’Canes ranked No. 18 in nation

CORAL GABLES — After starting last season just outside the major college football polls, the Hurricanes find themselves ranked in at least one of them going into the new season.

Miami, which posted a 9-4 record last year and closed 2016 with five straight wins, including its first bowl victory in a decade, was ranked No. 18 in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll released Thursday by USA Today. The Associated Press poll has not yet been released.

The Hurricanes were ranked No. 23 in the final coaches poll after last season.

The Hurricanes are one of five ACC teams ranked in the preseason coaches poll. Florida State, Miami’s opponent in Week Three of the season, is ranked No. 3, while defending national champion Clemson is ranked No. 5.

Louisville is ranked No. 17, and Virginia Tech, which will travel to Miami for a Nov. 4 game, is ranked No. 22.

Alabama took the top spot in the poll.

Freshmen impact

Last season, the Hurricanes proved they’re willing to play talented youngsters. On offense, receiver Ahmmon

Richards broke Michael Irvin’s freshman receiving record and went on to earn Freshman All-American honors. Defensively, three freshmen — Shaq Quarterman, Mike Pinckney and Zach McCloud — started at linebacker, with Quarterman and Pinckney eventually earning Freshman All-American honors, too. And then-freshman defensive end Joe Jackson wound up the Hurricanes’ leader with 8.5 sacks, while Travis Homer was a force on special teams.

So which young players will take up the mantle this season? That remains to be seen. Freshmen

N’Kosi Perry and Cade Weldon could make an impact, with both competing for Miami’s starting quarterback job. Meanwhile, receivers Jeff Thomas, DeeJay Dallas and Mike Harley have shown off impressive speed, and offensive lineman Kai-Leon Herbert has already made an impression.

However things shake out over the next few weeks, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown said Thursday he expects more than a few of Miami’s newcomers to work into the rotation early.

“We don’t sign freshmen to redshirt. You redshirt because you’re not ready to [play] physically or mentally or both. We expect all those guys to come in and play and contribute, if nothing more than just special teams,” Brown said. “Travis Homer was a prime example last year. He didn’t really carry the ball much at tailback, but he was a dominant special teams player that guys had to account for week in and week out. We expect all those guys to contribute. On our football team, on offense and defense, the best guys are going to play special teams, regardless what class you are.”

During the media viewing portion of Thursday’s practice, Dallas and Thomas were both seen fielding punts from freshman Zach Feagles and redshirt sophomore Jack Spicer.

While Brown didn’t rule out the possibility of continuing to use veteran Braxton Berrios, who averaged 11.3 yards on punt returns last season, he acknowledged Dallas and Thomas can both find roles on Miami’s special teams units.

“I think he has done a really good job of fielding punts. He’s a natural receiver back there,” Brown said of Thomas. “Ball security has to improve, like most guys — when I was in high school I was allowed to do what I wanted to with the ball. We kind of have a different standard here. But both of those guys are making great progress.”

Defense looks good

With the likes of Kendrick Norton, RJ McIntosh, Chad Thomas,

Joe Jackson and Demetrius Jackson all back, expectations are that Miami’s defensive line will be one of the best in the ACC this year.

On Thursday, the first day the Hurricanes donned shoulder pads for practice, several of the offensive linemen going up against those players say they’ve been impressed, especially by some of the players battling for reserve roles, including defensive ends Scott Patchan and Jonathan Garvin.

Injury update

During the media viewing portion of Thursday’s practice, Pinckney was not participating in drills, but was doing some conditioning work on a stationary bike, along with injured offensive lineman Zalon’tae Hillery, who has been limited in workouts this week, according to Hurricanes coach Mark Richt.

Later, a UM spokesman said Pinckney’s conditioning work was “precautionary.” Freshman linebacker Waynmon Steed was also doing conditioning work with Miami’s athletic training staff. Meanwhile, freshman running back Robert Burns, who is rehabbing an injured shoulder, was seen in a green non-contact jersey.

Richards