Eye on the U

B-Rad First-Team All-ACC; Football roster making space; McDermott on Rimington Watch List.

Bryan Radziewski was not his usual self during his last regular-season start, but he was amazing all season -- coming off shoulder surgery nonetheless.

The left-handed junior was among five starting pitchers named to the 2013 All-ACC First Team on Monday.

B-Rad, as he is called by his fans and teammates, ended the season ranked among the conference leaders in nearly every statistical category. He ranked third in ERA (1.64), tied for second in wins (eight), tied for second in complete games (two), third in strikeouts (96) and first in batting average against (.175).

Radziewski is one of three pitchers in the ACC averaging more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings (11.27). The former Baseball America Freshman All-American has recorded 204 Ks over 33 starts and has a 19-4 career record and career ERA of 2.64. 

Miami begins its quest for an ACC title at 3 p.m. Thursday, when it meets No. 1 seed North Carolina in a Pool A matchup in Durham, N.C.

UM lost in the title game to Georgia Tech last year.

RICARDO WILLIAMS OFFICIALLY OFF FOOTBALL TEAM

   Chris Yandle, director of communications for UM athletics, just confirmed to me that 6-5, 251-pound defensive end Ricardo Williams is no longer on the team. A redshirt sophomore, Williams is out of Homestead Senior High. Williams played in one game last year -- against North Carolina. 

   Williams' name has already been removed from the football roster.

   Wide receiver Robert Lockhart Jr., who also has been granted his release, according to Canesport.com, is still on the roster.

    "As far as Robert Lockhart, I have not been informed about anything,'' Yandle said.

   Lockhart is a 6-1, 183-pound redshirt sophomore out of Fork Union Military Academy, via West Boca Raton High.  Lockhart was a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and ESPN. As a high school senior he had 34 catches for 686 yards and six touchdowns. He chose UM over Virginia Tech. Lockhart played in two games last season -- UNC and FSU -- but sustained a season-ending knee injury.

 SHANE McDERMOTT ON RIMINGTON WATCH LIST   

     UM center Shane McDermott is one of 44 players named to the 2013 Rimington Trophy spring watch list. The award is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate center.

    McDermott, a junior, missed spring practice after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.

     An All-ACC honorable mention selection in 2012 by league coaches, McDermott started all 12 games at center for UM. UM had the ACC's third-best passing offense (295.4-yards-per-game average) and fifth-best total offense (440.2). As a redshirt freshman in 2011, he played in 10 games, allowing no sacks and not being flagged for any penalties.

    McDermott is from Lake Worth. He was awarded the Walter Kichefski Endowed Football Scholarship at the most recent UM Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet. He will earn his bachelor's degree this summer.

    McDermott's younger brother (I won't say "little'' brother as he's 6-6 and approaching 300 pounds), Kc McDermott, has already pledged his commitment to UM for the Class of 2014, a huge get for the Canes.
 Kc is a four-star lineman, according to Rivals.com, and is listed as the 40th best player overall, regardless of position. He is listed as the fifth best tackle in the Class of 2014.

   Notre Dame also wanted Kc, and actually still wants him, but Kc said he's not budging from his commitment to the Hurricanes.  

     SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN

Top 60 Countdown: No. 15, WR Thearon Collier

Time to get the Top 60 Countdown cranked up again. No. 15 on our list is another talented Canes receiver: Sophomore Thearon Collier, who was one of the team's leading pass catchers a year ago. Collier separated himself from the competition as a slot receiver last year. Will he be able to do it again this year?

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '08: "Pimp" as he's known to his friends and teammates, was one of three-top notch recruits from Miami Booker T. Washington to pick the Canes. As a senior, he hauled in 33 passes for 711 yards and seven touchdowns and was selected to the All-State team as a return man after returning six punts for scores. He chose UM over Auburn, Florida and South Florida and was tabbed the 92nd best receiver in the country by Rivals, 110th by Scout and 26th by ESPN.

