Where UM QB race stands with camp three weeks away
What we’re hearing inside UM three weeks from the opening of camp:
Coach Manny Diaz
● said the quarterback race among Tate Martell, N’Kosi Perry, and Jarren Williams is extremely close, and all will essentially begin with an even chance when camp opens July 25.
From what we hear, Perry emerged from spring as a slight front-runner, but that doesn’t mean much of anything because Martell easily could overtake him and Williams isn’t out of it. Two UM football officials insist the race is wide open and too close to call. But offensive coordinator Dan Enos wants to cut the race to two fairly quickly.
“We thought they were all, evaluating tape in Orlando [from the spring game], it was three guys on a level playing field,” Diaz said. “I’m excited that I think we have a good decision to make. I wasn’t sure in January we had a good decision to make. Now, I think we have a good problem. We had a bad problem. Our bad problem turned into a good problem.”
The fact that Martell, as a celebrated transfer, isn’t the clear leader is a function of his struggles early in spring ball (he improved considerably) but also a testament to how much Perry has improved.
“He’s a leader now,”
receiver Mike Harley Jr. said of Perry. “He took guys in a group chat one time in a meeting. You see the maturity with him. He’s a general more. He will speak up more and scan the field more.”
Running back Cam’Ron Harris (formerly Davis) put it this way about Perry: “He’s becoming a man.
He’s a different person.
He’s got a different mindset this year. He wants to win.”
Perry’s accuracy and ability to go to his second and third reads appeared much improved in the spring game.
One UM official who observed spring practices noted that Martell — besides being the most mobile of the three contenders for the job — is also the most intense.
Martell got very upset one time when Dee Wiggins fumbled, though he didn’t do anything over-the-top in his reaction. Enos said UM wants its quarterback to have the mind of a coach. Martell fills that bill, from what we’re told.
Who has impressed
● among the freshmen? Several pointed to receiver Jeremiah Payton.
“Jeremiah Payton is going to be the man this year,” Harris said. “What he did in the spring was amazing. A lot of coaches like him. Everybody likes him.”
Sophomore defensive tackle Nesta Silvera said freshman defensive end/ early enrollee Jahfari Harvey has stood out. And Harley said four-star cornerback Christian Williams, who enrolled last month, reminds him of former Canes cornerback Michael Jackson.
UM believes Gurvan
●
Hall has the highest ceiling of the safeties, but he needs to be a reliable tackler. Amari Carter has come on strong, and Bubba Bolden will join the competition in August.
One UM official described
● K.J. Osborn asa better version of both Lawrence Cager (who transferred to Georgia) and Darrell Langham, who graduated and tried out for the Dolphins but wasn’t signed. It’s a compliment to Osborn’s ability and leadership that Diaz is taking him (with linebacker Shaq Quarterman) to meet with the media at the annual July ACC kickoff event at the Westin in Charlotte.
One key issue at receiver ● is how UM is going to combat the “vice coverage” that teams threw at Jeff Thomas last year, which limited his production at times.
Opposing defensive coordinators — determined not to let Thomas beat them — had defenders poised to pounce both inside and outside against Thomas last year, and Enos and receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield are determined to combat that.
Against FIU, North Carolina, and Virginia last season, Thomas had a total of three catches for 21 yards. He had four catches for 31 yards in the loss at Boston College, four for 15 in the loss to Duke. Enos said he wants the ball in Thomas’ hands 10 times a game.
One player whom the
●
Canes are especially excited about: Running back Harris. One official in regular attendance at UM spring practices predicts he’s going to be a star. He followed his excellent work late last season (5.9 per carry average) with a terrific spring.
And even though his contributions in the passing game were limited last season (three catches for 25 yards), UM people believe he will become a dangerous weapon out of the backfield because he has good hands.
CHATTER
One respected NBA
● official said he would be surprised if many teams (perhaps any teams) besides Miami have interest in Russell Westbrook because of his onerous contract and that the Heat should not give up young assets. That official said the Heat should be asking for a draft pick from Oklahoma City, not the other way around.
New Heat center
●
Meyers Leonard said after his trade from Portland to Miami: “This is not a joke: I came in the house and [my wife] knew I was a little bit in shock and she was blaring Will Smith’s ‘Miami.’ … There are numerous things I’m excited for — the culture, the kind of get-inthere-and-work-hard grit mentality.”
NFL insurance will
● cover Dolphins defensive tackle Kendrick Norton’s medical bills after he had an arm amputated because of a car accident. But Norton has started a gofundme page hoping to raise another $150,000. “With his career over and no source of income currently, this has put a tremendous amount of financial strain on Kendrick and his family. Any continued support is appreciated,” his agency said in a statement on Instagram. Norton has had three surgeries and might need two more.
The Marlins believe
● they can move some of the polished bats they drafted last month more quickly than most. They already have moved Wright State outfielder Peyton Burdick (.288) and North Carolina State first baseman Evan Edwards (.274) — now two of their better offensive prospects —from rookie league to Class A, and they’ve responded well.