point lead last night. The same night the Rays failed to win their 14th straight. Very frustrating! But at least the Canes won the series.
Go ‘canes!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | April 15, 2023 at 09:49 PM
Well I saw improvement from last year Spring Game to this year’s Spring Game! Hopefully we can go from an awful 5-7 to 8-4 this year! Not satisfying but would at least show we are getting better! I didn’t even predict a bowl result just a regular season record! At least our Canes Baseball Team won the Series against Top 15 Ranked UNC at Their Place! Go Canes!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | April 15, 2023 at 10:29 PM
Kahlil Brantley hits the portal
Posted by: JCane | April 16, 2023 at 08:25 AM
We need big DT's, Bear Alexander jumped in the portal. Was at Geogia.
Posted by: Herbieibis | April 16, 2023 at 10:51 AM
Looked like he was a likely USC lean, Herb, but who knows
Posted by: JCane | April 16, 2023 at 11:21 AM
TSully...8-4? EIGHT AND FOUR???
Aint gonna get it done Sir.
If that happens, just another dumpster fire.
Posted by: 58 Straight | April 16, 2023 at 07:08 PM
Day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o
CB come and me want one more
Posted by: Old Skool | April 16, 2023 at 07:42 PM
I don't know who's recruiting the DT position but 2 in the last years ain't cutting it, high school kids that is.
Brown needs to desperately RS. Dude is a good athlete but passing is going to take some time, so we need a portal QB but will be hard to find to be a backup.
Portal needs, Big WR with speed, space eating DT, RB looks like Citizen will be out a good while longer, Safety and CB or 2.
Posted by: Herbieibis | April 16, 2023 at 08:22 PM
Soupster I agree I just don’t have much confidence in this Staff and Team Sadly!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | April 17, 2023 at 03:59 AM
Damn Looking at the pics with the article, that orange tie dates me bigly as far as the U history goes. I might as well be wearing bell bottoms and tie dye.
Posted by: Old Skool | April 17, 2023 at 04:34 AM
The Wong and Winding Woad is Over. Off to the NBA
Posted by: Old Skool | April 17, 2023 at 04:13 PM
Dylan Day DB from Louisana has committed. 6'0 170.
Posted by: Herbieibis | April 17, 2023 at 05:34 PM
Christopher Wheatley-Humphrey, rb, from South Broward, committed a few hours ago.
Posted by: JCane | April 17, 2023 at 07:37 PM
And good luck to I. Wong, as he chooses to move on. Not sure if he'll get drafted or not, but I am appreciative of the young man and what he meant to the deepest tnmt run by a UM team ever.
Posted by: JCane | April 17, 2023 at 07:44 PM
Wong put his name in the draft the last two years to get feedback on his prospects, hopefully he hears his LifeWallet ACC POY endorsement contract makes comparable money in a less taxing season coming back one more go, but, he's basically maxed out his sell high value at this point too. He can still come back and reset the record books before they hang up his jersey number but if he doesn't Poplar's going to be a big shooting guard and Watson will be your likely slightly undersized small forward, which isn't ideal but can probably still work.
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | April 18, 2023 at 11:12 AM
You guys need some new pics LOL
We'll be better this year. 8-4 seems reasonable.
GO CANES!
Posted by: Canespacer from Back In The Day | April 18, 2023 at 01:37 PM
You guys need some new pics LOL
We'll be better this year. 8-4 seems reasonable.
GO CANES!
Posted by: Canespacer from Back In The Day | April 18, 2023 at 01:37 PM
We'll be perhaps 2-3 games better in record, but with the team trending 180 degrees in the opposite direction from the end of the 2022 season.
Posted by: TonyCane | April 18, 2023 at 01:59 PM
Mira Mirabal Minaya Miami
Posted by: Old Skool | April 18, 2023 at 02:20 PM
Like how Mario is loading up with the 3 star brigade. Juan Miniya is a Cane minus any stars. U can make the case that stars don't matter, then u look at Bama, Georgia and OSU, which maybe combined they bring in 3 to 4 three star players a year and watch a loaded Georgia team devour TCU.
Posted by: Herbieibis | April 18, 2023 at 10:22 PM
Minaya is a VERY big 16 y/o, so given his size, athleticism, etc., I'm good with this signing, regardless of stars, even if it takes 2 years as a project, other than how many folks simply transfer prior to emergence now. I expect the bulk of 4 and 5 star verbals are more likely to be in the summer than now.
