Uncertainty follows win in season finale for Diaz, ’Canes

DURHAM, N.C. — The Miami Hurricanes had plenty to celebrate after beating Duke, 47-10, for their fifth win in their past six games to close out the regular season. Whether the strong end to the year will be enough for Manny Diaz to remain the team’s head coach remains to be seen.

The Hurricanes, who are 21-15 and 16-9 in the ACC over the past three years with Diaz at the helm, finished the 2021 regular season with a disappointing 7-5 overall and 5-3 conference record after entering the season with hopes of competing for the Coastal Division and playing in the ACC championship game.

Changes could be on the horizon for Diaz and the football program ahead of the Early Signing Period (Dec. 15 through Dec. 17) and eventual bowl game.

“All I’ve been told is ‘let’s go win a football game,’ “Diaz said after the game. “That’s all I’ve been focusing on. That’s the thing that matters right now. Everything else has been out of my control, so it wasn’t really worth worrying about.

Here are 10 things we learned from UM’s Saturday win:

1. Diaz’s future unknown.

Diaz’s job security has been in doubt since Blake James parted ways with Miami as the university’s athletic director on Nov. 15.

James hired Diaz as UM’s coach in late 2018 after Mark Richt’s sudden retirement, but didn’t guarantee in late October that in-season coaching changes wouldn’t be made before his eventual dismissal.

Now, Diaz’s job security is uncertain with 247 Sports’ Inside The U reporting that his future likely won’t be determined until after the new athletic director — who hasn’t been hired yet — is announced.

“I feel secure in how that football team played [Saturday],” Diaz responded when asked if he feels secure with his job. “I feel secure in the reactions of the players in our locker room. And I feel that those guys bought into our program. That’s all I can control.”

2. Van Dyke closes strong:

Tyler Van Dyke’s six-game stretch to close out the regular season was something that hasn’t been done by a UM quarterback in program history.

The second-year freshman went 34 of 49 for 381 yards and three touchdowns against Duke for his sixth consecutive game throwing for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns.

Brad Kaaya is the only Hurricanes quarterback since 2004 to have had six such games in his career at Miami, according to The Athletic. Stephen Morris had four games reaching those statistical benchmarks.

Van Dyke went 157 of 240 (65 percent) for 2,194 yards, 20 touchdowns and three interceptions over that six-game stretch, ending the regular season with 202-of326 passing (62 percent) for 2,931 yards, 25 passing touchdowns and six interceptions.

3. Harley and Rambo break records:

Wide receivers Mike Harley and Charleston Rambo both broke two records with their performances against the Blue Devils.

Harley, a fifth-year senior, finished with 13 catches for 96 yards to give him 182 receptions for his UM career, surpassing Reggie Wayne’s previous record of 173 catches from 1997-2000. His 13 receptions also set the single-game receptions record, surpassing the record of 12 previously held by Willie Smith (1984 vs. Maryland), Phillip Dorsett (2012 vs. USF) and Rambo (2021 vs. Michigan State).

With eight receptions for 101 yards to put him at 79 catches for 1,172 yards on the season, Rambo set new UM single-season receptions and receiving yards records, which were previously held by Leonard Hankerson (72 catches in 2010) and Allen Hurns (1,162 receiving yards in 2013), respectively.

Harley said he plans to play in Miami’s bowl game, while Rambo was noncommittal, so Harley will get one more opportunity to distance himself in the Hurricanes’ record books.

4. Special teams inconsistency:

The Hurricanes special teams play has been inconsistent throughout the season, and against a better opponent, their shortcomings would’ve been taken advantage of more than it was by Duke.

Blue Devils safety Jaylen Stinson had a 37-yard kickoff return to Duke’s 41 on the first play of the game before having a 94-yard return for a touchdown on UM’s next kickoff for the second score UM’s allowed on a kickoff in 2021.

Whether it’s been penalties or allowing big plays, Miami’s special teams unit has underwhelmed in 2021.

Freshman kicker Andy Borregales helped the special teams with his play on Saturday, going 4 of 4 on his field goals, with a long of 43 yards.

5. Jacolby George showcase:

Wideout Jacolby George, a true freshman out of Plantation, showed he can be a game-changer during the second quarter against Duke.

