CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Hurricanes continue making their way through their spring practice schedule and on Thursday, donned full pads for the first time this spring.

After Thursday’s practice, running backs coach Matt Merritt, tight ends coach Cody Woodiel, linebacker Jaylin Alderman and tight end Alex Bauman spoke with reporters and shared their thoughts on the day’s workout.

Here’s some of what they had to say after Thursday’s practice, in their own words…

Running backs coach Matt Merritt

On how he thinks his group looked in the team’s first practice this spring with full pads:

“First day in pads is a step in the right direction. There’s still a lot of growth to be done, you know what I’m saying? Just consistency in our pass pro and our leverage and even how we finish runs, being a little more decisive. For Day One, it was solid, but still not where you want to be yet.”

On whether there’s a sense of urgency for sophomore running back Jordan Lyle to step up after the departure of veteran back Damien Martinez:

“I think the sense of urgency is there for everybody. It’s important. We lost Dame and Dame had a great year [last season]. But they know that next guy’s up, next man’s up and whoever’s in that room falls in line with that. So, whether it’s Jordan, Mark [Fletcher Jr.] , whether it’s Chris Wheatley-Humphrey, whether it’s Terrell Walden II or even [Girard] Pringle, Jr. , it’s all of them. They’ve got to be able to step up and in order to get that done, you’ve got to be consistent in the things that you do on a daily basis, from the film study, learning the installs, how you practice, everything. So, yeah, Jordan fits in that mold and obviously, lots expected from him, but you’ve still got some ways to go in a lot of areas and he’s working on it.”

On the progress of junior running back Mark Fletcher, Jr.:

“He really reshaped his body, which has been good. And obviously, the fact that this is his first spring ball. Obviously, that first spring, he was still in high school, couldn’t leave early, and then last year, he was dealing with the injury. So, for him to actually have a spring for the first time has been huge for him in his development. He’s trying to take a lot of steps in the leadership part, which he has. A lot of guys following him. A lot of the guys believe in him. He has that clout, right? Like the kids say. And he’s really starting to run with it. I think we’re really, as a staff, trying to push the leadership of the older guys. We lose guys like Cam [Ward], lose guys like Jalen Rivers, some of those leaders on the offense [and we’re] looking for other guys to step up and hoping Mark will end up being one of those.”

On freshman running back Gerard Pringle, Jr.:

“For a rookie coming in, he’s picked up the offense pretty well. Just still getting used to the speed and learning, understanding that [he] can’t just outrun everybody, right? Got to be able to run between the tackles, make [his] reads. But it’s been positive so far. Again, for him, still a ton of growth.”

Tight ends coach Cody Woodiel

On what transfer tight end Alex Bauman brings to the program:

“Obviously, with the veteran leadership that we’re losing with Elijah Arroyo and Cam McCormick, [and] Alex obviously having over almost 2,000 snaps of college football, he’s coming and stabilizing the room a little bit with a bunch of young guys coming in. He’s brought a very good veteran professional leadership to the room and obviously, he’s a very productive player, too. So, we’re looking forward to him continuing to build and develop and he’s just now scratching the surface with us. Excited to have him.”

On sophomore tight end Elija Lofton:

“Truthfully, I’ve told a lot of people this: he is the most unique player I’ve ever coached up to this point in my career. And outside of his athletic ability, truthfully, the leadership that he’s already established as a true sophomore and the respect he’s earned throughout the program just because of his diligent hard work, that speaks for itself. That’s really, to me as a coach, what I’m most proud about, how he handles his business and how he approaches every day on the field. Because, athletically, he’s blessed, right? … He’s a Swiss Army knife. You can use him, put him in multiple different ways, creates a lot of different matchups, so super excited for him to keep developing and pushing himself. I think it’s going to be a fun year for him.”

On tight end Jack Nickel:

“Jack’s a hammer, man. He gets in there and gets after it. … Jack so far has been so far, such an awesome add in the room. He’s another veteran guy that comes in and brings some leadership qualities that you’re looking for because he’s played a lot of snaps and been around the college game for a while. Jack gets in there, and he’s physical and mixes it up and he’s a guy that these younger guys can watch, too. He understands leverage and how to get his feet in the ground and he’s doing an unbelievable job for us. Really, really, really nice job.”

Linebacker Jaylin Alderman

On new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman and his defense:

“Coach Hetherman’s a great coach. A lot of his stuff he brought from Minnesota and we’re just trying to watch as much film as possible, as we can, so we can continue to grow and get better. … He just focuses a lot on details and a lot of urgency and a lot on being a team, being together. So, I feel like that’ll help us come this fall and later on in the season.”

On how he wants to improve his game this spring:

“Just working on my body from that standpoint. Continue to get bigger, faster and stronger. Just know the defense inside and out and just be a leader, a veteran guy. Just want to make the guys around me better.”

On what’s asked of the linebackers in Hetherman’s defense:

“Coach Hetherman, he puts a lot on the linebackers, as far as communicating. So, he looks to us to get everybody else engaged, have urgency with everybody and have us make the calls.”

On how he sees his role evolving:

“I want to be a leader of this team. I want to set the standard to where younger guys that come in whenever I leave, or years from now, that’s the standard. That’s where I want to continue to grow and just improve my overall game and just be the best person I can be.”

On which linebacker is stepping up to be the vocal leader of the room:

“I feel like we all play a part in that. As far as me, [Wesley Bissainthe], [Raul Aguirre Jr.], we all just try to set the tone every day. That could be running on and off the field; that could be getting everybody on point. I just feel like everybody plays a role in that. We all want to get everybody better and we know that Coach Hetherman coaches the linebackers, so we have to.”

Tight end Alex Bauman

On his decision to transfer to Miami:

“I had a great time at Tulane, three years there. Just looking for a new opportunity in the [transfer] portal. Miami reached out and I had a great opportunity here with Coach Woodiel and the team. I’m just excited to get to practice, going through spring ball, getting to know everybody, going through workouts, all that stuff. I’m really excited.”

On how he sees himself fitting into the tight ends room:

“Just helping the tight end room. We have some elite players in the tight end room and a lot is asked of the tight end room. Coming from last year, Elijah [Arroyo], Riley [Williams] and Cam [McCormick], they played a great, great deal of reps and they really helped the team out and that’s what we’re looking forward to, keeping that tight end tradition going here.”

On adjusting to Power Four football after playing at a Group of Five program:

“I’d say really just putting in the work. That’s what it comes down to. Football is football at the end of the day, right? So, when you’re trying to make this jump, there’s competition … but really at the end of the day, it’s football. I’ve got to improve on myself, do what I do well and help the team out the best I can.”

On competing against the defense:

“They all get after it and that’s the great thing about practice. Competition’s at an all-time high. Whenever you’re going against safeties, cornerbacks, linebackers, d-linemen, you’re trying to win your rep and they’re at the top of their game. That’s why we’re all at Miami, right? Every rep is a grind. Every rep is a chance to get better and play against the best players in the nation.”