Hurricanes Complete Spring Game

There certainly was plenty for those alumni and fans to enjoy throughout the afternoon, too.

Ward, who came to Coral Gables after two seasons at Washington State, led the offense down the field on several drives and was 17 of 23 for 260 yards with a pair of touchdowns in the first half, which allowed for tackling and followed more of a traditional game format.

Understandably, the quarterback – who was fourth in the nation last season with an average of 311.3 passing yards per game – earned praise from both Cristobal and his teammates once the spring game ended.

“I thought all the quarterbacks did some good things, but Cam, it’s obvious he’s a guy,” Cristobal said.

Added receiver Isaiah Horton, who caught Ward’s first touchdown pass of the day, “His leadership, his confidence on the field, off the field, the way he sees the field and then just him as a person, he’s a great person and he’s a great friend.”

Several players on the defensive side of the ball delivered big plays as well Saturday, including Lightfoot, who notched four tackles and a sack, Bissainthe, who had four tackles, including a key fourth-down stop, and linebacker Raul Aguirre, Jr., who had three tackles and a sack.

After the game, Lightfoot – who noted he’ll be returning home to Chicago soon to attend both his high school graduation and his prom – said that enrolling early and competing in spring drills made a huge difference in his ability to compete.

“I feel like enrolling early is a real important thing … I’m fresh out of high school and I’m working with 20-year-olds, 21-year-olds, and 22-year-olds,” Lightfoot said. “It’s just a crazy experience. And I’m glad to be able to get through [this] early.”

With spring drills now behind them, the Hurricanes will start to turn their focus to the offseason ahead of their opener against Florida on Aug. 31.

There will be, Cristobal noted, likely some roster adjustments. And there will also be plenty of work to do both in the locker room and on the field. There will be film to study, too.

But there was significant progress made this spring, and that, the Hurricanes said, will make a world of difference as they continue moving toward the season that awaits.

“To me, what stands out the most is what happened throughout spring ball,” Cristobal said. “A team that for the most part, went back and forth, back and forth … Competition was increased at a lot of positions and some of the needs that are a little bit more clear, they were assessed, and we improved and then some might have to be improved no going forward. A lot of stuff goes on now, you know, after today. But overall, just a team that’s progressing, a team that’s really understanding and growing and developing.”

Added Ward “I felt good, especially knowing the work that we put into the last 14 practices. But you know, spring ball is over. Now we can start to come more together as a team, with the new guys coming in and come August 31st, we’ll be ready for that challenge.”

Comments

[W]

W

[DallasTX Cane]

Worries me that no one was flying around out there…

[DallasTX Cane]

Posted by: CGNC | April 15, 2024 at 03:04 PM

LOL… yeah we’ve all just about aged into retirement since those championship years! But watching the product in the field also ages one quickly

[Old Skool]

SMD has retired. Who can ever replace her? Better yet, who wants to be a newspaper reporter these days?

[58 Straight]

But watching the product in the field also ages one quickly

Posted by: DallasTX Cane | April 16, 2024 at 11:01 AM

What HE said!

[MLALUMNI 1970]

Can’t wait for football season to start! Hope we won’t be disappointed, once again.
Will be 76 in July. Not a lot of time left! Please, Canes, bring me a winning season.
Love all my Canespacers, from day ONE. GO CANES.🧡💚🟧🟩

[Old Skool]

Jacurri headed for parts unknown. Part of the great annual QB migration ... Perhaps Albany to replace Reese Poffenbarger

[Old Skool]

Trevonte running off as well. Surprising

[JCane]

