Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Freshmen WR progress
competes for playing time.
“I can’t play around no more. I’ve been here for too long,” Cager said. “Just being a vet and younger guys expecting more out of me, coach expecting more out of me, I had to really get down on my leadership and just attack.”
His teammates and coaches say they’ve noticed differences in the former U.S. Army All-American who has averaged 12.8 yards per catch since arriving at Miami in 2015.
They saw the receiver spending time on the field during the summer or have watched him do extra work after practices during camp. They’ve seen him work on his perimeter blocking and dig into playbooks with the younger Hurricanes. All of it has been encouraging. “Cager, I’m pleased with Cager. He’s done an unbelievable job, first of all, of being consistent,” Hurricanes receivers coach Ron Dugans said. “In the run game, blocking on the perimeter and in the pass game, and also, leading the other group more. … [He’s] leading by example, staying after practice like he is now. Just doing extra to get better. And those guys see it. They kind of feed off what he’s doing. The biggest thing with Cager was just being consistent on catching the deep balls, blocking on the perimeter and not having missed assignments and he’s done a really good job of being consistent.”
Added Richards, who himself is now working through a post-injury comeback, “I’ve seen a lot of growth from him. It started in the summer. We were doing like 7-on-7 stuff and he was just making plays. He just looked like his normal self. I just feel happy for him. He’s being more like a leader of the receiver group. He’s talking more and just doing all the little things and just trying to help us be great.”
While Cager, Richards, Thomas and Harley are likely to be among quarterback likeliest targets early in the season, Dugans on Thursdays noted that several of the Hurricanes freshmen receivers are in a position to contribute this season — if they can show the consistency required of them.
“Hightower’s been doing good for us. He’s a guy that we trust. Pope, he’s come along, possibly Wiggins, maybe Ezzard. As far as that learning, of knowing what to do on every play, being consistent and executing on every play, we’ve got to get consistent about doing that as far as the young guys go,” Dugans said. “But for the most part, you’ve got Hightower and Pope sticking out, and Wiggins. And Ezzard, he’s kind of been up and down but I like. … he’s going to be a really good football player.”
Malik Rosier’s