> What he's done as a Cane: He may not have been the most hyped receiver in UM's recruiting class, but statistically, he turned out to be the second best receiver on the team last year. He finished with 26 catches for 324 yards and two touchdowns -- including a 43-yarder against Virginia. As UM's top slot receiver, he became a go-to target on third downs over the middle of the field. He also returned eight punts for 35 yards.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: At 5-8, 185 pounds, Collier proved his first season to be not only fast and talented, but dependable. There are reports he's bulked up this offseason and "lost a step." But I'm not buying it until I see it when practice opens Aug. 8. This spring, he tested and ran a 4.58 -- a bit slower than his biggest competition Kendall Thompkins (4.43). But Collier makes up for it by being the best route runner on the team according to receivers coach Aubrey Hill. With the amount of attention Aldarius Johnson and LaRon Byrd figure to get, Collier, Thompkins and whoever UM's slot receivers end up being figure to get a lot of one-on-one opportunities. I'm expecting a big season from whoever gets the majority of those snaps.

Penn State corner could transfer to UM

Darrell Givens, one the nation's top high school cornerbacks last year, is looking for a new school. And the University of Miami is one of his finalists.

Givens, rated the fourth best corner in the nation last year by ESPN, was denied admission into Penn State this week. Blue and White Illustrated, the Rivals website for Penn State, reported Thursday Givens had been attending summer school at home in order to qualify at University Park but after receiving his grades for the course learned that he did not meet the university's qualification requirements.

He was asked to attend prep school this fall, but has decided against it. In an email, his high school coach Doug Lamb confirmed UM is among the many schools being considered, but declined further comment until the 6-0, 180-pound Under Armour All-American decides on a school. Givens is expected to choose between UM, Florida, Rutgers, North Carolina, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Nebraska and South Carolina on Saturday.

Givens, however, still needs to be formally released from his scholarship from Penn State.

The Hurricanes have at least two open scholarships they could use -- one that was going to go to defensive back Prince Kent (who did not qualify academically and could end up at Marshall) and one that was going to go to offensive lineman Malcolm Bunche, who is headed to prep school.

UM opens camp Saturday, Aug. 8. The Gators open on Thursday, Aug. 6.

Givens told Rivals he wants to find a school in time to start camp. A UM staffer said Givens has plenty of time to get into Miami. His transcripts, however, have yet to arrive.

Last season, Givens made 57 tackles and two interceptions and was an integral part in leading Indian Head Lackey High, Maryland to an 8-4 record. He also caught 18 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown.

FISHBEIN: MORRIS CAN BE A STARTER I caught up with Charles Fishbein of Elite Scouting Services about an hour ago to get his take on Canes quarterback recruit Stephen Morris, who committed to UM earlier this morning. Even though Morris isn't highly rated at the moment by Rivals or Scout, Fishbein said Morris is a good pickup for Miami and believes offensive coordinator Mark Whipple can help him improve his mechanics and flourish.

"He's really improved since last year and if you watched the spring game he had against Booker T. Washington, he made all the throws he needed to make," Fishbein said. "He's a kid that can sit behind Jacory Harris and learn because there is no rush. Miami just needed a quarterback to come in and compete and be a backup and worst case scenario take some snaps. If they weren't going to take [Jeffrey] Godfrey, this is a good kid to get. He's a kid that in two years, with some good coaching, could start. He's not going to be a superstar. But you don't need that with the type of receivers they have there. He can get the ball and put it where it needs to be."

Canes land QB recruit Stephen Morris

Stephen Morris was going to visit UCF this weekend and had plans to check out Purdue. But his visit to the University of Miami Wednesday with his parents and high school coach convinced him he didn't need to be recruited anymore.

Friday morning, the Miami Monsignor Pace quarterback called Hurricanes coaches and told them he wanted to be a part of their 2010 class.

"The more I kept thinking about it, the more I felt like I had found a home," Morris said. "It's just the perfect place for me athletically and academically. I don't need to go anywhere else to figure that out."

Morris (6-3, 186) said he's "good" and will likely not visit any other schools. If he sticks and signs with the Canes, he'll likely be the only quarterback UM signs in its 2010 class.

Recruiting coordinator Clint Hurtt said in February UM was targeting just one in a class that would end up with between 22-23 players. Morris is the 14th commitment in the Canes 2010 class.