So, Portal season has arrived. We have 2 RBs leaving (Parrish and Citizen, although I'm a bit bummed about Citizen after all of these injuries, as he was quite the grab 2 y/a by Mario, and I think he still has 4 yrs left), 1 QB (Jacurri B, as OS said above, along with Citizen, and clearly the very crowded QB room was telegraphing this, as you can't really have 5 scholly QBs out of 85 players), 1 OL (Logan S...can't spell the kid's name...sorry, wasn't going to play in all likelihood this yr anyway) and 1 DL (N Kelly, we already knew about, like Parrish). This means 5 guys have announced their departures. I think this leaves us 3, maybe 4, over the 85 scholly limit. Assume 3, along with how many guys the U still want to bring in (? 6, depending on who is available and interested), and that would mean nine-ish more guys would still be leaving. Some seem pretty obvious (? Redding at WR, 1 or 2 mediocre DBs, etc.), but who knows? I think we need to bring in positions that are obvious to most of us here: a starter RB (given Fletcher's injury status for the season being a huge ?, maybe the Oregon State kid, rumors about a UNC RB declaring eventually), a big and fast starting type WR if available, maybe a DL (not sure what is going on with Romello Height), most importantly a S and CB (likely at least 1 of each), and maybe a LB (not as clearly needed). I guess we'll know for sure over the next 2 weeks.

Unfortunately, I don't see much need to follow baseball, at least this season. The trio of 1 run losses vs. Duke really set the tone for the rest of the season for this team. Sad to see.

[Old Skool]

He's back (in the portal that is)

Cormani McClain, the top-ranked cornerback in the 2023 recruiting class, has decided to enter the portal and turn his back on Deion

[Old Skool]

Apparently behind the scenes it's a free for all regarding portal transfers and even existing players.

ON3 reporting that in light of the recent court cases against the NCAA, the NCAA is no longer being as involved as they were, if really at all, programs both feel free to poach any player they please while also feeling concerned that their roster could also be picked from.

“The NCAA has given notice to the schools and to the programs that they are just not going to enforce even current, on the books rules,” Klatt said. “They’re just not going to do it based, in large part, due to the fact that the rules that they tried to enforce against Tennessee, which we talked about a few months ago. Tennessee turned around and said, ‘Hey, what are you doing trying to penalize us? Everybody is doing it.'”

In other words, it's hunting season... to the winners go the NILs.

[Old Skool]

All the more important now that TreVonte is taking a hike

Miami’s put on the full-court press, and coaches will be visiting with Martinez and his mother today in his hometown Dallas, Tex. He’s also set to visit Miami April 25-28, which will follow on the heels of three others visits to Arizona (April 17-18), Mississippi State (April 19-20) and Kentucky (April 22-24).

[Ohio_Cane]

Hanna Cavinder is coming back to UM basketball for one more season

[Herbieibis]

JCane, the baseball team sucks. Pitching and fielding are what's bringing them down. We really don't have an A1 or A2 starter.
Have some good young hitters but until we get some stud pitchers, we are going to be average at best.
We lost some big names that left via the portal. Notice I said big names, that were big when they left high school. Skinner couldn't gain weight, Moss couldn't gain weight. Both theses dudes are around 6'5 to 6'6 and maybe weighed 220 after 2 years. Tevonte, who knows what will become of him, losing 2 years and being hurt, Kelly stayed hurt but I think he will do good where ever he ends up. 2022 class has dwindled down and most weren't Mario Boyz.
We need help in the secondary, first and foremost. I didn't think they needed another RB but Citizen leaving, now they do.
Losing Brown no big deal. Now if we ran a spread option I would say it was a major blow.
Probably need another Vet at LB, a bigger WR and 1 more interior DL.

[Ohio_Cane]

Hanna Cavinder is coming back to UM basketball for one more season

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | April 17, 2024 at 02:38 PM
----------------------------------------------

OK, now Hanna AND Haley Cavinder are back for UM bball for one more season

[W]

OC,

Now that is cool!

W

[JCane]

Herb:

I feel bad about Jacurri, but he really isn't a fit for this offense, like you said. He needs to go somewhere where his style fits. If he hasn't picked up how to read the D, UM isn't for him. Clearly there is a need for CB and Safety at this stage, but there isn't someone who fits the bill in the portal at this point (same for that big wideout so far). Cormani? Hard pass. No way the U isn't watching these positions closely though. At least this is a year where the U isn't just looking for bodies, but truly guys who are ready to make a difference, or maybe someone who is likely to make a difference the next few years (ie rumor about a FL kid who went to USC this past year wanting to come back, would have lots of eligibility to take over for Carpenter potentially for a few years, but wouldn't be a starter this year). Also, interior DL rumor is for a 300 pounder from Kent State.