Posted by: JCane | April 18, 2023 at 10:38 PM
Mira Mirabal Minaya Miami
Posted by: Old Skool | April 18, 2023 at 02:20 PM
I like this very much.
Makes me all WARM inside!
Posted by: 58 Straight | April 18, 2023 at 11:00 PM
Jabari Ishmael to the portal
Posted by: JCane | April 19, 2023 at 12:49 PM
I see and say 8-4....but with a porous OL an unsteady QB who is over rated (I expected a lot more...he has been disappointing good season was a fluke) and a defense that cannot and will not tackle....and a staff and a HC that does not understand coaching the fundamentals of all 3 phases.....whew....we will slip up against someone and be 7-5.....and with Bethune Cookman Miami of Ohio Temple on the schedule...that to me is 4-5...no bowl....my HS team would rag those 3 teams....and probably give UM a serious game....I swear....so to me its another bad year in a bad 20 years....hate to feel that way....but its the truth. Hope I am wrong....but have felt hopeful for 20 years now...and its been all bad
Posted by: VA Cane | April 19, 2023 at 03:12 PM
Rumor out there that Tyler is being heavily courted by Alabama and is considering a transfer
Posted by: TonyCane | April 19, 2023 at 08:04 PM
Isaiah Thomas, 6'2" safety out of Clearwater, committed a few hours ago.
Posted by: JCane | April 19, 2023 at 09:14 PM
Hey 86, I see all the great pictures that you show. But, how come I am always left out?❤️ I loved it so much when I flew down for a game and you picked me up and drove me to the hotel. Meeting all the Canespacers was so magical for me. So long ago. Do you remember what year it was? Hard for me to pinpoint it. Going to be 75 in July, and I don’t always remember everything. Refresh my memory. ❤️
Posted by: MLALUMNI 1970 | April 19, 2023 at 09:57 PM
TVD, aka Mike Rapaport is rumored to be moving on!....My banker, a wonderful older lady and big Bama fan said she heard that from some alum she knows....hard to say. Saban is a good judge of talent....but lets face it....his first year he was good...and I think lucky more than good. People have scouted him and know what he can and cannot do...pressure is every QBs enemy....TVD ummm not extremely mobile....so last year with that OL he was pressured a lot....and he got hurt.
Is he good or just another failed UM QB? hard to say....we have not had a good QB since KD11 so I do not know.
I would not blame him though....I said last year I would not be surprised if he did....hard to blame him with the OLs he has had.
I look forward to the season...I always do...but I think its another one of those well ho hum years. I guess thats good...every time I think we are turning the corner and are back....I do that very cautiously its a bad one. So I do not want to expect too much 7-5 is well...average...nothing to get too excited about. I hope I am wrong...but I think middle of the pack...4 or 5 losses...as long as it is not 6 or 7...I guess thats good.
Posted by: VA Cane | April 20, 2023 at 01:29 PM
Here you go Marylou, article and pictures:
https://canespace.typepad.com/canespace/2008/11/its-great-to-be-a-miami-hurricane.html
Posted by: 86Cane | April 20, 2023 at 02:34 PM
Almost 15 years ago Miami beat VT 16-14 behind three Matt Bosher FGs. Here is the VT game summary from the Hojies site. Read until the end!
https://hokiesports.com/news/2008/11/14/20081114aaa_748.aspx
Posted by: 86Cane | April 20, 2023 at 02:59 PM
TVD is leveraging more money with this Bama crap. He'd be 3rd string at best at Bama right now...
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | April 20, 2023 at 03:09 PM
He's worried that when he's a 7th round draft pick, or worse, UDFA, he'll need all the saved up $ he can get
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | April 20, 2023 at 03:10 PM
Thank you so much, Tom. Great memories for me. You are the best. Loved the basketball season, but not sure about the upcoming football season. Looks like Cristobal is going all out for talent, but we may have to wait a little longer, to be great again. Love to all the Canespacers, out there.❤️
Posted by: MLALUMNI 1970 | April 20, 2023 at 03:10 PM
We don't need him gone yet but if he does leave, we could be sunk. Although Brown is a very good athlete, he ain't there yet as a passer. If we could combine Brown's running ability, with Van Dykes passing, we would have a stud QB but of course it's nothing more than a dream.
