South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Hurricanes return key special teams players
The South Florida weather is as hot as ever, and fall camp is underway. The college football season is fast approaching.
With Mario Cristobal and a new coaching staff bringing optimism to Coral Gables, the Miami Hurricanes will look to improve on their
7-5 record in 2021 and compete for an ACC title.
Each week, we’ll take a look at Miami’s position groups and see where they stand entering the
2022 season.
In this final installment of the summer camp series, we’ll look at the Hurricanes’ special teams players.
Who left
Miami doesn’t have much to replace in special teams this season.
Mike Harley Jr., primarily a wide receiver, took some snaps on kick returns. He had one kickoff return for 18 yards last season. He is with the Cleveland Browns now. Safety Amari Carter also returned one kick last season.
Backup punter Nelson Foley also departed, entering the transfer portal. Otherwise, the Hurricanes return their key players on special teams.
Who returns
The special teams crew from
last season returns for the 2021 campaign.
Andres Borregales will take care of kicking duties for the Hurricanes again this season. The younger brother of former UM kicker Jose Borregales made the All-ACC team as an honorable mention as a freshman last season. He hit 17 of his 21 fieldgoal attempts — with the longest coming from 55 yards — and all 45 of his extra-point kicks.
Borregales earned a solid grade from Pro Football Focus in his first season, getting an 81.4 grade on field goals. His score was tied for 37th in the nation and fourth in the ACC.
Borregales also averaged 59.8 yards on kickoffs and had 37 touchbacks. He earned an 81.1 grade on kickoffs.
The Hurricanes also return sixth-year redshirt senior punter Lou Hedley, who has been with Miami since 2019. Hedley averaged 44.9 yards on punts last season, landing
19 inside the 20-yard line. He earned a 69.9 punting grade from PFF.
Miami has several options for kick and punt returners.
Sophomore Brashard Smith had the most kick returns for UM last year, returning eight for 146 yards. He had a 62.7 grade on kickoffs.
Third-year sophomore Xavier Restrepo returned four kickoffs for 100 yards last season, earning a 64.2 grade on kick returns. He also returned two punts, losing 2 yards.
Sophomore Jacolby George was Miami’s top punt returner last season, hauling in 13 punts and returning them for 142 yards. He had a 61 grade on punt returns.
Standout fourth-year junior Tyrique Stevenson returned six punts last season for
59 yards. He had a grade of 48. Cornerback Te’Cory Couch, cornerback Marcus Clarke, wide receiver Key’Shawn Smith, cornerback Malik Curtis and running back Jaylan Knighton have also practiced on kickoff or punt returns.
Who arrived
While there are not many incoming freshmen or transfers who will likely line up as kick or punt returners, running back Henry Parrish Jr. may.
The Ole Miss transfer has practiced returning. He had a pair of kick returns for Ole Miss in his two seasons in Oxford, Mississippi.