Eye on the U

Top 60 Countdown: No. 42, DE Steven Wesley

Another day, another player to examine in our countdown of the Top 60 players at the University of Miami. Today, it's No. 42 on our list: Defensive end Steven Wesley, who is still looking for his first career sack despite starting 11 games last season. Wesley could find the wait go even longer if he doesn't watch out for some hard-charging young players behind him. 

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '06: As a three-year starter at Bartow High, Wesley starred as a defensive end and tight end. As a senior, he made 70 tackles, six sacks and one interception and caught 10 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Rivals.com rated him the 15th-best defensive end in the country. Scout had him 30th and ESPN had him 38th. Wesley chose UM over Mississippi, Ohio State and Alabama.

> What he's done as a Cane: After being redshirting in 2006 and recording six tackles as a sophomore in 2007, Wesley stepped him game up in 2008, starting 11 games and making 21 tackles -- three for loss. It wasn't a spectacular season, but it was steady. This spring, despite being beat out for the starting job by Marcus Robinson and freshman Olivier Vernon, Wesley had three tackles. His weight room numbers are pretty good compared to others. Wesley tied Vernon for the sixth strongest power clean lift on the team at 308 pounds (tied for second among defensive ends). Wesley also squats 440 pounds -- third among defensive linemen.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: If you break up UM's defensive ends by what they're good at, Wesley is probably the second best end at stopping the run. He and Ojomo are looked at as solid, run-stopping ends on the edge. The issue with Wesley, who will be a junior this fall, is if he'll ever be more than that. Ojomo has at least shown improvement in rushing the passer. With Vernon impressing in the spring and the return of Eric Moncur from injury, Wesley could see his playing time diminish if he doesn't step up his game. Either way, Wesley should still see some action in UM's deep rotation. It will be up to him exactly how much.

Top 60 Countdown: No. 43, OT Matt Pipho

As we move forward yet again in our countdown of the Top 60 players at The U, we look at No. 43 on our list: Senior offensive tackle Matt Pipho. The 6-7, 307-pounder from Iowa is being counted on -- at least early -- to step up his game and play a lot more than he has in his career. Will Pipho surprise us or will he go back to being what he has been in his first four seasons at UM -- a seldom used backup?

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '05: Pipho (pronounced PEE-po) was an all-state selection at Union High in LaPorte City, Iowa as a tight end and defensive end. He racked up 50 tackles and seven sacks as a senior and also starred in track and baseball. He became the first athlete in his hometown of 2,500 to receive a scholarship to a Division I program. He chose the Hurricanes over Stanford. Rivals.com rated him the 38th best offensive tackle in the country. Scout.com rated him 76th.

> What he's done as a Cane: Pipho has yet to make a start in his four seasons at the University of Miami despite playing in 26 games. He was redshirted in 2005, and played mostly on extra points in 2006 and 2007. Last season when Reggie Youngblood and Jason Fox went down with injuries, he was forced into duty. He played plenty against Virginia and Virginia Tech until they returned the following week. This spring, with Youngblood and Chris Rutledge gone, he's worked with the first team at right tackle.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Entering the fall, Pipho is the projected starter at right tackle for the Hurricanes. Now in his fifth season, you would have hoped Pipho would have already started already at some point in his career. But the fact he hasn't (on a team not exactly loaded with offensive line talent) tells you something. Although coach Jeff Stoutland says all the right things about Pipho, there is no denying there are younger players behind Pipho who are more talented and more highly touted. The question is: Will those guys be good enough to beat him out for playing time in 2009? In the weight room, Pipho's 308-pound power clean lift is tied with Jason Fox for the second strongest among offensive lineman. That's comforting. But will Pipho be able to combat some of the nation's best defensive ends in the ACC like Fox has? That's a totally different issue. History tells us we shouldn't have a lot of confidence in a fifth-year senior who has zero starts (I don't have a lot either). Don't be shocked if freshman Jermaine Johnson -- switched to right tackle at the end of the spring -- eventually beats Pipho out for playing time by the end of the season.

Graig Cooper should be the boss in the backfield

Graig Cooper wants to be UM's next 1,000-yard rusher. 

That's the goal the guy wearing No. 2 has set for himself this coming season even though it hasn't happened at the University of Miami since 2002 when another guy who wore No. 2, Willis McGahee, finished fourth in the Heisman voting with 1,753 yards (the most ever in a Canes single season).

Back then, when Miami's offense was humming like a choo-choo train, 1,000-yard backs were the norm. From 1995-02, Danyell Ferguson (1,069 in '95), Edgerrin James (1,098 in '97 and 1,416 in '98), James Jackson (1,006 in '00) and Clinton Portis (1,200 in '01) all hit the four digit mark.

