Returnees, newcomers excite Richt
Players already lobbying for leadership roles next season.
CORAL GABLES — It hasn’t been a week since Miami’s season ended with a 34-24 loss to Wisconsin in the Orange Bowl. Mark Richt is already seeing the 2018 team take shape. Such things move quickly.
“I’ve already had guys texting me, excited about the future and wanting to take on leadership roles and things of that nature,” he said Thursday. “I feel really good about us moving forward.”
Part of that feeling comes from a consensus top-10 recruiting class, several members of which are competing in high school All-American games this week in Tampa and San Antonio. Richt estimated nine or so of those players — a group that includes highly touted running back Lorenzo Lingard, receiver Mark Pope, and quarterback Jarren Williams — will
enroll for the Jan. 16 start of classes. Much of the affirmation, naturally, comes from the players who are already in the program.
Miami will lose some steady hands, valuable players who both produced on the field and guided the proceedings off it. Veterans such as Chad Thomas, Braxton Berrios, Chris Herndon, Mark Walton, Kc McDermott (Palm Beach Central) and Trent Harris will leave holes. Richt is encouraged by the next wave on defense, such as safety Jaquan Johnson and linebacker Shaq Quarterman, a pair of All-ACC candidates. Defensive end Demetrius Jackson, returning from injury, is another respected voice.
“Those guys have already been leaders, as far as I see it,” Richt said. “Offensively, I would think some of the linemen, (seniors-to-be Tyler) Gauthier and Tyree (St. Louis), those guys you would expect to do that. You’ve got (quarterback) Malik (Rosier). One guy who stepped up his game and his leadership started to grow, I thought, or at least sprout, was DeeJay Dallas. The guy played big in some big games. He’s got an energy about him that’s contagious . ... (Receiver) Ahmmon Richards (Wellington) will be a leader for us.
“What happens, too, you’ve got a freshman class that comes in. There will be leadership in that bunch . ... There’s a couple of them that may be able to step up and play enough and gain enough respect of their teammates to have a voice.”
Lingard, a five-star prospect, could be one of those players. He is considered one of the ambassadors for UM’s 2018 recruiting class, as Dallas was last year, and could play quite a bit with UM losing Walton to the NFL. He no doubt feels the same as one of his future teammates, rising sophomore wideout Mike Harley, who Thursday posted a photo of a Hurricanes ACC Coastal Division Champions hat with the caption, “Not good enough.”
Lingard will play in the Army All-American Bowl on Saturday (1 p.m., NBC) with signees Pope, Williams and receiver Brian Hightower, and commit Nesta Silvera, a defensive tackle.
Another potential freshman standout, tight end Brevin Jordan, played in Thursday’s Under Armour All-America Game with offensive linemen Delone Scaife and Cleveland Reed, and safeties Gurvan Hall and Al Blades Jr.
“We’ve heard a lot of good reports about our guys,” Richt said.
Don’t blame Rosier: Richt, offering a final review of the Orange Bowl, said he didn’t fault Malik Rosier for his interceptions.
Rosier threw three. On Thursday, Richt spoke mainly about two.
The first, which came at the start of the second quarter with UM leading 14-3, happened when linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel shook off left tackle McDermott’s attempt to cut-block him and corralled Rosier’s pass intended for Berrios. Wisconsin scored three plays later, cutting the Hurricanes’ lead to four points. After a Miami three-and-out, the Badgers scored on their next drive and never again trailed.
“Obviously if we’d have cut-blocked a little bit better, we wouldn’t have had the issue.” Richt said. “In hindsight, I don’t think it was a good call. Malik was doing what he was coached to do. ... You assume guys are going to get knocked down or at least cut. (Van Ginkel) played the cut block well and made the play. That changed the momentum of the game.”
Miami pulled within 24-21 before the second interception. After UM forced a punt with 9:40 left in the third quarter, Rosier was looking for Lawrence Cager, who caught a 38-yard touchdown pass on the Canes’ previous offensive series. Cager was outmaneuvered in the end zone by cornerback Derrick Tindal, who grabbed his jersey before slingshotting into position to make a pick.
Richt felt it was “pretty obvious” Tindal “grabbed our receiver.” It was a significant swing: Miami had a chance to take a lead midway though the third quarter, but Wisconsin tacked on a field goal to make it 27-21.
“Two of those interceptions, I don’t sit there and say Malik did a poor job of those,” Richt said, adding that the third pick — UM down 10 with 1:19 to go — was catchable.
Dugans rumors: Richt chuckled when asked about rumors that wide receivers coach Ron Dugans is talking to Florida State about joining Willie Taggart’s staff.
“No, no news on that,” he said.
Asked directly if Dugans, a FSU alum and Tallahassee native, was staying with Miami, Richt chuckled again.
“Well, he’s still with us, so ... ,” Richt said.