Smith wants to be more than deep-ball threat for Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes second-year wide receiver Keyshawn Smith has been noted early in spring drills as one of the underclassmen standing out over the team’s first three practices.

The 6-foot-1, 184-pound speedster that has been tracked as running up to 22 mph in practice and has shown flashes on plays down the field.

“I would say I’m a deep-ball threat,” said Smith, still listed as a freshman because last season did not count against player eligibility. “I love to outrun people. I’m pretty fast. Deep balls [have been] my thing ever since high school.”

Already possessing that skill set, Smith is expanding his capabilities to develop underneath routes.

“I’ve been working on my short routes as well too, my releases,” said Smith, who studies NFL stars Julio Jones and Stefon Diggs. “My releases got better since last year since I’ve been here. That was the first thing I was working on. Now, it’s my short routes, my short route-running and more of my hand movements from my releases.”

Smith was one of the young spring standouts UM coach Manny Diaz mentioned after Tuesday’s second practice.

“He can run really fast, and he has a knack for coming up with the football when it’s thrown to him,” Diaz said. “Made a really nice play deep down the field [Tuesday]. … Even in the bowl game, he made a very difficult catch out of bounds. He’s got a little bit of that confidence in him that, when the ball is in the air, it’s his.”

Added cornerback Te’Cory Couch of Smith: “His straight-line speed is crazy. He’s good at the line with really dipping his shoulders and stacking you immediately. That’s what makes him the hardest to cover because he knows how to get around you and stack you, so you can’t really make a play on the ball.”

Stronger Zion Nelson

Miami left tackle Zion Nelson has had to tack on weight and get stronger since he first arrived on campus two springs ago. Going from 240 pounds to 290 before being named a starter as a true freshman in the fall of 2019, he has since started 20 games for the Hurricanes over the past two seasons.

Nelson says he now weighs 315 pounds and has only 16-percent body fat. He last benched 375 pounds and said he could’ve kept going, but the team had to move on due to weight-room time constraints.

“I want to be more dominant on the field,” Nelson said. “I’m nowhere near where I want to be right now.”

Nelson feels more confident now than he was when he was a true freshman getting thrown into the fire for his first college start against a fierce Florida pass rush in Orlando in 2019.

“My confidence comes from the preparation,” he said. “Freshman year, I didn’t really know how to exactly work around the whole college thing, just kind of keep up with school, the weight and all that good stuff, the weight room. Now, I got everything on track — well, I don’t have everything on track, but I try to for the most part.”

New coaches, new energy

The Hurricanes have two young assistant coaches on defense working their first few practices in new roles after previously having support-staff roles: cornerbacks coach DeMarcus Van Dyke, from his prior role in UM’s recruiting department, and outside linebackers coach Ishmael Aristide, hired from Texas A&M.

There’s a key word that comes up with both of them: Energy.

“DVD is a really enthusiastic guy. He brings high energy,” said cornerback Te’Cory Couch of Van Dyke. “He wants everybody to be going, going, going 24/7. Nobody’s walking on the field. He’s just a high-energy guy. As far as coaching, he’s getting the hang of making sure everybody’s technique is right and the film room’s right. Everybody’s making sure everybody knows what we have to do each play.”

Said striker Gilbert Frierson of Aristide: “Coach Ish, that guy comes with a lot of energy every day. Just wants us to work. Kind of crazy, but he comes with great energy, high energy and comes to practice with pride and wants everybody to get better no matter what.”

Spring game update

UM’s April 17 spring game will kick off at 11 a.m. and air on ACC Network, ESPN announced on Thursday.

Manny Diaz previously called it “unlikely” the Hurricanes have fans at the spring game at Hard Rock Stadium.

Miami’s March 29 pro day will also be televised on ACC Network.

TIM BROGDON/MIAMI ATHLETICS Hurricanes wide receiver Keyshawn Smith makes a catch and run during spring drills.