Morris finished his junior year completing 64 percent of his passes with 2,005 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. But he didn't receive a UM offer until earlier this month. Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple first checked him out in the spring, when his only offers were from FIU, Purdue and Virginia. He is rated the 27th best dual threat quarterback by Rivals.com. He is not rated by Scout.com.

But Morris feels like he'll fit perfectly into UM's new offensive system.

"The first time coach Whipple saw me he came to one of the spring scrimmages and it turned out to be one of my worst practices," Morris said. "We were out for prom the night before and we all looked like we didn't want to be there. But he said I had a lot of composure when things weren't going well. He said he was looking at all my intangibles and that's what impressed him."

Morris said when he visited UM he got a chance to take a look at the Canes playbook and broke down film with Whipple.

"This was my second time opening up their playbook, but we went a little more in depth into what they do," Morris said.

"The type of offense they run is almost the same as Pace. The combinations is similar to what we do. I talked to Jacory [Harris] a little bit about it. He's going to be a great quarterback with coach Whipple. He was saying how much he loves it. His playbook is just like the NFL. All he did was lessen it down so it's at a college level. We watched how Donovan [McNabb] and Ben [Roethlisberger] ran it and the things they did well and what they did wrong and how it relates to Miami. All I can say is I'm excited. You definitely feel like this offense will get you ready for the NFL."

Has UM found its next QB recruit?

If there is one position that usually ends up being resolved early in the world of recruiting, it's quarterback. For the past few years, every top school in the country has usually settled on who its future QB is going to be long before they've even thrown a pass as a high school senior. 

The Hurricanes appear close to pulling that off again this year with Monsignor Pace quarterback Stephen Morris. The 6-3, 184-pounder drove down to UM Wednesday with his parents and was genuinely surprised by what he encountered. He said he had a 40-minute meeting with coach Randy Shannon and checked out the Canes playbook with new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, who finally mailed him his scholarship offer this week. 

"They are in the lead right now," said Morris, who completed 64 percent of his passes for 2,005 yards and 19 touchdowns and led Pace to the state semifinals last year as a junior.

"It's a great school. I didn't think it was like that. Everyone is so family oriented. Coach Shannon was talking to my mom about how he went to Norland and she went to [Hialeah-Miami Lakes] and how their schools were rivals. I talked to Jacory [Harris] for awhile and Demarcus Van Dyke -- who is a real funny dude. It's such a small school. I thought it would be a bigger school. I didn't think it would be like that. There's such great academic support too. It opened my eyes."

Morris would like to choose a school before high school football practice opens Monday, Aug. 10 and plans on deciding in "a week or two." He said he will visit UCF this Friday and still has plans to visit Purdue during the season even after he commits. He started the spring with three offers (FIU, Purdue and Central Michigan) and now has 11 total. Virginia is his other finalist.

Originally, Michigan was Morris' dream school. His father, a high school wrestler and football player, grew up in Ann Arbor. But the Wolverines, who had been courting him since he was a junior, spurned their relationship with Morris.

Now, it could be just the Gators who stand in UM's way. This past weekend, Morris participated in the Friday Night Lights camps in Gainesville and impressed Gators coaches. He said quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler told him there's a chance UF could send him an offer come Sept. 1.

"I like the Gators," Morris said. "I know coach [Loeffler] from his days up at Michigan when I went up there in my eighth grade year."

When asked if the Gators would trump Miami if they offered, Morris said: "I don't know. The way Miami welcomed me today, it was a good feeling. Florida is a great school too. But I'd have to take a visit and feel the same way I felt about Miami."

WHO EARNS ALL-ACC HONORS AT THE END OF THE YEAR? The Miami Hurricanes accomplished something Wednesday they weren't able to do last year. They put somebody on the All-ACC First Team. Two players, actually. Kicker Matt Bosher and left tackle Jason Fox earned the honors.

But my question is this: Which Canes will be representing The U when the season is over? Last year, nobody did. Bosher, who earned second team honors, was the only Hurricane to find his name among the season-ending honors.

