Canes make two position switches, give injury updates

A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Monday:

The Canes are moving ahead with two position switches — Keontra Smith to weakside linebacker and Amari Carter to striker — and both make a lot of sense.

Smith, the former No. 2 striker behind Gilbert Frierson, was impressive in the spring game at linebacker and could offer the best option at that spot if Sam Brooks continues to have durability issues. Brooks missed the spring with a toe injury.

UM’s top five linebackers, in no particular order, could end up being

Corey Flagg Jr. in the middle, Brooks, Smith,

Bradley Jennings Jr., and either Avery Huff or

Waymon Steed, with

Tirek Austin-Cave and freshmen Deshawn Troutman and Tyler Johnson also pushing for playing time.

Carter’s move to striker — where he figures to share time with Frierson — could ease the logjam at safety.

Bubba Bolden and

Gurvan Hall are clear front-runners to start the opener at safety against Alabama, but the path has been cleared for at least two talented young players to join the safety rotation among Avantae Williams, James Williams, Keshawn Washington, Kamren Kinchens and Brian Balom.

Coach Manny Diaz said that Carter — who started nine games at safety last season — still might be used at that position, adding, “That will depend on what our depth looks like early on” in August camp.

Jalen Harrell — moved over from cornerback — and promising freshman

Chase Smith also are competing at striker.

Diaz expressed optimism that Don Chaney

working his way back from a shoulder injury, will be ready for the Alabama opener.

“The news has been encouraging considering Don and his availability for the opener,” Diaz said. “We’re trending in a good direction with Don Chaney.”

Chaney didn’t have any protective sleeve on the shoulder at Paradise

Camp on Saturday.

Of the three running backs competing for the lead job (Chaney, Cam’Ron Harris and Jaylon Knighton), Chaney might be the most complete and have the highest ceiling. This will be a highly competitive battle in August.

Meanwhile, quarterback

D’Eriq King remains on track to play against Alabama. He wasn’t wearing anything on his surgicallyrepaired knee during Paradise Camp and was walking without any limp.

But left guard Jakai Clark appears unlikely to be ready for the Alabama game in the wake of his April car accident. When asked about Clark and Chaney, Diaz said: “Jakai may have a little further to go” than Chaney.

Jalen Rivers is the top candidate to start at left guard in the opener.

Former UM offensive lineman Joaquin Gonzalez, a two-time firstteam All American, offered a blunt assessment of the program after serving as a guest coach at Paradise Camp.

“This is a big year for the program to step up and grow,” he said. “They’ve had a lot of recruiting classes come through here with a lot of talent. Development has always been a question for a lot of years here. If they can put that all together …

“It’s simple: Win the games that we’re supposed to win. Compete in the ones that we know we’re going to have a tough time. We don’t have to win those.

“Lose to Alabama by [expletive] 10, not by [expletive] 35. And compete and show that you belong to play an opponent like that. We haven’t seen that. We have a first test in Alabama. Let’s be realists. I want them to win. I expect them to win. But I feel more importantly right now, given the state of the program the way it’s been the last couple of years, I want them to show some progression, show some balls and [expletive] compete. We have the talent.”

Has the coaching staff been upgraded?

“Being with [offensive line] coach [Garin Justice], I’ve had a lot of time to spend with him, I’m really excited [about] the O-line group. I think he has a tremendous group. They look great. They’re way better than we were when I was here...

“I think we’re going to be all right. But now the kids have to do the work. If not, it’s going to be a different story.”

Is player development getting back to the point of UM’s glory years?

“It’s too early to tell,” he said. “Greg Rousseau was here. Jaelan Phillips was here for a cupcake and a [expletive] Diet Coke. I think it’s too early to tell the progression with some of these kids. This year will be a good measure.”

The Canes emerged from the final weekend of

June official visits without any more 2022 commitments but very much in the mix for several players.

Devon Jackson — the four-star linebacker from Omaha, Nebraska — liked the weekend at UM and told Canesport that it’s “50-50” between the Canes and Arizona State.

Demario Tolan, the four-star outside linebacker/striker from Orlando, left his visit with a favorable impression of UM and a final five of Miami, LSU, FSU, Tennessee and Clemson. He will announce July 8.

Three-star Miami Central offensive tackle

Daughtry Richardson said the Miami visit helped UM’s chances. He will announce July 26, picking from UM, FSU, Arizona State and Kentucky.

Jacob Hood, the fourstar offensive tackle from Nashville, emerged from his official visit strongly considering UM, as well as Georgia and others.

And four-star Orlandobased defensive tackle

Zane Durant tweeted that he liked his UM visit and told Canesport he will choose among the Canes, Penn State and Indiana on July 4.