So it crazy to think this team -- in the midst of a 19-19 funk over the past three seasons -- can get back to that in Mark Whipple's new offense this fall? Not at all if you ask coach Randy Shannon. He said he wants to go with one primary running back this season. He believes the team has the depth and experience now where if the primary guy goes down, there won't be a major drop off.

But can Cooper (6-0, 205) take the pounding? Can he carry the the load? Will he really be given that load?

Last year, when James missed four games with a high ankle sprain, Cooper proved he could. Against Texas A&M, North Carolina, FSU and UCF, he ran 64 times for 359 yards and three touchdowns (that includes a six carry, 31-yard effort versus FSU when UM threw nearly every down in the second half). Not a bad stretch.

Unfortunately for Cooper, it didn't last. He carried the ball just 19 times combined his next two games against Duke and Wake Forest. Miami pulled off two wins despite it. But the next two games, Cooper got the ball 39 times against Virginia and Virginia Tech and UM picked up arguably its two biggest wins of the season.

Such was the theme for UM all season. When Cooper was handed the ball at least 15 times a game, UM was usually successful and at its best. The Canes went 4-2 in games Cooper had 15 carries (the losses were to UF and North Carolina). 

But when Cooper got the ball a combined just 30 times in UM's last three games, the Canes went 0-3. Before he produced a measly 155 yards in those three games, Cooper might have had a real shot at the 1,000 yard mark had Miami continued to give him the rock. Instead, he shared it with James (who had 29 carries during the stretch) and finished fifth in the ACC in rushing with 841 yards on 171 carries and four touchdowns. Only Boston College freshman Montel Harris (900 yards on 179 carries) produced more rushing yards with fewer touches than Cooper.

Cooper wants to be the man in Miami's backfield this coming season. He just doesn't want to sound greedy. He made every attempt Wednesday to avoid sounding like Keyshawn Johnson.

"We're not worried about trying to be the main guy. We're worried about trying to win, become a team," Cooper said Wednesday. "We let the young guys say some things, correct us. Our pride's not so big that we have to say everything and we have to be the boss. We listen to them too."

But maybe Cooper ought to try being the boss of the backfield. Because when he does touch the ball, good things usually happen. Statistically, nobody at UM has produced more offense than he has the last two seasons. As a freshman and sophomore, he's run for 1,523 yards on 296 career carries. His 29 catches were second on the team last season.

When this football program was thriving earlier this decade, one back usually headlined the show. Portis, McGahee and Frank Gore were all talented enough to be the man in Miami's offense. But only one was usually handed the keys. It didn't sever friendships or make things uncomfortable. The trio stayed friends off the field just fine. But they couldn't stand each other on it. Each of them wanted to be the man. It drove them to becoming better football players. Each is now thriving in the NFL.

When I asked Cooper about the NFL Wednesday he told me he wasn't even thinking about it. "I'm not worried about the draft. I got two years left. I'm just worried about getting this program back to where it used to be,"he said.

Team chemistry is important. I'm not knocking it. But part of what made The U special when it was special was how guys saw college as a stepping stone to achieving their NFL dreams. Cooper should embody that. He's been the best offensive player on this team the past two seasons.

Whether you agree with me or not, he's clearly been head and shoulders better than Baby J since arriving. Yet James, who has run for 100 yards in a game just once since he finished with 802 yards (second-most ever for a true freshman), has continued to take opportunities from Cooper. Since 2007, James has 227 carries and 868 yards (3.8 avg). That's only 69 less carries yet an eye-opening 655 fewer yards.

James may have the NFL pedigree, but even scouts believe Cooper will be the better pro, projecting him as a fourth round pick in 2011 and James -- hampered by injuries the past two seasons -- as a fifth or sixth rounder in 2010.

So is Shannon serious when he says there will be one primary back this season? There's only one real way to tell. If Cooper has four numbers and a comma next to his season total in December instead of three.

Top 60 Countdown: No. 44, RB Lee Chambers

Time to move forward again in our countdown of the Top 60 players at the University of Miami. We examine No. 44: Sophomore running back Lee Chambers. The Canes have had a crowded backfield the past few years and Chambers hasn't had much room to shine. He finally did in the Emerald Bowl. But will he work harder to earn more time now that Mike James and Lamar Miller are joining the shuffle?