On a first-and-20 from UM’s 10, George caught a pass from Van Dyke at the 18-yard line before evading his defender and breaking two tackles for a 39-yard reception that got the Hurricanes to midfield.

One play later, George had a one-handed 36-yard catch to help set up UM’s touchdown that put the Hurricanes up, 24-10, later on the drive.

George (seven receptions for 183 yards and one touchdown) was among a trio of true freshmen receivers who’ve shown flashes, with Brashard Smith (14 catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns) and Romello Brinson (seven receptions for 90 yards and one touchdown) looking like they’ll be ready for bigger roles next year.

6. O-Line improvement:

UM’s offensive line started the season as one of the team’s most disappointing units, but turned itself around for the end-of-season stretch.

The Hurricanes didn’t allow a sack in back-to-back games to Virginia Tech last Saturday and against Duke after allowing 30 (three per contest) over their first 10 games.

Miami’s run blocking didn’t take the positive same steps its pass blocking did, but the Hurricanes’ offensive line showed improvement throughout the season.

7. Lashlee’s legacy at UM:

If Saturday was Rhett Lashlee’s last game as Miami’s offensive coordinator, with reports saying he’ll replace Sonny Dyke as Southern Methodist University’s coach, it’s safe to say he’ll leave the Hurricanes offense better than how he found it.

Lashlee, who was SMU’s offensive coordinator from 2018-19, has fortified UM’s offense and quarterback room over his two seasons as the Hurricanes’ play-caller.

With Lashlee installing a spread offense at Miami, the Hurricanes jumped to No. 26 in scoring offense (from No. 90 in 2019) and No. 32 in FBS in total offense (from No. 98) in 2020 with Lashlee and former starting quarterback D’Eriq King leading the offense.

King (211 of 329 for 2,686 passing yards and 23 touchdowns, 538 rushing yards for four touchdowns) had one of the better quarterback seasons in UM history under Lashlee.

UM ranks No. 26 (34.1 points) in scoring offense and No. 21 in total offense (449.9 yards) in 2021 despite losing King to a season-ending shoulder surgery three games into the season. The Hurricanes averaged 35.6 points in conference play, which ranks third in the ACC, with Van Dyke starting at quarterback.

Van Dyke went 192 of 312 (61.5 completion percentage) for 2,261 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions through eight conference games, emerging as the leading ACC Rookie of the Year candidate.

Dykes is still the coach at SMU, but he’s expected to leave the Mustangs for Texas Christian University, an impending move that was first reported by ESPN on Friday.

8. Improved run defense:

Miami’s defense turned last year’s weakness into an area it performed at an average rate in 2021.

After allowing 4.5 yards per carry for the 76th worst mark in the nation in 2020, the Hurricanes held opponents to 3.9 yards per carry this season (52nd nationally), including holding Duke to 1.8 yards per rush on Saturday.

Miami, which struggled with tackling for the first half of the season, has done a good job of getting into the backfield, led by true freshman defensive tackle Leonard Taylor’s 9 ½ tackles for losses across nine games, which ranks seventh among ACC players.

9. Future looking good:

Many of the players the Hurricanes will be depending on in 2022 and in the seasons afterward showed flashes against Duke.

George finished with three catches for 80 yards against the Blue Devils.

True freshmen running backs Thad Franklin Jr. (six carries for 45 yards and one touchdown) and Cody Brown (seven rushes for 35 yards) combined for 80 rushing yards on 13 carries.

Taylor had 1 ½ tackles for loss, while true freshman striker Chase Smith had three tackles and one tackle for loss on a fourth-down stop. Second-year freshman cornerback Marcus Clarke had five tackles and an interception at the end of the game.

10. Bowl game:

With the regular season behind them, the Hurricanes will turn their attention to the Early Signing Period and bowl game preparations.

Diaz said Miami will practice for the bowl game starting on Dec. 4 and lift weights a few times a week before resume practices after the recruiting dead period starts on Dec. 13 — when in-person recruiting contacts or evaluations “on or off the member institution’s campus or official or unofficial visits by prospective student-athletes to the institution’s campus” aren’t allowed.

247 Sports, Sports Illustrated and ESPN’s Mark Schlabach projected for the Hurricanes to play in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31 in El Paso, Texas, while ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura protected for Miami to play in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Dec. 30 in Charlotte, N.C.