Richt pleased by redshirt changes
Potential playing time gives freshmen better chance at early success.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Like most college football coaches, Mark Richt is a big fan of the NCAA’s new redshirt rule.
The NCAA’s Division I Council recently approved a proposal to allow football players to participate in as many as four games without losing their redshirt for the season. The rules takes effect immediately. Previously, a player was ineligible for a redshirt season as soon as he played a down, unless a medical issue arose.
“Just imagine if this rule was in place a year ago,” Richt, the University of Miami’s third-year coach, said Wednesday. “We could have played N’Kosi (Perry), we could have played (Cade) Weldon up to four games and ... who knows what we would have found out? Now those guys are redshirted and it doesn’t really affect them, but it could affect Jarren Williams being a true freshman. Really, all of our true freshmen, I would love to play them all at one time or another if possible.
“Sometimes the quarterback position can be the hardest one to just throw a guy in there for a few plays, but (Williams) has a much greater shot at playing this year because of the new rule. And I’m not saying he’s going to redshirt. He may play, period.”
More incoming freshmen are expected to play right away, with coaches now able to give them game experience without burning a year of eligibility. And the Hurricanes have a loaded 2018 recruiting class with five-star running back Lorenzo Lingard and a group of four-star recruits including Williams, tight end Brevin Jordan, defensive tackle Nesta Silvera and wide receiver Mark Pope.
Richt emphasized there’s a fine line between allowing freshmen to get some experience and making sure the best players are on the field.
“You don’t want to put any player in any position that can cost you a game,” he said. “I don’t care who the opponent is. ‘Oh yeah, let’s play these guys,’ that sounds good. But if you put them in there and they’re not ready, they could make a mistake and get beat on something or make a play that can define the game whether you win or lose it.”
Big addition: Richt said graduate transfer Venzell Boulware, who arrived from Tennessee just a few weeks ago, will have a chance to earn playing time on the offensive line this season. “Very good first impression,” Richt said. “The guy played SEC ball for three years. He’s a graduate. He’s a mature guy. Even to graduate in three years, it shows a sign of maturity. He’s a sharp guy, he’s built well. He looks like he’s in really good condition.”
Impressive freshman: Senior safety Jaquan Johnson said defensive end Greg Rousseau was the most impressive freshman in spring workouts. “He works so hard,” Johnson said of the 6-foot-6 Hialeah-Champagnat Catholic product. “In the sprints, he’s in the front. In the weight room, he’s going hard. In spring, he had a blast getting around the corner.”
Linebackers ready: With the start of camp set for early August, Richt said linebackers Zach McCloud (wrist) and Charles Perry (Achilles) are expected to be ready after being limited by injuries in the spring.
No injury updates: ACC commissioner John Swofford said that conference coaches will no longer release weekly injury information. “We have had ... a gentleman’s agreement among our coaches to share publicly injury information,” he said. “We were the only conference that was doing that.”