Of course, being worthy and being selected are two totally different concepts. Just a little history for you -- making all-ACC isn't easy, at least for the Canes. Only eight players have ever earned first team honors: safety Kenny Phillips (2007), tight end Greg Olsen ('06), defensive end Calais Campbell ('06), cornerback Kelly Jennings ('05), running back Tyrone Moss ('05), offensive tackle Eric Winston ('05), defensive back Antrel Rolle ('04) and Devin Hester ('05, '04).

I think the Canes end up with four this year: Bosher, Fox, receiver LaRon Byrd and linebacker Sean Spence.

UF CAMP BOOT HELPED CANES Unless you've been hiding under a rock since Saturday, you know all about what happened to 2010 Hurricanes recruit Tavadis Glenn at the aforementioned Friday Night Lights Camp this past weekend. 

The 6-6, 280-pound future Canes offensive lineman got booted for flashing The []_[] during the camp. I caught up with his high school coach, Jacksonville Raines' Deran Wiley tonight and he told me Glenn is ready to move on. 

"What really happened was one of the kids he was going up against that was a UF recruit started talking a little trash. Tavadis just fired back like any other kid having fun and competing would," Wiley said. "If anything, I think it cleared up however he felt about Florida. Louis [Nix] too."

Wiley said Florida coaches called an apologized about the incident earlier this week. 

Top 60 Countdown: No. 16, DE Eric Moncur

As we move inside the Sweet 16 of our Top 60 countdown of the best players at the University of Miami, we take a look at the Canes' senior citizen -- defensive end Eric Moncur. Few players have had to endure as much as Moncur has in the past 12 months. But if he can bounce back, he should be a great veteran influence on a UM defense that sorely needs one.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '03: Crazy as it is to hear, Moncur was actually part of the Canes 2003 Signing Class. That group included Jon Beason, Devin Hester, Kyle Wright, Greg Olsen, Darnell Jenkins, Tavares Gooden and the late Bryan Pata. What's even crazier is there's only one guy still at UM who came in from the class after him -- defensive tackle Joe Joseph. Back in '03 when Moncur was a senior at Carol City, most believed he was the best defensive end in the state. He made 90 tackles and 14 sacks his final season. That followed up a junior year that featured 92 tackles and 20 sacks. He picked UM over Florida, Ohio State, Florida State and Georgia.

> What he's done as a Cane: Grandpa -- as his teammates now refer to him -- has played in 36 games in his career and has 10 sacks to go with 105 career tackles. But when you look at Moncur's career, it has been full of either highs or lows. It took him an extra semester to get into UM in 2003, and a after redshirt year in 2004, he was named to the Freshman All-ACC team in 2005. In 2006, he made three starts before a knee injury sidelined him for two games. When he came back, he was a backup to Baraka Atkins the rest of the year. In 2007, he started eight games and tied for second on the team with six sacks including a big play on Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis in the win over the Blue Devils. Last year, he never recovered from an early season injury and endured the death of his mother, playing in just four games. Now, he's coming back for what is really his seventh year (6th in terms of eligibility) at Miami, hoping to contribute any way he can.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: The 6-2, 250-pound senior talked at CanesFest about how blessed he feels to be given another chance. In a lot of ways, the Hurricanes are blessed to have Moncur back. With so many young talented players on the defensive line, is a better teacher and teammate for guys like Marcus Robinson, Adewale Ojomo, Olivier Vernon, Andrew Smith, Allen Bailey and Marcus Forston. Moncur said this might be the most scary defensive line he has ever played on. If he can stay healthy and be one of the many weapons who creates pressure on opposing quarterbacks, he'll make it even scarier.

As we move inside the Top 15, I figured it would be good to remind you who has already made an appearance and where.