Posted by: Herbieibis | April 20, 2023 at 08:20 PM
Rees got that dejected stalker energy all around his bad play calls. Lots of these rumor mill blobbers got the exact same energy to their posts. Not a coincidence?
Van Dyke would walk in as QB 1 to a vast majority of FBS program rooms on their campuses, including the one that has a combined 1 career start returning to it out towards Terrance, if you think otherwise, you are cursed with a putrid eye of talent. Tyler is a measurable day 2 pick at a position of need based on body dimensions and throwing ability alone, a great season distributing the football to where it needs to go will only boost that up. Maybe overrated Steele's only base defenses will get the gaps plugged up reliably enough to boost the high school superstars pulling the trigger on the other side of the line of scrimmage there to get someone higher up the draft board than Tyler ends up going, but to imply they'd beat Miami's starter out for an open job is assuming a lot to begin with at this juncture.
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | April 21, 2023 at 08:53 AM
I’m over TVD and his shenanigans he can stay or go for all I care! Dude is rapidly becoming more trouble than he’s worth! Just Win Baby! Go Canes!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | April 22, 2023 at 10:58 PM
Bear Alexander to USC. Probably good marketing opportunities with a name like that ... if he delivers on the field.
Posted by: Old Skool | April 24, 2023 at 08:44 AM
Had not seen much on this but how did we miss out on LB Willis McGahee IV......linebacker...24th ranked...he goes to Nebraska? really?....Michigan Auburn Tenn recruiting him....where were we? Supposed to be a good edge rusher good player....hmmmmmm...after the career his dad had here how do we not have some kind of in....SMDH
Posted by: VA Cane | April 24, 2023 at 10:46 AM
VA - LOL, one Nebraska winter and I predict he is in the portal :)
Posted by: CGNC | April 24, 2023 at 02:23 PM
Norchad Omier enters name in NBA draft, but leaves door open to return to college, according to Manny Navarro
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | April 24, 2023 at 04:40 PM
Will see after this cycle, whether we need Salavea to take a hike. Questionable recruiter in my opinion.
Posted by: Herbieibis | April 24, 2023 at 11:08 PM
His feedback will be essentially this:
Potential Dennis Rodman starter kit, undersized, has to cut down on his turnovers, has to improve his low post shot fake to increase his rate of contact sending him to the line on shot attempts in the lane, will need to be able to defend reliably better out at the arc to carve out a roster role whether off the bench in rotation or as a starter taking care of a superstar running crew's dirty work.
Strong oversized defenders could blunt his effectiveness in college offensively, so he's got to work on his jump shot range, his ability to get a defender up to go under for the and one opportunity and he has to show he can guard small forwards reliably away from the basket at the next level, which means at least one more year in college where he'll be chucking defenders off him regularly next season with another year of development in college and a few more pounds of muscle stuffed into his already pro-conditioned upper-body frame. His shot form is ok, a little slow on attempt releases because he has a lot of knee bend and leg motion to generate shooting range right now, if he can refine that to just jumping higher, faster, and putting more range responsibility into his flick of his wrist on release backspin it'll make him more dangerous from range which will signal he's ready to try and hang on one more level of development up at that point.
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | April 25, 2023 at 10:16 AM
Harry B RIP
Daylight came and he had to go home
Posted by: Old Skool | April 25, 2023 at 03:01 PM
For sure CGNC.....cold cold there...not read a lot on him but I understand he was a good player....are we missing something here?
We got to stay on these kids!
Posted by: VA Cane | April 25, 2023 at 06:21 PM
CGNC…has there yet to be a South Florida commit who did not transfer from Nebraska after the first winter?
Posted by: TonyCane | April 26, 2023 at 08:46 AM
Posted by: TonyCane | April 26, 2023 at 08:46 AM
LOL
Posted by: CGNC | April 27, 2023 at 02:12 PM
Thomas Davis, DE, hits the portal.
Posted by: JCane | April 27, 2023 at 05:55 PM
Better get on the ball adding a few needed pieces before the portal shuts down.
Posted by: Herbieibis | April 27, 2023 at 07:22 PM
We're supposedly adding multiple pieces from the portal any day now. DL, CB, etc. Needed pieces
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | April 28, 2023 at 10:59 AM
D J Ivey and Will Mallory were the only Canes picked in the draft.
Better luck next year.❤️ GO CANES
Posted by: MLALUMNI 1970 | April 29, 2023 at 07:11 PM