Young players setting example

Sophomores stepping into leadership roles

CORAL GABLES — Zach McCloud can’t help but smile a bit when he thinks back to what life was like a year ago.

Then, he was a wide-eyed freshman trying to navigate his way around Miami’s campus while trying to adapt to the rigors of college football as an early enrollee at a major program.

These days, McCloud is a season veteran. And the Hurricanes linebacker’s smile grows even bigger when discussing how one of his newest teammates, Bradley Jennings Jr., is faring as he makes the same transition McCloud and fellow linebackers Shaquille Quarterman and Mike Pinckney were making last year.

So far, so good, McCloud says.

“He’s looking pretty good. I know he’s strong and he’s learning the playbook,” McCloud said Thursday of Jennings, one of 10 early enrollees participating in spring workouts at Miami. “I remember coming in last spring and being kind of frantic and all over the field. It’s good to see him come in and be calm and learn the plays at a good pace.”

McCloud may have felt overwhelmed during his first practices as a Hurricane, but it didn’t take long for the former Santaluces High standout to settle in and become an invaluable member of Miami’s defense.

By the time the Hurricanes took the field for their season opener against Florida A&M in September, McCloud, Quarterman and Pinckney had all earned starting jobs. It marked the first time in program history the Hurricanes had started three true freshmen at linebacker. Things only got better from there.

Three months later, Pinckney and Quarterman were named freshman AllAmericans, along with receiver Ahmmon Richards, the former Wellington High standout who finished with 934 yards to break the freshman receiving record set by Hurricanes legend Michael Irvin in 1985.

The group earned constant praise from their teammates and coaches, most of whom stopped seeing — and treating — the youngsters as freshmen long before the season ended.

“The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores,” Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. “They now understand what it takes to be a big-time college football player. They understand what the season requires of you. … You have to experience it to really understand it.”

And now that Miami’s sophomores understand the expectations, they’re trying to set the tone for their younger teammates, mentoring players like Jennings and even some of their fellow sophomores that may not have logged as much playing time as they did.

Ahead of Thursday’s practice, Quarterman and Jennings studied Miami’s playbook together. And though he said he’s still trying to become more comfortable in a leadership role, Richards said he’s been spending nearly every waking moment with receiver Dionte Mullins, who saw only limited action in Miami’s season opener before spending the rest of the season on the practice squad.

“He improved a lot. He’s always worked hard, but he worked even harder in the offseason and I feel like he’s taking that next step,” Richards said of Mullins. “I’m hanging with him 24-7. He’s been working.”

It’s the next step for a group that has already made its presence felt.

Now, they want to make sure others follow in their footsteps, as best as possible.

“I’m not the new guy on the block anymore,” Quarterman said. “I have a little bit more responsibility, even though I had responsibilities then. … I met with [Jennings] last night. He came over to my room and I showed him through the playbook and things like that. It’s just another level. I don’t really try to be a leader, I just keep my teammates accountable, if I see somebody doing wrong. I would want them to correct me if I was doing wrong. I just want to make sure we’re on the right track and working toward that goal.”