Meanwhile, if the U is 2-3 above 85, that's 2 or 3 plus however many new guys we bring in through the portal who need to go away. Sad, but it looks like the team should be that much more talented after the portal closes if they aren't reaching.

Good review of baseball, but too hard to pay that much attention. The pitching woes have been enough to make me shut things off. Sad...

[JCane]

Interestingly, Jaden Rashada is in the portal from ASU. No concern for the U, as the QB room would appear to be full at this stage.

[roachcane77]

https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2024/04/13/fb-feature-canes-shine-in-annual-spring-game/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=F24_Content_Spring_Game_Recap_Article_AB_Test_B_Modified_Article_Title&utm_campaign=F24_Content04182024_EM_ID_3619&RSRC=Email_F24_Content_Spring_Game_Recap_Article_AB_Test_B_Modified_Article_Title&RDAT=F24_Content04182024_EM_ID_3619&elq_cid=222898&ehash=8098948d92933d875d296a897c88482a9e4e56cbcb269739fde8c7561d194d5f&aid=16096&pid=uofm_email_eloqua&rid=3619

Another good article on the Spring Game. I saw parts of it on ACC NX. Cam Ward looked like the real deal! Restrepo was rockin' too.

[Old Skool]

Tidbits from a website called OutKick

It appears Wisconsin's QB battle between Braedyn Locke and Tyler Van Dyke is the real deal, and it might not end as fans expect.

Van Dyke transferred to the Badgers, and the belief ever since that happened has been that he would be QB1 when the season started.

However, Locke has other plans, and is giving Van Dyke all he can handle. In fact, practice reports seem to indicate Locke is performing at a much higher and more consistent level.

Fickell's recent comments about the situation didn't do anything to indicate Van Dyke is actually going to win the job.

[RCCF]

Not happy JB11 is leaving Puff could've left...
But so goes football #NextManUp

RCCF12%

[JCane]

If JB 11 doesn't read defenses as well as Puffnstuff, he isn't gonna play ahead of him, in spite of his size, speed and ability to run the ball, at least not with this O. It's unfortunate, RCCF, as I think he is such a physically gifted kid who really seemed to want to be here.

[MLALUMNI 1970]

Thrilled that the Cavinder twins are coming back to the U, for their final year.🟩🟧

[JCane]

May have Kaleb Spencer hitting the portal next

[Herbieibis]

Rest assured they have their feet up against 4 or 5 players azz trying to push them out the door.

[JCane]

Need to lose more folks to get under 85 and new folks in between now and the 30th, so dead on, Herb.

[86Cane]

In other words, it's hunting season... to the winners go the NILs.

Posted by: Old Skool | April 17, 2024 at 10:41 AM

Yeah, What could possible go wrong? UM ticket sales calling me weekly about renewing my season tickets.

Yeah, no.

[Old Skool]

Looks like Jared Harrison Hunte got a better offer. He's off to the transfer portal.

[Ohio_Cane]

Looks like Jared Harrison Hunte got a better offer. He's off to the transfer portal.

Posted by: Old Skool | April 22, 2024 at 03:26 PM
--------------------------------------------

Not happy about this one but this is the CFB world we live in now. He played well last year.

Now we need 2 DT's preferably.

[Ohio_Cane]

We ARE being predicted by several experts as the landing spot for Oregon St RB transfer Damien Martinez.

Guy looks like the goods, too. Go check his HL's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjyhp6MG2wU

[Old Skool]

A Tallahassee judge has ordered Florida State and the Atlantic Coast Conference to enter mediation in hopes of settling a high-profile lawsuit that could dramatically impact the future of the conference.

Mediation will likely mean that the ACC is going to have to give in or bend on some of its rules. The big question will it provides an escape hatch for the Noles and conceivably every one team member

[JCane]

JHH is a bit of a blow, although interestingly he had no tackles in the spring game, and there could have been signs of getting caught by younger and or incoming bigger guys for playing time, although clearly interior DL is a position of need. He is solid, but maybe not with a slightly lower ceiling and not being the 300 pounder they want by 3-4 yrs in the interior. We shall see. This would get the team down to 85, meaning whomever now comes in through the portal will require someone else's scholarship by the time camp opens.

