Young poised to play key role

CORAL GABLES — Last season, the Hurricanes searched for a playmaking wide receiver to replace the production they lost when Mike Harley Jr. and Charleston Rambo left for the NFL. For two games, it looked like Colbie Young was going to be that playmaker.

Young had two excellent games against Virginia Tech and Duke, but after quarterback Tyler Van Dyke suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out for most of the rest of the 2022 campaign, Miami’s offense faltered and Young’s production slowed.

Entering his second season with the Hurricanes, Young may take a step forward and become a major difference in Miami’s passing game.

“He’s really taken a step as a leader in the wide receiver room,” Van Dyke said on the first day of UM’s spring practices. “I’m excited for him. He’s a guy that’ll go up and get the ball. He’s fast for his size and he’s grown a lot from last season until now, and he’s still going to grow.”

Young, who transferred from Lackawanna College last year, was the Hurricanes’ leading wide receiver last season, pacing the group with 376 receiving yards (second on the team behind tight end Will Mallory). He had a teambest five touchdown catches.

The bulk of Young’s production came in a road win against the Hokies (nine catches, 110 yards, one touchdown) and a home loss to Duke (six catches, 127 yards, two touchdowns). In the five games following the loss to the Blue Devils and Van Dyke’s injury, Young had 14 catches for 96 yards and one touchdown.

Miami has a new offense for Young and his teammates to learn this year, as Shannon Dawson replaced Josh Gattis as offensive coordinator. Dawson’s Houston offense was No. 8 in the nation in passing last year. He said the wide receivers may take a little while to learn the offense, but they are coming along quickly.

“They’re learning, their heads are spinning,” Dawson said. “That position, when you install a new offense, is probably going to be one of the slower ones to grab everything because there are a lot of moving parts. They’re picking up on things quickly.”

Young said Dawson’s offense differed from Gattis’ in the number of downfield shots the offense takes.

“Just go all out, drive, run every play like a go ball,” Young said. “We’re just trying to get that ball in the air a lot more and just look out for each other.”

Gattis also coached wide receivers last season, so Miami coach Mario Cristobal had to make a new hire to coach that position, too. He brought in former Toledo wide receivers coach Kevin Beard, who played at Miami. After three practices with Beard, Young had praise for his new coach.

“Coach Cristobal does a great job of putting people that have been around greatness, been around great players,” Young said. “And he just has a plan. He’s already been around great receivers that have made it to the first round . ... Just an amazing guy. Really good to learn from a great receiver.”

Entering the Hurricanes’ slate of spring practices, the 6-foot-4 Young said he slimmed down from about 220 pounds to 213. But a big off-thefield change is how comfortable he feels at Miami. Last year, he arrived shortly before fall camp began and had little time to catch his breath upon arriving.

“It just feels more relaxing, more comfortable to actually not rush to learn the offense, to be ready to actually prepare for the offense and be able to prepare my body better for the season,” Young said.