Vets impressed by rookies’ focus

LAKE BUENA VISTA – As much as they’ve tried to stay in shape and focus on the challenge ahead, the 14th-ranked Hurricanes admit there’s a little uncertainty with Miami set to play its first game in nearly three weeks.

Few — if any — of the players have ever dealt with the kind of layoff Hurricane Irma created for the Hurricanes, who haven’t played since their 41-13 season-opening win over Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 2.

The team had four practices in Orlando ahead of Saturday’s game against fast-paced, high-scoring Toledo, but still, players say they’re eager to see how their bodies respond after the unexpected — and maddening — break from football.

“Never in my life, since I started playing football at 7 or 8, have I had a period of time where we do nothing and are just sitting around on Thursday, on Friday and on Saturday and we are just watching all those games and knowing that could be you,” Hurricanes receiver Braxton

Berrios said earlier this week. “It’s frustrating, to say the least.” Senior tight end Chris Herndon says he’s been encouraged by how hard so many of his younger teammates have worked during the break.

“They came up here and they came focused,” Herndon said. “They didn’t come and treat this as some type of vacation or just complete time off.” Next game: No. 14 Miami vs. Toledo, Saturday, 3:30, Fox