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '07: Chambers picked the Hurricanes over Alabama, Mississippi State and Southern Mississippi. At Coffeyville High in Mississippi, Chambers finished his senior season with 1,325 yards and 19 touchdowns. That followed a junior season in which he ran for 1,543 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also played defense -- linebacker and safety -- and had 57 tackles, one sack and one interception return for a score. ESPN and Scout.com both loved Chambers' breakaway speed on the edge and rated him 9th nationally at his position. Rivals thought less of him and tabbed him a three-star recruit.

> What he's done as a Cane: Chambers played in four games -- all on special teams -- as a true freshman before going down with an injury and being granted a medical redshirt. He remained behind Graig Cooper, Javarris James and Derron Thomas on the depth chart last season before catching everyone's attention in the Emerald Bowl with several big bursts when he finished with 60 yards on nine carries. He played in five games, but didn't really carry the ball much other than against UCF when he finished with four carries for 31 yards. He has a total of 18 carries for 119 yards in his young career. He missed the spring with a shoulder injury.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Chambers is another talented player who could either end up being a major contributor because of injury, or another player that possibly ends up switching positions or transferring because he can't get on the field. The speed and burst we saw in the Emerald Bowl screams of talent. But there is a reason he didn't earn more carries last season when Javarris James was out with an injury.

Coach Randy Shannon made some interesting comments about Chambers during one of his press conferences after the Emerald Bowl: ""We'd like to get him more reps. But it's going to be up to him," Shannon said. "The one thing you always got to remember about young guys is some young guys can handle success and some guys can't." Not sure what Shannon was exactly hinting at, but it smells like maybe Chambers might not be doing all the things he has to. He better now. Mike James made his presence felt this spring. Lamar Miller could be the next. If Chambers hopes to play running back for the Canes, he has to breakout now.

Top 60 Countdown: No. 45, DE Olivier Vernon

As we inch closer to midway point in counting down the Top 60 players at the University of Miami, we inspect No. 45 on our list: Freshman defensive end Olivier Vernon. The local product enrolled in January and turned heads this spring with his speed and agility getting to the quarterback. How good is Vernon? Maybe better than what was first anticipated.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '09: The Hialeah American High product didn't play his senior because of an ankle injury, but he kept his word on his early commitment to Miami. The Hurricanes didn't need to see much from Vernon beyond his junior year to be sold on his talents. He had 52 tackles, 12.5 sacks and 21 tackles. Florida State and Alabama tried their best to sway Vernon away. But the 6-3, 250-pound end (rated 9th by Scout.com, 11th by Rivals, 19th by ESPN) chose UM and enrolled in January.

> What he's done as a Cane: Next to running back Mike James, most would say Vernon had the biggest spring of any of the six players who enrolled early. He started the spring game and had four tackles and a sack, beating left tackle Jason Fox to get to Jacory Harris.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Defensive line coach Clint Hurtt doesn't like to let his players get big-headed. But its hard for him to contain his excitement over Vernon, who has special pass rusher written all over him the way Marcus Robinson does. Vernon certainly has the body to play right away. The fact he didn't play his senior year means his body is relatively fresh. If he can stay healthy (and not tweak that ankle), he could become the Hurricane's second best pass rusher behind Robinson. And I think that's exactly what happens. Look for to make an impact.

Will '09 be different? Fox, Cooper, Phillips say so

 

They're tired of losing. They're tired of being written off. They're ready to put the University of Miami's football program back on the map.

That's what three of the Hurricanes most important veteran players talked about Wednesday -- exactly one month before the start of fall practice (Aug. 8). So, should we believe Jason Fox, Graig Cooper or Randy Phillips when they say UM is ready to put the uglier days of Canes football behind them?

After all, wasn't that the same thing we heard last year from Glenn Cook, Bruce Johnson and Reggie Youngblood? Didn't Kyle Wright, Kirby Freeman and Tavares Gooden say the same things the year before that? The bottomline is words don't win football games. But Cooper, Fox and Phillips shared some with us Wednesday -- the first time any reporter has been able to talk to players since the spring ended in March.

The trio filled us in on what the mood of the team is, their early impressions of several new arrivals and their expectations. Since players have simply been working out -- and 7-on-7 drills just got underway last week -- there isn't a whole lot of news to report. But there was definitely a lot of passion in the veteran's voices.

Nobody had more of it than Phillips when I asked him why 2009 will be different. "Because we weathered the storm," he said. "The hurricane came in and swept us, got us. We weren't stable, weren't built from the ground up. Coach Shannon was just getting in. The University of Miami has put those days behind us. We've already fixed our city back. Just like you saw the Dolphins improve, the Hurricanes are going to improve a lot from last year."

