Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Harvey, Flagg showing signs of improvement
Defensive end Jahfari Harvey and linebacker Corey Flagg are among young Miami Hurricanes defenders the team would like to see step up this spring at positions of need.
Harvey, going into his third season, has a significant opportunity in front of him with UM’s two starting defensive ends from last season, Quincy Roche and Jaelan Phillips, now on to the NFL.
“I just want to take my opportunity and try to run with it,” said Harvey, still classified as a redshirt freshman because last season did not count toward player eligibility, on Tuesday. “Two starting defensive ends left. I just got to be in that weight room, work hard, do things right, show up.”
After Miami’s top-tackling linebacker last season was Bradley Jennings Jr., who was seventh on the team with 39, the Hurricanes could benefit from a breakout offseason from the strong, instinctual Flagg as he goes into his second season. Slimming down can help him in one area he wants to improve.
“I want to get faster,” Flagg said. “I think this game is about speed. I think I’m fast enough to get where I need to get, but I want to be just a little bit faster. To play linebacker here, you have to be fast. You have to play fast to play the defense that coach [Manny] Diaz wants.”
Said Diaz of Flagg, who has been working primarily at middle linebacker but getting some work at weakside LB: “I think Corey Flagg has had two really good first days at linebacker. I think he’s in better shape than the fall and has redefined his body a little bit. I think it’s helping.”
Along with Harvey, Diaz noted Chantz Williams and Cameron Williams as other young defensive ends to have a strong first couple of days of spring at a position where senior Tennessee transfer Deandre Johnson is expected to play a large role as the veteran in the group. Diaz noted it’s still too early in spring and wanted to put an asterisk next to any early standouts.
Both Harvey and Flagg have made strength and conditioning strides since the end of the season. Flagg was previously between 240 to 244 pounds at a body-fat percentage in the lower 20s. As of last week, he reports he is now 232 pounds and 13 percent body fat. Harvey, at just 4 percent body fat, is up to 251 pounds from 240.
Flagg credits inside linebackers coach Jonathan Patke and new quality control coach Bob Shoop, who has extensive defensive coordinator experience, with helping him pick up the on-field intricacies at the position. He also said former UM linebacker Shaquille Quarterman has been in contact with him, motivating him while Harvey said he feels comfortable contacting Roche, Phillips or fellow Miami pass-rushing draft prospect Gregory Rousseau whenever he needs something.
Williams’ first practices
Avantae Williams, the star safety prospect in the 2020 recruiting class, had his first two practices at UM after he was cleared from an undisclosed medical issue that caused him to sit out the past fall season.
While Williams still has to get assimilated, Diaz has noticed over two days of drills that he can really go.
“It’s really, really early for Avantae, but he plays 100 miles an hour,” Diaz said. “The pedal when Avantae is on the field, it is pushed down through the floorboard, and that’s encouraging. He goes full speed. Now, he might not be going the right direction in full speed, but that’s why they call us ‘coach’ and we’ll get him turned the right way.”
Said senior safety Amari Carter after Miami’s first practice of how Williams looked: “I feel like he did a great job [Monday] pushing himself. … He’s going to be one of those players that he’s going to be wherever the ball is. I think he’s going to do a great job.”
Williams is wearing the No. 15 that last year’s star defensive end Jaelan Phillips wore — and which fellow 2021 draft prospect Gregory Rousseau wore when he had 15 ½ sacks in 2019. Diaz is not ready to say Williams will have a Phillips-like breakout yet, though.
“Its’ funny. I was thinking about Jaelan Phillips this time a year ago where we barely saw anything in four days and then he, of course, had the year he had,” Diaz said. “Not saying Avantae is going to do the same thing Jaelan did. … It’s fun to see him out there. I know he’s anticipating putting shoulder pads on Thursday.”
Payton, ElGammal updates
Diaz said redshirt freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Payton has been held out of early spring practices due to an undisclosed injury from the end of last season but is progressing toward participation.
“He’s not an out-forspring guy,” Diaz said. “He’s a guy we’re trying to work back into our lineup.”
Reserve offensive lineman Adam ElGammal opted out late last fall and is yet to opt back in and return to the team.
“Like we have with all our guys, we respect their decision,” Diaz said. “When Adam feels comfortable to rejoin the program, then he’ll be back with us.”
Fellow offensive linemen to opt out before him last season, Kai-Leon Herbert and Zalon’tae Hillery, are back on the Hurricanes roster.