Next generation shows off talents
Incoming Canes on display in Army AllAmerican Bowl.
Eight months before the Hurricanes open the 2018 season in Arlington, Texas, several Miami recruits played their last high school game in San Antonio on Saturday.
The West Team beat the East Team 17-16 in the Army All-American Bowl at the Alamodome, meaning Brian Hightower scored a win over at least four of his future teammates.
Hightower, the Calabasas, Calif.,native who signed with UM over USC and others, made several strong catches, including a 24-yard grab on third-and-21 in the fourth quarter. He also took a screen pass from behind the line of scrimmage ahead for another first down. Hightower, who finished his prep career at Bradenton-IMG Academy, made recruiting-website headlines earlier in the week by using his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame to make a onehanded grab in Army game practices.
He finished with four catches for 50 yards, leading all Miami recruits.
The East team included running back Lorenzo Lingard, who was named a captain, receiver Mark Pope, quarterback Jarren Williams and defensive tackle Nesta Silvera. The latter is the only player committed to UM who has not signed a binding letter of intent. All the others plan to enroll this month and participate in spring practices.
Pope, who started on kickoff coverage for the East, finished with one catch for five yards. He was targeted on the game’s first pass, but quarterback Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) underthrew a sideline shot for an interception. In the third quarter, Williams threw behind him twice.
An NBC color commentator described Pope, from Miami Southridge High, as “an Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley type,” referring to two former South Florida standouts who wound up signing with Alabama. Pope, who chose UM over the Crimson Tide and others, made a one-handed catch behind his body on a crossing route. The quarterback who threw it, Lawrence, was heard on the broadcast telling him it was a nice catch, but informing him he wanted him to run a “speed out” route instead.
Lingard had two carries for zero yards. Williams had a 10-yard scramble but also finished with a net zero on four carries. He took a pair of sacks and went 3 for 6 passing for 35 yards.
Silvera started for the East and in the first quarter, nearly had a sack on third down in the red zone. He was tough for the West offensive line to handle, producing pressure and an assisted tackle for loss in the fourth quarter. He had a game-high two quarterback hurries.
Williams entered late in the first quarter and played a couple series. He worked from the shotgun and under center. His first throw went for a first down. He also took a pair of sacks.
“He’s a quarterback who has been challenged by different recruiters to take his physical skills and become a better prospect,” said one NBC commentator.
The broadcast team told a story about Williams, a Lawrenceville, Ga., native who developed into a four-star recruit. The story: When Williams was about 10, he attended a University of Georgia camp and then-coach Mark Richt placed him in the top group of passers, which included high school upperclassmen such as future UGA standout Aaron Murray.
Tyson Campbell and his Plantation-American Heritage teammate, Patrick Surtain Jr., two fivestar cornerbacks of Miami interest, started for the East.