Wide receivers battle for starting positions

Hurricanes coach Mark Richt wants to see all available options at wide receiver this spring before deciding on starting jobs.

Richt said Braxton Berrios, who is the Hurricanes’ only senior wideout, will have a role: “He’ll be in the game, so he’ll get balls thrown to him. ... A lot of times the coverage will dictate who gets the ball.”

It st ands to reason Jeff Thomas and Mike Harley, two All-American recruits of similar build to Berrios (5-9, 183), could challenge him for time. But UM has rotated players at several positions, including wideout — 6-3 junior Dayall Harris, to name one example, moved from the X (outside) to the slot — and will find ways to utilize its talent.

“We have a pretty good idea of where we’re going to put them,” Richt said, “but that can change.”

Richt on Lawrence Cager (mi ssed 2016 with ACL), who is running and cutting full-speed but is unlikely to take full contact this spring: “When he’s running routes and making adjustments to balls that aren’t perfect, he looks like he has no fear.

“He hates his brace, but he needs to wear his brace. ... He doesn’t look tentative.”

R e c e i v e r s c o a c h R o n Dugans said a big spring surprise is redshirt junior Darrell Langham (6-4, 230), who is “learning to use his big body” and has “gotten a little quicker.”

Dugans also said sophomore Dionte Mullins, whom Richt praised last week, is still working on his conditioning.

S o phomore s t a r Ahmm o n R i c h a r d s , D u g a n s s a i d, i s g r a du a l ly warmi ng t o a l e adershi p ro l e . He also understands that “the honeymoon’s over,” and defenses won’t be “surprised” by the former Wellington High standout’s playmaking ability.

Freshman DeeJay Dallas, who played quarterback in high school, is “not great” in his route-running, but “he’s getting there,” according to Dugans.

“I’m taking it slow with him,” Dugans said. “He’s got a lot to think about.”

Richt happy with CB play: While Miami waits on FCS All-American transfer cornerback Dee Delaney to arrive — he will graduate from The Citadel in May — Mark Richt said he’s encouraged by the cornerbacks who are on campus, including Michael Jackson. “He had s o me ni c e pl ays t o day, ” Richt said. “Had a couple pass interferences, too, got to cut that out, but he made a tremendous interception on a ball I thought was for sure about a 30-yard gain. He just backed up, leaped and snagged it.”

Jackson’s classmate, juniorto-be Sheldrick Redwine, was moved to safet y and also is doing well, coaches say. Jackson could provide valuable depth, with Delaney, returning sophomore Malek Young, junior college transfer Jhavonte Dean (a fourstar recruit originally from Homestead) and Miami-Columbus High four-star Trajan Bandy expected to be UM’s top four. Bandy and Young seem like possible fits for nickel and dime roles.