Linebacker looks to build on reputation
S.C. State’s Leonard grabbed attention at Senior Bowl.
Darius Leonard feels like he’s starting all over.
As a relatively unheralded high school player, he was exasperated by the lack of attention he got from nearby South Carolina and Clemson. That snub drove him as he built a standout career at South Carolina State, an FCS school, and it seems like déjà vu as he tries to convince NFL teams he’s worth picking in this year’s draft.
“I used that as a little chip on my shoulder to show teams what they could’ve had,” he said. “I’m still that guy because I came from a small program, so I’ve got a point to prove.”
Leonard, a linebacker who wrecked everything he saw when he played for the Bulldogs, is emerging as a second-day draft prospect after a dominant senior season. He picked up momentum with a good showing at last month’s Senior Bowl, and he said the Dolphins were among the teams he met with that week.
Linebacker remains a concern for Miami, as it has been for several years. The team goes into the upcoming season counting on Kiko Alonso after a down year and Raekwon McMillan after a torn ACL. Beyond those two, there are no certainties.
Veteran linebacker Lawrence Timmons is a candidate to be cut, possibly this month, and the collection of Mike Hull, Stephone Anthony and Chase Allen have a lot to prove. The Dolphins see
Dolphins
Elliott draws that comparison). He has state championship-level speed on the track, and the makings of a three-down back. Camron Davis is smaller and shiftier. He and George arrive in May.
Considering UM could have a backfield rotation of Travis Homer, DeeJay Dallas (who remains a running back), Lingard, Davis and, potentially, redshirt freshman Robert Burns and redshirt senior Trayone Gray, depth is much better here. And remember UM using freshman lineman Corey Gaynor as part of its search for fullbacks? No more.
A star on the Miami-Dade prep scene, Pope — whose nickname, Noodles, is memorable — has the body control of a great receiver. Once he fills out (6-1, 170), he could be special.
That includes Ezzard (6-1, 215), who is … well … let’s let receivers coach Ron Dugans take it from here: “He’ll just claw your face off. He doesn’t play any games. He’s physical
On Marquez Ezzard
at the line of scrimmage. ... He goes up aggressively and catches the football with his hands, snatches it out of the air. Everything he does on film is violent. You see it in his play.”
Early enrollees Hightower and Wiggins have a little way to go, conditioning-wise, which is to be expected.
“They went through their first day of mat drills and it wasn’t pretty,” Dugans said, chuckling. “But I was impressed with what I saw the first day. They didn’t quit, they didn’t give in, they competed. That’s what I wanted to see.”
Miami recruited tight ends Jordan and Mallory to reprise the roles formerly held by Chris Herndon and David Njoku: one closer to the line, who can play fullback, H-back, even carry at times, and one who can flex out and catch passes downfield. They can and will be on the field together. It will be a big spring for returnees Michael Irvin II and Brian Polendey, with the freshmen enrolling in May.
Competition should be hot up front, with junior center Tyler Gauthier, sophomore right guard Navaughn Donaldson and junior right tackle Tyree St. Louis the only returners who saw major action. Scaife (6-3, 320), who plays guard and tackle, enrolled early along with 6-5, 285-pound tackle John Campbell. Another fourstar prospect, guard Cleveland Reed (6-3, 327), arrives in May.
The offensive line has a lot to prove, after two years of overhauls through recruiting. Spring battles will be intriguing there. Same goes for quarterback. At running back, tight end and receiver, UM should be highly skilled, if quite young, but the players Richt has signed in his three Miami classes are excellent. According to recruiting analysts inside and outside Coral Gables, this is the best group yet.