No. 16: DE Eric Moncur
No. 17: WR Travis Benjamin
No. 18: RB Javarris James
No. 19: TE Dedrick Epps
No. 20: CB Brandon Harris
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No. 21: C A.J. Trump
No. 22: DE Adewale Ojomo
No. 23: DT Joe Joseph
No. 24: LB Darryl Sharpton
No. 25: RB Mike James
No. 26: CB Demarcus Van Dyke
No. 27: DB Ryan Hill
No. 28: CB Brandon McGee
No. 29: LB Ramon Buchanon
No. 30: CB Sam Shields
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No. 31: S Jojo Nicolas
No. 32: OL Joel Figueroa
No. 33: WR Kendall Thompkins
No. 34: LB Jordan Futch
No. 35: WR Tommy Streeter
No. 36: DT Micanor Regis
No. 37: WR Leonard Hankerson
No. 38: CB Chavez Grant
No. 39: LB Arthur Brown
No. 40: S Ray Ray Armstrong
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No. 41: WR Davon Johnson
No. 42: DE Steven Wesley
No. 43: OT Matt Pipho
No. 44: RB Lee Chambers
No. 45: DE Olivier Vernon
No. 46: DE Andrew Smith
No. 47: QB Taylor Cook
No. 48: RB Damien Berry
No. 49: OL Harland Gunn
No. 50: OL Brandon Washington
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No. 51: FB Patrick Hill
No. 52: DL Jeremy Lewis
No. 53: OL Ben Jones
No. 54: OL Jermaine Johnson
No. 55: TE Richard Gordon
No. 56: DT Josh Holmes
No. 57: DE Gavin Hardin
No. 58: DB Jamal Reid
No. 59: OL Tyler Horn
No. 60: LB C.J. Holton
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Top 60 Countdown: No. 17, WR Travis Benjamin

We've given you the final 43 in our countdown of the Top 60 players at the University of Miami. Now, as we inch closer to the start of camp a week from this Saturday, it's time to get to the elite guys, the game breakers, the bad boys. We start with No. 17 on our list: Sophomore receiver Travis Benjamin. Can The Blur rekindle the spark that made him so special at the start of last season? Or will he fade behind some of the emerging talents at receiver?

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '08: As an upperclassmen at Glades Central, Benjamin helped the Raiders win a state title as a junior and finish 11-2 as a senior. He caught a combined 63 passes for 1,149 yards and 15 touchdowns his final two years. The cousin of former Canes safety Alphonso Marshall, he chose the Canes over USF, Florida, LSU and Auburn. Rivals.com tabbed him the 42nd best receiver in the country. Scout.com had him 104th at his position. ESPN rated him the highest -- 21st at his position and 144th overall. When he arrived at UM, he was 5-10, 155 pounds.

> What he's done as a Cane: Benjamin made the biggest splash of any freshmen last season, using his speed (4.23 in the 40) to catch the attention of coach Randy Shannon in fall practice. He finished the season leading the team in punt return yards and kick return yards, finished second in all-purpose yards (968) and touchdowns (4). He started five games at receiver and finished fifth on the team with 18 catches for 293 yards and three touchdowns. But an ankle injury midseason slowed his progress and he missed the spring game with a knee injury.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: There's no doubt Benjamin has special playmaking abilities. Last year's FSU game is the only one you need to watch to see why. He hauled in a 51-yard pass, scored on a 18-yard reverse and had a career-long 57-yard return on a kickoff. The question is will we see this again from Benjamin? Since he tweaked his ankle, he wasn't the same player. This spring, as a few other newcomers thrived -- Kendall Thompkins and Tommy Streeter -- Benjamin disappeared even further down the receiver depth chart. The question is now where does he fit in? Chances are Aldarius Johnson and LaRon Byrd are No. 1 and 2 on the list. After that, Benjamin, Thearon Collier, Streeter, Thompkins and Leonard Hankerson are probably competing for the next few spots. Odds are Benjamin will make it if he's fully healthy. And if he doesn't play a lot of receiver, he will at the very least remain in the mix on kickoff and punt returns. His speed is too valuable a weapon for Miami coaches not to use.

Top 60 Countdown: No. 31, S Jojo Nicolas

As we move ahead in our countdown of the Top 60 players at UM, we wrap up the second half of our list by taking a look at No. 31: Safety Jojo Nicolas. The junior-to-be has been overshadowed of late by the arrival and return of other players at his position. But will Nicolas just get passed up on the depth chart or will he give new defensive coordinator John Lovett a reason to let him keep the lead role at a position he started at eight times last year?

