Cristobal: UM monitoring transfer portal to fill needs
The Miami Hurricanes’ search for wide receiver help in the transfer portal has been ongoing for months and will continue until a player is added.
But Mario Cristobal indicated Thursday that other positions also will be addressed in the portal in the months ahead.
Asked specifically if the Hurricanes want to add a fourth scholarship quarterback and a sixth scholarship running back in the portal or go with walk-ons in those spots, Cristobal said: “We feel good about the walk-ons [at those spots] but we’re still going to be active . ... We’ll be active on the D-line in the portal. We will be active at those positions [quarterback and running back] and a couple more. We’ll be very active.”
On the defensive line, UM is more likely to pursue tackles than ends. UM already added tackles Branson Deen (Purdue) and Thomas Gore (Georgia State) but seems interested in adding another to supplement veterans Leonard Taylor, Jared HarrisonHunte and Jacob Lichtenstein, who have been out or limited this spring. All are expected back for the season.
UM has three scholarship quarterbacks — Tyler Van Dyke, Jacurri Brown and freshman Emory Williams.
UM has five scholarship running backs — Henry Parrish, Don Chaney Jr., Trevonte’ Citizen and freshmen Mark Fletcher and Christopher Johnson. But the freshmen haven’t yet enrolled, and Citizen is still working his way back from last year’s knee injury.
A second window for players to enter the portal begins on May 1.
Cristobal addressed other issues in two interviews on Thursday, one with the general media and another with WQAM’s Joe Rose. Among the highlights:
Cristobal said the offensive line “has taken a huge step in talent and physicality. The combination of [former UCF center] Matt Lee and being side by side with guys like [guard] Anez Cooper and [tackle] Jalen Rivers and [former Alabama starting left guard] Javion Cohen. You can tell there’s a monster difference up front. Big, long, powerful, physical guys.”
Rivers continues to work with the first team at left tackle. “Jalen has been trained to play all five positions, and he is the one player who plays all equally well. Exceptional human being,” Cristobal said. “He’s had a great spring so far. The next step is to become a vocal leader, which we will press him to do.”
Though Elijah Arroyo
remains out after September’s season-ending injury, Cristobal made a point to praise the tight ends, a group that includes Jaleel Skinner, eighth-year transfer Cam McCormick, Dom Mammarelli and freshmen Riley Williams and Jackson Carver.
“You add a guy like Cam McCormick, 265 pounds at tight end, and your front should look different,” Cristobal said.
On the wide receivers: “It’s been pretty significant improvement. A fresh start systematically. The addition of Kevin Beard as a receiver coach is a lot of positive stuff.
“Jacolby George has taken a massive step, gained 12 pounds. He looks it. He’s showing what he is going to be. We’re going to push him really hard. He’s moving like that receiver you want Miami to have. Brashard Smith has been really good, a little inconsistent. We expect big things from him because he’s versatile; he can do it inside and outside. Xavier Restrepo, like always, is doing a great, great job for us...
“Isaiah Horton has taken a significant step. He’s an outside guy. We haven’t had much outside production except for Colbie
[Young]. Colbie is a stud. He’s up to 218-220 pounds. He can do a lot.”
Cristobal said freshmen receivers Nathaniel Joseph and Robby Washington “are really going to be significant enhancements for our offense. They’re hard to catch.
“When we got here, Ray Ray [Joseph] was committed to Clemson, had been unrecruited by Miami. Those are the kind of guys you have to keep home. After the basketball game against Pitt, he was the indoor catching [passes from a machine].”
On Van Dyke, with WQAM: “He’s taken a big step as a leader. This system fits his skill set and fits what we have offensively…. He’s taken to it right away. There’s some concepts he’s familiar with that he ran a couple years ago, and some new stuff he’s excited about. There’s autonomy in the offense. He has the ability to get us into good plays when it doesn’t look so good [with pass rushers].”
Cristobal told reporters later that Van Dyke “has really stood out.”
Twenty UM players left for the portal, with many if not most of those understanding that they wouldn’t necessarily get much playing time if they remained.
“For our roster, the biggest thing was addition by subtraction,” Cristobal said. “You have got to get people that fit a certain type of DNA. We’ll leave it at that. Guys that like to work. This group really, really likes to work.”
Cristobal said Parrish and defensive end Nyjalik Kelly have had “good” springs through five practices, said freshman defensive lineman Rueben Bain “stands out right away. You can see why he’s so highly touted.”
He said on radio that players “understand the level of effort” required. “It’s a lot better than we’ve had.”