As ’Canes’ status grows, so do freshmen

CORAL GABLES — Corey Gaynor has had to get used to new responsibilities and an offensive role he’s never had to fill before. Trajan Bandy had to adjust his occasional “me-first” mentality. And Zach Feagles has been asked to learn a set of skills that weren’t quite necessary in high school.

All of Miami’s freshmen have had to get used to the faster speed, the bigger bodies and the rigorous demands that come with playing major college football. But they do have this going for them — none of them knows what it’s like to lose a game to archrival Florida State.

Midway through the season, several of Miami’s freshmen have emerged as valuable contributors to a Hurricanes team experiencing one of its best stretches in recent history.

As Miami prepares for a Coastal Division showdown at North Carolina on Saturday, the Hurricanes own an 11-game win streak, the second-longest in the nation. They’ve risen to No. 8 in the AP Top 25 and hold their highest ranking since 2013. And earlier this month, several freshmen saw playing time in Miami’s 24-20 win over the Seminoles, a victory that snapped a seven-game losing streak to FSU and set off a frenzied celebration among their older teammates who’d never experienced a moment like that one.

It’s been as heady a start to their careers as they could imagine. Even as they continue working to learn what their coaches expect of them, the Miami freshmen are reveling in their experience.

“In past years, Miami’s had an OK record. Now, we’re undefeated. It’s good to be a part of this group. We know we’re not going to be playing with some of these kids next year, so we’re just enjoying our moment,” said receiver Jeff Thomas, who caught his first collegiate touchdown last week in Miami’s 27-19 win over Syracuse. “The seniors, it wasn’t like this their freshman year. They’ve told us we won’t get this back. We won’t get yesterday back, so we’re playing for today and the next day.”

Added Gaynor, who has seen extended stretches of playing time and even gotten used to playing a little fullback, “A year ago today, if you asked me if I would be doing any of this, I would have told you no. I’ve really seized the opportunity the coaches have given me.”

Last season, during his first year at Miami, Hurricanes coach Mark Richt made it clear talented players would play, no matter their year in school.

Miami started three freshmen linebackers in Shaquille Quarterman, Mike Pinckney and Zach McCloud. Quarterman and Pinckney became Freshman All-Americans. Ahmmon Richards started 11 of Miami’s 13 games and broke Michael Irvin’s 31-year-old freshman receiving record. And Joe Jackson worked his way into the rotation on the defensive line and finished as the Hurricanes leader in both sacks and tackles for loss.

Top recruits across the country paid attention and saw they’d have their chances at Miami even as freshmen. It made an impact on National Signing Day, with Richt and the Hurricanes landing a top-12 recruiting class.

Today, 19 of Miami’s freshmen have seen playing time and four of them — Gaynor, fellow offensive lineman Navaughn Donaldson, receiver Mike Harley and cornerback Trajan Bandy — have earned starts.

Each has experienced personal highs and lows on the field, memorable moments with their teammates off it and challenges few of them could have expected — like having to evacuate campus and endure a 21-day lay-off because of Hurricane Irma.

The young players sought mentorship from some of Miami’s veterans. Feagles got advice from senior Michael Badgley when kicks didn’t go his way, and Bandy received guidance from veteran safety Jaquan Johnson as he’s worked to learn his playbook.

“In high school, I was always the guy flying around the field, making a lot of plays,” Bandy said. “Once I got here, that kind of changed.”

It’s been an adjustment for all of them, but with some of the biggest games on the schedule still looming, the freshmen know their biggest tests still await.

That said, they haven’t taken this memorable season start for granted.

“It’s been a hell of a ride this season at 6-0. A lot of fun,” Feagles said. “Just talking to players on the team, we’ve been losing some of those close games for the past 10 years. … To be 6-0 at this point and the No. 8 team in the nation, it’s a long time coming. But we’re definitely not done yet. We have a lot of goals we haven’t reached yet.”