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '07: Nicolas didn't come to UM with a lot of hype even though he was a tremendous playmaker in high school. At Homestead High, he caught 32 passes for 400 yards and six touchdowns and had four forced fumbles and an interceptions as a safety. But Rivals and Scout both rated him a three-star recruit, rating him the nation's 30th best and 48th best safety respectively. He chose the Canes over Rutgers and basketball offers from FAU, Tulsa and UTEP.

> What he's done as a Cane: After making his first career interception in his first game against Marshall, Nicolas spent most of his freshman season playing on special teams. He played in 11 games and returned for his sophomore season hoping to compete for playing time at safety. He started eight games last year, played in 11 and recorded 31 tackles -- including seven against Georgia Tech. The 6-1, 197-pounder still hasn't had another interception since his first game (then again how many Canes did last year?).

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: With all the excitement over the return of Randy Phillips and Vaughn Telemaque and incoming freshman Ray Ray Armstrong, Nicolas has become sort of the forgotten man at safety. In case you missed it, he did start in eight games last year. Defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff told me last March Nicolas has tremendous instincts, but is a quiet leader. Whether he's loud or not, I still expect Nicolas to be in the rotation in the secondary and a contributor on special teams. He's too athletically gifted -- 4.49 in the 40, 38 1/2 inch vertical -- to not get on the field somehow and help.

ACC media picks UM fourth in Coastal

I wasn't there to cast a vote, but the 87 reporters in Greensboro for the ACC Kickoff have spoken. And they expect the Hurricanes to finish right where they did last year -- fourth in the Coastal Division.

Virginia Tech, winner of three ACC championships in its first five seasons of membership, was the overwhelming pick to claim a fourth in voting conducted by media Sunday. 

The Hokies, who have won two of the first four ACC championship games, has been picked to defeat Atlantic Division favorite Florida State. The Hokies received 78 first-place votes and 512 points in divisional balloting. Georgia Tech claimed the other nine first-place votes and 415 points for second. North Carolina (350) and Miami (282) followed the top two and placed ahead of Virginia (148) and Duke (120).

Georgia Tech running back Jonathan Dwyer, who carved up the Canes last season, was chosen as the Preseason Player of the Year with 39 votes. Clemson's C.J. Spiller (28 votes) was second, followed by N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson (16 votes).

We'll find out soon which Canes end up on the preseason all-ACC team. But my money is on three Canes getting either first or second team honors -- kicker Matt Bosher, left tackle Jason Fox and linebacker Sean Spence.

Anybody miffed the Canes aren't getting any love?

Top 60 Countdown: No. 32, OL Joel Figueroa

As we move ahead in our countdown of the Top 60 players at Miami, we take a look at another one of the few players who have overachieved their lately with the Canes. That would be No. 32 on our list: Offensive lineman Joel Figueroa. He wasn't highly touted coming in. But he could prove to be one of the most valuable offensive lineman in the system over the next two years -- including possibly at a new position.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '06: When Fig was playing at North Miami High, there weren't many scouts who were high on him. Rivals and Scout.com both had him tabbed as a two-star recruit. Even the UM media guide said "an athletic lineman who has good strength but needs to work on his technique." Figueroa made the Dade-Broward All-Star Game but was just an All-Dade Third Team selection.

> What he's done as a Cane: After being redshirted in 2006, Figueroa worked his way into games faster than players all rated higher than he was -- Ian Symonnette, Chris Barney, AJ Trump and Matt Pipho. As a redshirt freshman in 2007, he played in seven games and saw an increased role toward the end of the season at left guard. Last year, took another step forward, starting the first four games of the season before playing in the rotation at guard the rest of the way. This spring, he injured his right shoulder. But he's expected to be healthy to start fall camp.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland loves what the 6-5, 344-pound junior brings to the table -- a mean streak and mentality that he has to constantly prove himself. Although Fig missed the spring, opening the door for Harland Gunn, Stoutland made it sound like when Fig got back the starting right guard job was going to be his. "I can’t wait to get back to coaching Fig again. I believe he’s going to be a force," Stoutland said back in March. "I think the best thing to happen to Harland was Fig not playing. Now we’ve established some depth. But Fig is really going to have to drop in a bucket [for him not to start]. I have a lot of confidence in that guy. I think all of our players do. Still, our guards have always rotated. So, Harland Gunn is going to play." 

