#CanesCamp Notebook (August 9)
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes returned to the Greentree Practice Fields Sunday for their first practice of #CanesCamp in full pads.
Saturday’s practice was also Miami’s first morning session of this year’s preseason camp, and it proved to be a productive day for the Hurricanes under the bright South Florida sun.
“It was good, physical and spirited,” head coach Al Golden said. “We got a lot done. I am happy with the effort so far.”
Quarterback Jake Heaps found sophomore wide receiver and Miramar product Malcolm Lewis for a huge touchdown, an 80-yard score that brought loud cheers from the offensive sideline.
“He’s polished,” offensive coordinator James Coley said of Heaps. “He comes in with a lot of experience. He’s very fundamentally sound. He’s a guy that has been playing for a while…he’s been fairly accurate, making great checks on the line of scrimmage.”
The senior signal caller credited Lewis for making another huge catch. Heaps believes the entire receiving corps has been strong so far and will be a big asset to Miami’s quarterbacks.
“Malcolm has made some big plays,” Heaps said. “He’s had a great offseason, he’s done some good things – and so has this whole receiving group. Whether it’s with me or someone else, these receivers are making plays, and you can see it.”
Miami’s young quarterbacks also looked good Saturday, as freshman Brad Kaaya found Walter Tucker for a 10-yard touchdown. Fellow freshman Malik Rosier hit sophomore Stacy Coley over the middle for a big gain and redshirt freshman Kevin Olsen connected with freshman Braxton Berrios for a 25-yard gain.
“I have no idea if he’s a freshman or not,” Coley said of Kaaya. “He acts like he’s a senior. He’s very sharp. We threw the playbook at these guys, and they have responded…I’ve been on them pretty hard. They’re very focused. Brad has been extremely accurate, and he’s been throwing the ball really well.”
Running back Gus Edwards made sure the passing game wasn’t the sole focus Saturday. The sophomore is known for his strength and power, but Edwards showed excellent burst when he sprinted for the pylon during goal line drills for a touchdown.
Tight end Standish Dobard also snagged a touchdown in a goal line situation. The sophomore picked up six points for the offense when he weaved through traffic to make a touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone.
While the Hurricane offense provided several highlights, Miami’s defense made plenty of noise on Saturday morning.
Freshman Chad Thomas picked up a sack after an impressive inside rush, but he was not the only former Booker T. Washington standout to get to the quarterback on Saturday. Freshman Demetrius Jackson also used his athleticism and quickness to record a sack.
“Demetrius Jackson has been a really pleasant surprise for us,” Golden said. “Not a lot of football background, but he has put on a lot of good weight. And Chad [Thomas] has made a difference.”
Miami’s defensive backs also continued their streak of impressive play early on in #CanesCamp. Sophomore Corn Elder snared his first interception of the week, while junior Deon Bush made an athletic play to break up a pass intended for Dobard.
Saturday’s practice was the first practice for freshman wide receiver Darrell Langham. A 6-foot-5 native of Lantana, Fla., Langham donned No. 81 and was participating in a limited number of drills. Langham, who was in a helmet and shorts, was in the first day of the NCAA five-day acclimatization period. He is scheduled to be integrated into full pads by Miami’s ninth practice of #CanesCamp.
The Hurricanes will hold their sixth practice session of #CanesCamp on Sunday. For the latest information on Miami Hurricanes Football, follow @MiamiHurricanes on Twitter and the official blog for Hurricanes Football, www.theufootball.com.