[JCane]

And one more appears to be going. Jayden Wayne was a big signing, but there goes another DL into the portal.

[Ohio_Cane]

From D$ at CIS on JHH and Wayne leaving:

This is the scoop on Jared Harrison-Hunte and Jayden Wayne after discussions with numerous sources:

I've always been a Jared Harrison-Hunte fan and believe he's a good player. In my opinion, he was better than Leonard Taylor last year. He was also a very personable and sharp young man from my dealings with him. His departure seems to have come down to two factors.

First, Harrison-Hunte was one of Manny's first signees as head coach (Class of 2019) and flirted with the Portal several times since he's been here. It seems he never fully bought in to the culture. Second, and more importantly, Miami believes it can upgrade in terms of size and ability in the Portal. One DT is more likely, but two DTs are possible if it's the right two. Ahmad Moten is an internal name that's being counted on to step up.

To me, this move will be judged by what Miami does in the Portal. If the staff upgrades at DT, we are a better team. If they don't, we take a step back in a must-win season. Jared Harrison-Hunte was going to help us this year.

Wayne's situation is a little different. His development was slower than you'd like for a high-value, Top 100 recruit. He was never a pure rusher and, despite a good work ethic and good size/speed traits, it hasn't clicked for him yet. The fact that Cole McConathy started in the spring game and Marquise Lightfoot flashed so much is telling. That said, I think Wayne can be a good player with a smart transfer and continued development.

As we've been saying for weeks, I expect Miami to add a veteran DE who is an immediate upgrade at the position. The goal is to win right now.

To those who have been critical of development, I get it. IMO, the transfer-heavy nature of the defense is the result of subpar recruiting at DL and DB. These are things we all discussed in realtime. DL seems to have corrected with last year's haul, which was the best in the nation. We have a new defensive back coach. In the short-term, those positions are going to lean heavily on the Portal.

[Herbieibis]

Until this past class recruiting DT's was terrible. Moten one year and Horton the next, was it in a 2 year period. It's like every year there is on position that they basically ignore. In the NIL world you got one maybe 2 years to produce and show what you got and if you don't adios.

[JCane]

DL, with both interior and edge, has been getting more crowded. The U likely is looking to bring in another DT, whomever it may be, along with having brought in the guys from NC State and MTSU already, and then mixing in Horton and Moten gradually growing up and both being over 300 lbs., I don't see how JHH wasn't feeling that he was going to be losing playing time. I think he only has one season left, so time to head to greener pastures.

With Jayden Wayne exiting, the U is now one under 85, although obviously we'll be bringing in more than 1 guy, so look for more departures...again, obviously. Jayden Wayne, as OC says above by way of D$, was seemingly getting passed by too many folks on the depth chart to likely have gotten much P.T. next season, so there you go. A true freshman, like Cole M was looking very good, and Malik Bryant, who came in as a LB, has switched to the edge and is coming along, too. Having a growing crowd at this position is a good problem to have, but it also means some folks are gonna leave.

We have a bunch of visitors coming this weekend, including the Ore State, rb, Damien Martinez, who appears to be bigtime trending to the U. Since we have some positions that aren't as well-stocked as edge rushers (ahem, DBs), I'll be interested to see if we get one or two commits this weekend (guys of interest include a Marshall guy, whom our coaches should know pretty well, a Western KY guy, and an Arkansas guy who hit the board yesterday). Do we get a safety and cb, or a cb who can play nickel so Powell can slide back to S? I have no idea right now. Who else do we pick up? I don't know. Maybe a LB for depth (rumors of a Louisville guy who played for D Nich...), maybe another OL/C for depth and the future, maybe a 2nd RB, and likely a DT and another experienced edge? The key to remember, is every guy we sign, after the first one, through the portal means another player on the roster has to go. No more maybes. Any incoming transfers have to upgrade the roster to justify...the weekend should start to clarify.

[JCane]

Think I left out WR, for that matter, with present rumors about Sam Brown out of Houston...