But why? What gives you that confidence? "Just having the young guys come back and feel stronger," Phillips said. "They really didn't get a chance to fully mature last year because they were out there playing. Usually a guy will redshirt and bulk up so he'll be ready. The guys that played, feel a lot stronger and faster and are going out there, doing great things. This year is going to be a whole lot better because we return a lot of great players, players that didn't even play last year like me - Colin McCarthy and Eric Moncur. That's two or three year starters we didn't have on defense last year."

One question I asked all three players about was their reaction to preseason predictions from magazines, who nearly all picked the Canes to finish fourth in the Coastal Division behind Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and North Carolina. (Only Phil Steele picked the Canes to finish higher and had them ranked in his preseason Top 25). Fox said the best way for Miami to put those thoughts to rest are winning the team's first four games, beginning with Florida State (which Fox said has been on his and other players minds for a while).

"One thing I've learned is nobody knows what goes on here and knows how good we are except the guys here," he said. "It's up to us to go out and show to the world how good we are. That's our objective this season. We've got to put Miami back on the map."

I plan to share some of what they talked about as the week goes on, but if you can't wait check out each of their audio interviews by clicking on the link.

Top 60 Countdown: No. 46, DE Andrew Smith

Another day, another player to zero in on in our countdown of the Top 60 players at the U. Today we take a look at No. 46 on the list: Defensive end Andrew Smith. The sophomore is another talented young player on UM's defensive line who will see playing time in some capacity this coming season.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '08: Smith was certainly an under the rader recruit at Coconut Creek Monarch High. Despite making 80 tackles and 15 sacks as a linebacker and defensive end his senior season, most recruiting websites weren't impressed with the 6-2, 238-pounder. Scout.com rated him the 45th best defensive end in the country. ESPN had him 89th. Rivals.com didn't even have him ranked and considered him a 2-star recruit. Defensive line coach Clint Hurtt, however, was always big on the kid and convinced him to sign with UM over Iowa, Indiana, Troy and FAU.

> What he's done as a Cane: Smith didn't have an explosive freshman season. But he played in eight games -- more than some other freshman who came more highly regarded -- and finished with nine tackles. He even had a sack in the win against Charleston Southern. This spring, he remained in the rotation at end and had five assists in the spring game.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Aside from receiver, the position with the most depth and talent at The U is clearly defensive end. Smith is a player who stands behind some other talented young players at his position -- Adewale Ojomo, Marcus Robinson, Allen Bailey. But all it takes is one injury and Smith could see himself seeing major minutes. The fact he played in eight games and was in the rotation already as a freshman tells us he earned Hurtt's respect to be given playing time. If he continues to grow and contribute, he could develop into one of the season's bigger surprises -- especially on third downs when Ojomo, Robinson and Bailey might head out for a breather. Either way, we think Smith has potential to be another dangerous weapon in UM's deepest position on defense.

Top 60 Countdown: No. 47, QB Taylor Cook

As we move ahead in our countdown of the Top 60 players at UM we look at No. 47: Quarterback Taylor Cook. Robert Marve's transfer has changed Cook's future at UM. With one bad break to Jacory Harris, this football team will be hands of this redshirt sophomore.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '08: At 6-7, 225-pounds, Cook received mixed reviews playing at Rice Consolidated High in East Lake, Texas. Rivals.com nabbed him the 37th best prospect in the country at QB. Scout.com rated him ninth. He threw for 1,598 yards, 19 TDs and 9 INTs as a senior while running for 512 yards and 11 more TDs. He was selected to the All-State Second Team as a punter with a 42.3 average.

> What he's done as a Cane: He redshirted and participated on the Scout team last season before entering the spring in a competition with Cannon Smith for the backup role behind Jacory Harris. He clearly won the battle, completing 11 of 14 attempts for 103 yards. Physically, Cook is as strong a QB UM has had. In testing, he set a UM record for power clean lift among QBs with 274 pounds. He also squated 385 pounds and ran a 4.65 in the 40.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Cook could obviously prove to be a very valuable part of this team should anything happen to Harris this coming season. Fans can at least breath a little easier considering Cook didn't look all that bad in the spring in Mark Whipple's offense. He completed several short passes and also hit Kendall Thompkins for a 34-yard strike down field during the scrimmage. His big arm, confidence and strength should all improve as he sees spot duty behind Harris in 2009.

Sizing up the 2010 class with Charles Fishbein

It's only July, seven months until National Signing Day. But in the world of recruiting -- where things evolve 24/7 -- we've basically reached the halfway point of the 2010 blitz.