Gunn could end up playing even more if Figueroa ends up giving tackle a try. Two staffers I spoke to last week said the idea has been floated around about having Figueroa compete with Matt Pipho at right tackle. According to those staffers, coaches simply don't want to break up the left side of the line that features Jason Fox and Orlando Franklin. If Fig can handle it, he might be able to ease the concern of a lot of Canes fans, who know the right tackle position is one of the biggest question marks on the team.

Top 60 Countdown: No. 33, WR Kendall Thompkins

As we move along further down our list of the Top 60 players at Miami, we take a look at another talented receiver at No. 33: Redshirt freshman Kendall Thompkins. The 5-10, 170-pound speedster made quite an impression this spring and is hoping to be on the Canes "short bus" before the season begins.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '08: After UM nabbed Aldarius Johnson and Tommy Streeter at Miami Northwestern as two of its top receiving targets, they happened to stumble upon Thompkins (who had just one offer from FIU) mid-season. The Canes are certainly happy they did. Thompkins was every bit as important to Northwestern's run to back-to-back state titles as any player on the team. The slot receiver made 46 catches for 839 yards and a team-leading 14 for scores as a senior. Rivals, Scout and ESPN.com didn't even have him ranked among the nation's top recruits until the end of the season. He ended up choosing the Canes, despite after taking a late trip to Nebraska.

> What he's done as a Cane: Thompkins made two catches for six yards in UM's first two games then missed the rest of the year with a wrist injury and earned a redshirt. This spring, however, he caught the attention of plenty during practice, making a number of big catches from the slot receiver position. He caught two passes for 45 yards -- including a 34-yarder from Taylor Cook in the spring game. Thompkins also shined during testing with strength and conditioning coach Andreu Swasey. He ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and the second-fastest short shuttle time (4.04) on the team.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: It didn't take long to figure out who impressed receivers coach Aubrey Hill most this past spring. The first two names out of his mouth were Streeter and Thompkins. "Without a doubt he brings versatility because he can play slot and the outside receiver," Hill said in March of Thompkins. "He's become a valuable player already. He's very elusive. He can make the first guy miss. He can catch the passes." The Hurricanes have several talented players they can play in the slot -- Thearon Collier, Davon Johnson, even Graig Cooper if new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple wants to. But what separates Thompkins from most is his natural ability to find open spaces underneath and his tremendous route running. With as much attention as Johnson and LaRon Byrd will get on the outside, I believe its Collier and Thompkins who could ultimately lead the team in catches this season. It's just a matter of who emerges as that primary, No. 1 guy in fall camp. Right now, you'd have to give Collier (26 catches for 324 yards) a slight edge because of experience.

Observations from CanesFest

Even if you don't bleed green and orange, Saturday's CanesFest event at Land Shark Stadium had to be one of the most fan friendly events I have ever covered.

Not once in the 14 years I've been working for The Miami Herald have I ever seen fans not only have two hours worth of access to players and coaches, but to be able to interact (take pictures, dunk players, even get some smooches) with them like family and friends. Hats off to athletic director Kirby Hocutt and coach Randy Shannon for taking a giant leap forward from the way these events used to be run.

UM has certainly surprised me in the past month with their new approach of reaching out to the community. From having quarterback Jacory Harris and other players call season ticket holders to the local football camps players have been attending throughout South Florida, the Hurricanes have done more over the last 30 days to say thanks to their community than I've ever seen. All I have to say is: It's about time.

Shannon said Saturday's event and many others recently have been in his vision since he took over. "As a coach you want to change certain things," Shannon said. "The fans have to be able to touch them. You can't just hie them behind a table and have them sign autographs. Mingle with them, get to know the players and have fun with them. That's what it's about."

If only it was the same way for reporters during the season...