[Ohio_Cane]

There will be a LOT of transfer portal visitors this weekend. Trying to compile a list

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Not sure if I agree with your detective work there, Isaac:

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/transfer-portal-needs-3-0-who-and-what-every-major-college-basketball-team-is-targeting/

"Miami

Priority: Guard

Miami's system reaches the peak of its powers when it has multiple guards who can rain fire on everyone. Miami's potential starting lineup of Nijel Pack, Wooga Poplar, Jalil Bethea, Brandon Johnson (or Matt Cleveland) and Lynn Kidd is tantalizing. But Miami's depth was not good enough this past season. It needs another lead guard with jets. Oklahoma State transfer Javon Small would be a fantastic addition, and he's a top target for Miami's staff."

I'd say they need to reinforce the front court by getting Omier out of the draft where he won't be selected anyway until he can prove he's a consistent three level college scoring threat with a jump shot and drive off pump fakes in addition to the low post ability, and retaining Cleveland would increase the defensive ability of the starters as they won't need to rely on starter minutes from a true freshman shooting guard. Another quality bigger guard would be very helpful at that point, once that's secured, but fortifying post defense and ability to collapse a defense by getting near the rim then finding a rotating deep threat still needs shoring up to not be beaten up by bigger rosters again.

[JCane]

MiState DT, Simeon Barrow, has apparently set up an OV to UM early next week. This keeps us in the ring coming off an OV to LSU.

For those interested, Nyjalik Kelly has committed to UCF this week, following a recent visit to Auburn. Good luck to the young man, and glad it's not a commit to FU or FSU.

Several prospects are likely visiting this weekend, like OC said, including the RB, Damien Martinez, likely Sam Brown (WR) and the Marshall cb I referred to above, Dyoni Hill(since Guidry used to coach there, it wouldn't a shock to have a second Marshall defender, Elijah Allston being the first, end up here). There will likely be more, but I don't know who for sure yet.

[Old Skool]

It appears that NIL payments for a quality DT have gone up significantly. As a result, more have decided to enter the portal and sell their services to the highest bidder.

[JCane]

Barrow may be the ultimate mercenary, as far as DTs go, OS. Folks from Louisville have hit the NIL big-time in recent weeks given their NIL deals falling through.

[Old Skool]

Wooga waves goodbye. Enters the portal

[Ohio_Cane]

Canes getting a pair of Mich St transfer portal DT's down to campus on Monday. Simeon Barrow and Derrick Harmon.

Also in a good spot with Tenn DE Tyler Baron

[Ohio_Cane]

From Geo Milian who works for Lifewallet and does a lot of recruiting info for them:

Miami center Norchad Omier, who entered his name into the 2024 NBA Draft, is also entering the transfer portal.

Omier averaged 17.0 PPG and 10.0 RPG during the 2023-2024 season for the Hurricanes.

[CGNC]

Ugh Ohio, Omier needs to stay put and have a better season

[Old Skool]

The Jaden Rashada tour continues. This year he'll be playing at Georgia. He'll probably run the AirBNB offense for short term stays.

[Old Skool]

Interesting ...

A 2021 Emory University study discovered only 23 percent of Gen Z called themselves passionate sports fans, compared to 42 percent of millennials, 33 percent of Gen X and 31 percent of baby boomers. And a whopping 27 percent even said they were "anti-sports," which was in stark contrast to other generations, which said this only in single digits.

[JCane]

Looks like Damien Martinez has committed to the U. Big pickup at RB. The guy is big and fast, averaged 6.1 yes per carry over the last 2 years, with most yardage after 1st contact, and this gives Fletcher time to recover fully, if necessary. Back to square at 85. The next couple of guys to commit will require an equal # to depart.

[JCane]

Jaylin Alderman, LB from Louisville, is commit #2 over the weekend. He adds veteran depth at the position, and had played for Derek Nicholson, so we should know more of what we're getting. I would expect that we're not done with commits from the weekend visitors, and obviously we need help at certain positions (like DB, likely Dyoni Hill commit from Marshall soon?) still.

Interesting draft for the U. One 3rd rounder (Kinchens), 3 7th rounders (James Williams, Matt Lee and Jaden Davis). Anybody surprised that neither Javion Cohen or Leonard Taylor didn't get drafted?