Most high school seniors have already taken their unofficial summer visits or are about to sneak a few last ones in before hitting the weight room hard and preparing for their own football seasons. Those that haven't already 'committed' to a school (42 in the Rivals Top 100 have) are narrowing things down considerably. Basically, the 2010 picture has come into focus and now its simply a matter of closing things out.

As I wrote in today's Herald, the Hurricanes have already netted 10 non-binding commitments entering July (UM is looking to sign between 22-23). After calling and speaking with either each recruit or their coach, it looks like the majority (about seven) are not going to pull a Bryce Brown. 

With that said, I called in Charles Fishbein of Elite Scouting Services to give us some perspective on where the Canes stand in July with seven months to go before anything is official. Fishbein works with several colleges to find recruits throughout the state and has a very good grasp on the Southeast. Here is what Fish had to say about how the Canes are doing so far...

"I'm interested in seeing what some of the local kids want to do, but for the most part they're doing a good job," Fishbein said. "They've gone after the positions they have to improve -- offensive and defensive line. Now, its just a matter of them holding onto the guys they have and adding the ones you expect them to land. 

"They've got to win in Dade and Broward because right now every top Palm Beach kid is going to Florida or Florida State. To me, they've got to come up with guys like [Hialeah defensive lineman] Corey Lemonier, [Miramar receiver] Ivan McCartney and [St. Thomas Aquinas center] Brandon Linder. If they get those guys, they'll have another Top 20 class. If those three kids don't sign with Miami, you have to have some concerns with Miami and whether they get from 7, 8, 9 wins to a championship caliber team."

Fishbein gave me his thoughts on several topics regarding the current commitments.

> Best player: Defensive tackle Todd Chandler. "To me he's produced the most on the field and off it. The one thing I've noticed from watching him at camps is what a tremendous leader he is. He pushes the other players around him to be better. He's like Jacory [Harris] and Sean Spence were in high school. He's the leader of the pack and makes his teammates better. Miami needs to make sure they keep him."

> Underrated: Offensive lineman Jonathan Feliciano. "Being from Western, he doesn't play at a school that gets a lot of attention or produces a ton of talent. But when I look at him, I see a lot of similarities between him and Joaquin Gonzalez. He plays with the same mean streak. He's one of the kids who has all the traits you look for. Miami was fortunate to get in on him early and that the kid wants to stick with them."

> Overrated: Defensive tackle Louis Nix. "If you go off his sophomore film, he looks great. But last year I went to see him in person and he was overweight and lazy. That shows you something about the kids character that when he played so well early on, he got lazy and stopped pushing himself. He has the potential to be a great player. But he has to put the work in to be that next level guy. It's a mental battle that whatever coach gets him has to win. That's something the kid has to overcome."

> Potential NFL player: Cornerback Jeremy Davis. "I don't see a definite lock in this group, but that's hard to do before their senior year. I think Davis has the best ingredients, being that his brother Phillip Buchanon is in the league. He's probably the most explosive kid they've got. You can't take that speed for granted. But he's another one that has to have the right mindset and push himself harder than he does."

Top 60 Countdown: No. 48, RB Damien Berry

As we move forward in our countdown of the Top 60 players at Miami, we zero in on No. 48: Running back Damien Berry. Another guy who has switched positions at UM, is Berry -- the son of a former Cane -- going to get lost in the shuffle at running back? Or, will he finally get a chance to show us what he's got?

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '07: A standout running back at Glades Central, Berry came to UM as one of the nation's top safety prospects. He was a consensus Top 50 defensive back, but Rivals listed him as high as seventh at safety.

> What he's done as a Cane: After playing in all 12 games as a true freshman -- 11 on special teams only, Berry was moved to the backfield by coach Randy Shannon after the following spring. He never got a carry in game, but played in seven games (all on special teams). But he earned Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year honors and followed it up with an MVP performance in the spring game. Berry finished with 114 yards on 14 carries and scored a touchdown on a 54-yard scamper.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Despite his Scout Team honors and big spring performance, Berry is still way behind on the depth chart at running back behind Graig Cooper, Javarris James, freshman Mike James and even Lee Chambers. Unless one of those guys go down, there's a chance Berry won't get a carry in 2009 either. Could that lead to yet another position switch or a transfer? Maybe. But at the very least, Eye On The U expects Berry to be a key contributor on special teams. He's likely the second best special teams player on the team behind Sam Shields. He's a talent that has to get on the field in some capacity.

For those of you wondering, we'll get a chance to speak with Jason Fox, Randy Phillips and Graig Cooper on Wednesday. Check back for interviews with those guys Wednesday night. Also, I've been working some on the Canes' 2010 recruiting. Be ready for that.