Influx of talent should benefit Hurricanes’ needy offense
Most of the offensive players Miami signed in its 2018 recruiting class are considered elite recruits, which should greatly boost an attack that held back UM at times last year.
It’s easy to see five-star running back Lorenzo Lingard, five-star receiver Mark Pope, and tight ends Brevin Jor- dan and Will Mallory pushing for jobs early. UM signed the top-rated fullback in the country, Realus George, who should win the starting spot.
Prep linemen typically need time to develop into college players, but four-star Delone Scaife acquitted himself well in All-American practices and UM has needs at guard and tackle. The Canes added size and speed at receiver (Brian Hightower and Dee Wiggins, both 6-foot-3). They also picked up four-star Marquez Ezzard, whom coach Mark Richt likened to a “heavyweight boxer.”
One sunny scenario at quarterback would have Malik Rosier improving his accuracy and decision-making, and giving UM steady play all season. While Richt said it remains Rosier’s job to lose, early-enrollee freshman Jarren Williams will get a shot (as well as redshirt freshmen N’Kosi Perry and Cade Weldon, of course). At quarterback, Richt has recruited well and developed well over the years. There’s reason for hope here.
Lingard, who enrolled early, is a slasher in the mold of former Arkansas running back Darren McFadden (SB Nation recruiting analyst Bud
Hurricanes
potential in the latter three, but none have established themselves as good enough to be full-time starters yet.
That’s where a 6-foot-2, 229-pound tackling machine like Leonard can help. In his final season for the Bulldogs, he piled up 114 tackles, 8.5 sacks and two interceptions. He followed up with a game-high 14 tackles in the Senior Bowl, the first step in showing he can handle higher competition.
He faced big schools occasionally at South Carolina State and got some validation with 19 tackles in a loss to Clemson his junior year. He also had 16 in a game against Central Florida that season.
“They say the MEAC isn’t all that great, but I think the level of competition was pretty good and I can play with all these big-time names,” he said.
Leonard can be a factor at inside or outside linebacker, which appeals to the Dolphins, and falls in the range where they could reasonably consider a linebacker.
The position isn’t enough of a priority for them to go high, but they could be looking for one in the third round. The Dolphins are currently slotted to pick 73rd overall and once they address some more pressing needs early, linebacker could be on the table at that point.
Leonard aspires to be a versatile linebacker like Jacksonville’s Myles Jack and has the tools to get there. NFL. com draft analyst Lance Zierlein sees him as an everydown player.
“(He) has packed on the pounds since hitting campus, but it hasn’t compromised his play speed as he has posted dominant production,” he wrote. “He lacks play strength, and there are times you want to see more nasty in his demeanor, but he has the traits and talent.”
Now he’s on the big stage as he heads toward the draft and he gets another opportunity to impress teams at the NFL combine in a few weeks. The spotlight and the way teams grill potential prospects haven’t bothered Leonard, and he’s embracing the chance to hold up under their scrutiny.
“It feels pretty good,” he said. “We didn’t have any of that at South Carolina State, so I’m kind of feeling the bigtime love. It actually feels pretty good having all the interviews.”
‘He’ll just claw your face off. He’s physi-cal …’