Defense Shines in Sixth Practice

March 29, 2006

Coral Gables – The Hurricanes held their sixth practice this afternoon at the Greentree Practice Fields.

“The defense was really chasing the ball and correcting some mistakes they made yesterday,” said head coach Larry Coker, “so it was really a good day for the defense. I really like what I see so far out of the team. We’ll have a scrimmage Saturday and see where we are.”

Coker was asked about the team’s depth at defensive tackle and praised the play of redshirt freshman Luqman Abdullah. “He’s really starting to come on. He pounds it. He’s a very physical player.” Of Antonio Dixon, who played as a true freshman last season, Coker said, “When’s he’s able to go hard, he’s a force. He’s a guy we really don’t have – a thick Cortez Kennedy type of player, like Russell Maryland. He’s hard to block.” And of Courtney Harris, a redshirt freshman defensive end, Coker commented, “He’s looked really good. He put on about 15 pounds and looks like a different player than last year. He’ll have a role because he’s very difficult to block. On third-down situations, he’s a great pass rusher. That could be his primary role as we get to the season.”

Linebacker Willie Williams missed his second practice because he is sick. Coker expects Williams to return on Saturday.

The Hurricanes will practice again at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Cobb Stadium on the UM campus. The practice is open to the media. There is no practice on Friday, as originally scheduled. That practice has been changed to April 8.