Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Receivers making an impression
Canes’ 4 ‘babies’ are looking to add some ‘BOP’ to offense
CORAL GABLES — Miami Hurricanes senior receiver Michael Harley made a comical remark about one of UM’s freshman early enrollees at his position during the first week of spring practice, saying Keyshawn Smith looks like popular rapper DaBaby.
A quick comparison of Smith and DaBaby’s faces reveals Harley’s assessment to be remarkably accurate. Smith is one of the Hurricanes’ four “babies” in the receivers corps already getting reps this spring, and they’re all looking to add some “BOP” to the Miami offense.
Smith joined Deerfield Beach’s Xavier Restrepo, IMG Academy’s Michael Redding III and Dazalin Worsham out of Alabama when he opted out of his national letter of intent signed with Washington State after Cougars coach Mike Leach left for Mississippi State.
The four have impressed veteran UM wideouts with their early work ethic.
“The young guys, they pay more attention. They ask questions. They focus on film,” said junior Dee Wiggins during the first week of spring drills. “When they get on the field, they ask questions: ‘How do we do this? How do we do that?’ So, I mean, they came in ready to work.”
Harley broke down what he likes about each one.
Of Smith, a three-star prospect from San Diego, Harley said: “He’s fast. He reminds
me of me coming in.”
Of Worsham, an Under Armour All American in early January, along with Redding, Harley said: “He’s quick on his feet, got nice routes.”
On Restrepo: “He’s playing the slot. He reminds me of [Braxton] Berrios. He’s really tough. You see how he gets extra work in. He’s a grinder.”
Redding was said to be out for the spring due to a wrist injury, according to Miami coach Manny Diaz. But as spring practices began, with a cast on his right wrist, Redding was out on Greentree Practice Field running routes without having balls thrown to him, “getting mental reps,” Harley said.
Harley added: “I see he works hard. He has just a little bruise right now, but he’ll be ready by fall camp.”
All-American recruits
Two of Miami’s 2021 commitments earned invitations to the upcoming Under Armour All-America Game on Sunday.
Miami Palmetto four-star defensive tackle and Miami Central four-star offensive lineman Laurence Seymore were two of the five to earn bids at a prelim camp hosted by North Broward Prep.
Plantation four-star receiver Jacolby George, who was formerly committed to the Hurricanes, was also selected, along with St. Thomas Aquinas linebacker Jaydon Hood and McArthur defensive back Kevin Knowles.
Five more on scholarship
Miami put five walk-on players on scholarship, coach Manny Diaz announced to the team following Friday’s practice.
The five: Redshirt junior receiver Elias Lugo-Fagundo and redshirt sophomores in kicker Camden Price, cornerback Suleman Burrows, defensive lineman Michael Scibelli and offensive lineman Jared “Moose” Griffith.
Price contributed significantly last season, filling in on place kicks as Bubba Baxa struggled throughout the season. Price made 6 of 7 field-goal attempts and all 18 of his extra-point kicks. Lugo-Fagundo participated in the Hurricanes’ Independence Bowl loss to Lousiana Tech to finish the 2019 season.
The UM football team’s social media accounts put out a video on Friday evening of Diaz announcing the scholarship additions, to which players erupted inside Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility. The video was later picked up by ESPN’s SportsCenter’s social media accounts.
Patchan finds new home
Former Hurricanes defensive end Scott Patchan will play his sixth season at Colorado State, he announced on Twitter on Sunday night.
Last season with UM, Patchan played in all 13 games and made six starts before Greg Rousseau surpassed him in the starting lineup. Patchan had 33 tackles, six for loss, 2
1⁄2 sacks and recovered a fumble in UM’s opener against Florida.
Earlier in his Miami career, Patchan battled two season-ending knee injuries — for which he was able to be granted a sixth year of eligibility — and even made a position switch to tight end at one point before returning to defensive end.