Hurricanes have compelling position battles on offense

With Miami Hurricanes training camp practices set to begin Friday, examining the five most compelling position competitions on offense, with input from longtime UM radio analyst Don Bailey Jr.:

Who’s the No. 2 running back behind Cam’Ron Harris?

I wouldn’t be surprised if the most carries (after Harris) go to

Jaylon Knighton, the most impressive of UM’s early arrivals in four practices this spring. Knighton, rated by Rivals as the sixthbest back and 143rd-best prospect in the 2020 class, was Broward County’s all-time leading rusher with 5,150 career yards at Deerfield Beach High. Players rave about his speed, shiftiness and acceleration.

“Jaylon Knighton was as good as advertised in four practices I saw,” Bailey said. But freshman

Don Chaney also will be difficult to keep off the field; he ran for 4,511 yards and 60 touchdowns at Miami Belen Jesuit. He missed spring practices with a shoulder injury but should be fine for camp. His former coach, Rich Stuart, says the comparisons to NFL running back Todd Gurley are warranted.

Expect Robert Burns will have a role; he’s best equipped to be UM’s short-yardage and goal-line back. UM coaches appreciate his diligence in the weight room and believe his bruising style gives UM a skill it needs. Fullback

Michael Parrott, now on scholarship, should get a few snaps, particularly in short yardage.

The big issue is whether Harris can take the step from good to exceptional. “There was no question Edgerrin James was the man. It’s important Cam’Ron comes in and establishes he is the guy,” Bailey said.

With Navaughn Donaldson redshirting after knee surgery, who’s the starting left guard?

The top candidates are former junior college player Ousman Traore, who took first-team snaps this spring, and Jakai Clark, who started 12 games at right guard last season.

Traore played in only two games last season, but it’s notable that LSU offered Traore a scholarship when he was at Hutchinson Junior College. Clark played decently as a freshman but might be better suited for center — a position held by junior

Corey Gaynor.

Well-regarded freshman Jalen Rivers, who can play tackle but has begun his UM career as a guard, could become a factor.

D.J. Scaife — who has played both guard and tackle at UM — appears the best fit to be the starting right guard.

Will anyone press John Campbell for the starting left tackle job?

Campbell struggled as Miami’s starting right tackle against UF, sustained a hand injury and played in just three more games. But Campbell was UM’s firstteam left tackle in all four spring practices, and new line coach Garin Justice likes his skill set.

Campbell was a very good prospect two years ago, with offers from Alabama, UF, Auburn and FSU, and has “the size and is athletic enough to accomplish anything they need,” Bailey said.

His competition: Kai-Leon Herbert, who has underachieved at UM but drew praise from Justice earlier this offseason; and Zion Nelson, who started as a freshman and led the nation in sacks allowed (11).

Four-star freshman Issiah Walker, who enrolled at UF in January and transferred to UM four months later, would join this competition if the NCAA allows him to play this season. Likely starter Jarrid Williams, the senior grad transfer from Houston, has said UM plans to use him at right tackle.

At wide receiver, Mark

Pope, Dee Wiggins and Mike Harley Jr. are likely to play. But who else will get regular snaps?

I would make Jeremiah Payton and freshman Xavier Restrepo the favorites for the fourth and fifth spots. Teammates raved about how Payton looked in practice last season.

“Get used to saying his name and writing it,” Bailey said of Payton. “I was very impressed with him in training camp last year.”

Meanwhile, Restrepo, a natural in the slot, appears the most polished of the four freshmen receivers. Coach Manny Diaz said Restrepo is “probably the most competitive guy” in this recruiting class.

“I know there are Braxton Berrios comparisons, but he makes Berrios look like a fifthgrader [physically] and his hands are better than Berrios’,” said one official who attended UM’s practices in the spring.

Pope continued to have issues with route running last season, but the new staff believes he’s the quintessential receiver for a spread offense — because of his speed and ability to make short throws into long gains. Wiggins had only one drop last season after dropping five as a freshman. His hands have improved.

Talented freshmen Michael Redding (dealt with wrist injury this spring), Daz Worsham (maybe the most physically gifted of the freshmen receivers) and

Keyshawn Smith (very good speed) all will get a chance to crack the top five.

Who will win the backup quarterback job?

N’Kosi Perry is the favorite to back up D’Eriq King. But two UM players have conveyed how impressive freshman Tyler Van Dyke has been. From watching his spring, Bailey said: “You can see why there’s no question Van Dyke was the top quarterback in the state [of Connecticut] and one of the top in the country.

He’s accurate.”

But Perry has impressed coaches with how he has handled King’s transfer, and the likelihood is he would get first crack if King is injured. Tate Martell and Peyton Matocha face longer odds.

CHATTER

Meyers Leonard’s removal from the Heat’s rotation makes it more likely that Miami will choose to keep either Leonard

(an impending free agent) or Kelly Olynyk ($12.2 million player option for next season) this summer but probably not both. You can’t pay $20 million for two rotation players who play 20 minutes a night combined.

The Dolphins have been easing back receiver Preston Williams from a torn ACL and a source said there’s no assurance he will be ready for Week 1, though there’s cautious optimism.

With Tua Tagovailoa not around to throw to Dolphins receivers this offseason, Miami receivers instead caught passes from Dolphins quarterback Josh Rosen and Seahawks backup Geno Smith. Rosen has impressed teammates.

A Marlins player admitted to MLB investigators that two Marlins players left their hotel in Atlanta to spend time with Braves outfielder and former Marlins player Marcell Ozuna, who subsequently tested negative for COVID-19.