Miami Hurricanes
Overall Rank: #28
#3 Atlantic Coast Conference
Miami Team Page
2010 Record: (7-6, 5-3)
2010 Bowl: Sun Bowl vs. Notre Dame (L 33-17)
Coach: Al Golden (0-0 at Miami, 27-34 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Jedd Fisch
Defensive Coordinator: Mark D’Onofrio
Returning Leaders:
Rushing: Lamar Miller, RB, 633 yards
Passing: Jacory Harris, QB, 1,756 yards
Receiving: Travis Benjamin, WR, 699 yards
Tackles: Sean Spence, LB, 111
Sacks: Olivier Vernon, DE, 6
Interceptions: Ray-Ray Armstrong, S, and Vaughn Telemaque, S, 3
Other Key Returnees: LB Ramon Buchanon, WR LaRon Byrd, DT Marcus Fortson, OT Seantrel Henderson, C Tyler Horn, RB Mike James, QB Stephen Morris, DE Adewale Ojomo, DT Micanor Regis, G Brandon Washington
Key Losses: DE Allen Bailey, RB Damien Berry, K Matt Bosher, WR Leonard Hankerson, CB Brandon Harris, CB Ryan Hill, LB Colin McCarthy
It’s time for another football reboot in Coral Gables. After the scandal-plagued Larry Coker era and the mired-in-mediocrity Randy Shannon regime, Miami is starting over fresh with Al Golden. He worked wonders resuscitating a moribund Temple program, but can Coach Golden step up his game on the big stage and return “The U” to its former glory?
Strengths:
Miami’s entire defense is stacked with talent and poised to replicate the success of last year, when the ‘Canes finished 22nd in the nation in total defense. The strength starts in the middle, where tackles Marcus Fortson and Micanor Regis form an imposing wall. End Olivier Vernon has flashed playmaking ability, as his six sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss in 2010 showed. At the other end in Miami’s 4-3, Adewale Ojomo seems ready to step into the shoes of the NFL-bound Allen Bailey, and exciting freshman Anthony Chickillo could see a lot of playing time. Sean Spence is the latest in Miami’s long line of outstanding linebackers. Though undersized, he is a tackling machine. And on the back line, the ‘Canes have one the best safety pairs in the nation. Juniors Ray-Ray Armstrong and Vaughn Telemaque are on the pro scouts’ radar thanks to their size and athleticism. Offensively, Miami boasts an experienced line that returns four starters. Junior guard Brandon Washington was an All-ACC choice last year, while tackle Seantrel Henderson lived up to the hype that comes with being one of the most highly-rated recruits when he earned freshman All-America honors. The Hurricanes lost their leading running back (Damien Berry) and wide receiver (Leonard Hankerson) from a year ago, but they should not miss a beat thanks to gifted players who are ready for more prominent roles. Lamar Miller’s explosive speed in the backfield is nicely complemented by Mike James’s brute power. At receiver, Travis Benjamin is as dynamic as any pass-catcher in the country, while LaRon Byrd and Aldarius Johnson are dependable veterans.
Weaknesses:
Jacory Harris is as maddening as any player in the nation. He has all of the tools you could want in a quarterback, and yet he regressed in a big way in 2010 following a breakthrough sophomore season. Harris threw 15 interceptions (many at crucial times) versus only 14 touchdowns and he now finds himself locked in battle with Stephen Morris for the starting job. Coach Golden might not make his decision until shortly before the season opener. Whoever he picks will have to do a better job of protecting the ball so that Miami’s stable of offensive talent can do its thing. Defensively, the ‘Canes were hit hard at the cornerback position when their top three players moved on. JoJo Nicolas is being tried at one starting spot after moving over from safety, but it remains to be seen if he, or anyone else, can fill the void. At some point Miami will feel the loss of Matt Bosher. He was not only All-ACC as a punter last season, he also was all-conference as a kicker the year before. Finally, Coach Golden must address his new team’s penchant for penalties. The Hurricanes routinely rank near the bottom of the country in drawing flags and that habit, along with the turnover trouble, has been a key factor in several recent losses.
The Bottom Line:
Coach Golden has pumped new energy into the Miami program and also has taken strong steps to revitalize the team’s image in South Florida. Those efforts will pay off in a big way down the road when it comes to recruiting. But as for this season, we should give the new guy a break. While he has enough talent to win the ACC, Coach Golden probably will need a season to get a feel for his roster and for his new assistants’ systems to take hold. Expect a modest improvement – maybe to nine wins – and then the sky could be the limit.
Projected Bowl: Champs Sports Bowl
2010 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 182.46 (30th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Passing Offense: 238.85 (43, 5)
Total Offense: 421.31 (31, 2)
Scoring Offense: 26.31 (67, 5)
Rushing Defense: 172.77 (84, 9)
Pass Defense: 150.54 (3, 1)
Total Defense: 323.31 (22, 3)
Scoring Defense: 20.69 (29, 5)
Turnover Margin: -.62 (104, 11)
Sacks: 2.85 (9, 3)
Sacks Allowed: 1.31 (24, 2)
Madness 2012 NFL Draft Rankings:
#19 Marcus Forston
#45 Ray Ray Armstrong
#68 Sean Spence
Madness 2011 FBS Football Recruit Rankings:
#25 Anthony Chickillo
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