Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Diaz envisions depth at WR wearing out foes
Miami coach Manny Diaz feels his underclassmen at wide receiver are starting to look more gameready, and the thought of increased depth at the position mixed with the Hurricanes’ tempo could be a scary proposition for opposing defenses.
Diaz revealed Wednesday morning in an interview with 560-AM that there were two instances last season where he could recall opposing defenders throwing up on the field after three quarters of facing offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee’s fast-paced attack.
With 12 to 13 wide receivers competing for playing time once the incoming freshman class arrives at UM after the spring, Diaz is looking forward to rotating wideouts in without a dropoff while opponents dip into their second-team secondary. He uses a baseball analogy.
“It’s like getting to someone’s bullpen,” Diaz told 560-AM. “We would want to win our matchups against someone’s starting secondary as it is, but if we can wear you down and get backups in the game, then we should really dominate those guys.
“Let’s get the weak arms in the bullpen in the game and tee off on those guys.”
Last season, there was hesitancy to give the four freshman receivers — Keyshawn Smith, Michael Redding III, Xavier Restrepo and Dazalin Worsham — extensive playing time behind starting upperclassmen Michael Harley, Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins. Now, while also adding an experienced, capable transfer like Charleston Rambo from Oklahoma, Diaz sounds more comfortable with that group this spring.
“We didn’t feel our young guys — again, due to missing summer and whatever — weren’t quite game-ready [last fall],” Diaz said. “That’s not going to be the case this year. This class of receivers that we signed a year ago, I think those guys are ready to make contributions.”
With more receivers looking ready in practice, it’s creating competition that’s forcing players to bring their best.
“Guys recognize that, ‘Man, the competition is fierce. I got to bring it every day,’ ” Diaz said.
In Tuesday comments to reporters, Diaz singled out Smith as a young player standing out, while naming others at other positions like linebacker Corey Flagg and defensive ends Jahfari Harvey, Chantz Williams and Cameron Williams.
Miami wide receivers coach Rob Likens made some telling remarks about the receiver depth from last year to this year in pre-spring remarks made to 560-AM.
“Last year, I was not comfortable playing six guys,” he said of having a two-deep rotation at three receiver positions. “I do now. I feel like we’re going to be able to find six guys that can go out there and win for the University of Miami.”
Missing out on much of last spring and then getting rushed through summer conditioning and fall camp before the season because of the pandemic hindered that 2020 recruiting class’ ability to pick up the offense. Now those receivers have a better understanding of the playbook and look the part of college pass catchers.
“Their biggest deal that they have a chance to do is go through our weight room for a year,” Likens added earlier this month. “There’s not very many freshmen coming out of high school that are physically prepared to take on a full season of Power Five collegiate football.
“These guys have a year under their belt, so I have high expectations for all of the freshmen.”
Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Payton, another viable option when healthy, is working his way back early this spring from an undisclosed injury that lingered since the end of the fall season.