Here are some more observations and interesting notes from CanesFest

RAY RAY READY TO SHINE? He may have the body (6-4, 218 pounds) and the highlight reel to suggest he's going to play a lot like the late great Sean Taylor, but fans ought to give Ray Ray Armstrong a chance to adjust to college before expecting him to play like a first round draft pick. After all, shouldn't U have all learned something from the struggles of guys like Allen Bailey and Arthur Brown?

After speaking with senior cornerback Chavez Grant, I got the notion Armstrong has already been told what what he has to work on this fall. "He's definitely big and strong," Grant said. "But everyday in practice we're working with him, trying to get his feet right and work with his hips. He's not bad. But at this level you have to be a lot quicker, a lot faster at what you do... at this level you get beat by a step and it's over."

WHO ARE THE FILM JUNKIES? One of the biggest questions I get regularly from you is about how much time players spend in the off season studying film and trying to get better. Last week, cornerback Sam Shields estimated he did it about twice a week. Receiver LaRon Byrd said he and fellow receiver Aldarius Johnson are in there almost every day. The more and more I pop the question, I keep getting the sense it's the younger guys who are more passionate.

Saturday, cornerback Demarcus Van Dyke said he and sophomore Brandon Harris wake up early everyday before class to watch film. Why early? Because that's when the NFL guys are usually around to break it down with them. "I've been watching it lately with Phillip Buchanon and Antrel Rolle. Those guys were All-Americans," Van Dyke said. "They tell me little things about how guys break and move across the line. I try to pick their brains a little and things like that."

Consider safety Vaughn Telemaque another film junky. "I usually catch LaRon when I'm leaving the room," Telemaque said. "I'm in there five out of the seven days. If the weekends weren't closed, I'd be in there seven out of seven."

For what it's worth, Armstrong told me he's been breaking down a ton of film with defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff. Tight end Jimmy Graham said he's been studying tape daily of former Canes greats Kellen Winslow, Bubba Franks and Greg Olsen. Freshman defensive end Olivier Vernon said he goes in three to four days a week and studies up on older players like Eric Moncur.

IS JACORY'S SHOULDER OK? As if the worry about his brittle 6-4, 190-pound body breaking down after one vicious ACC hit isn't enough to drive him crazy, Jacory Harris has had the question of his injured shoulder thrown at him about 1,000 times since the spring. I made it 1,001 Saturday. "The pain in the shoulder went away mid spring," Harris promises. "My arm used to die on me. But it's ok now. My arm is way stronger. If you are down the field, I'm going to throw it and it's going to get there."

I asked Jascory -- by the way that's a terrible nickname -- what the biggest request from fans has been throughout his interactions with them in the past month. His response: "A national championship," Harris said. "The fans want us to win and that's what we have to do and need to do. I'm willing to take the throne and be the leader."

"IN RANDY THEY TRUST" No. I'm not talking about Randy Shannon. I'm talking about Randy Phillips. The fifth year senior is THE GUY nearly every player on defense says they go to when they have a problem. Sam Shields said last week Phillips is showing him what to do at corner. Ray Ray Armstrong said Phillips is helping him adjust. Here's a question: What happens when Randy leaves Miami after this season?

IS ARTHUR BROWN GROWING UP? One of the more interesting comments to come out of Colin McCarthy's mouth Saturday was about the guy who will learning behind him at middle linebacker. McCarthy said AB, once a tentative young man, is no longer keeping quiet. "Now, he isn't afraid to ask questions, not afraid to get advice. Coming in as a freshman, he didn't want to say much, he was low key. But now, he's talking a lot more, being more of a leader."

BRYCE BROWN SIGHTING: I didn't notice it until near the end of the day, but AB's little brother -- yeah the guy who committed to UM before going to Tennessee -- was one of the fans in attendance Saturday. He showed up with his girlfriend wearing his Tennessee shorts and a smile to support his big brother. Our Barry Jackson interviewed him, but I passed (no reason to talk to a Vol). My question is this: How does a guy who dissed the Canes not draw the wrath of Canes faithful? Yet, 2010 recruit Tavadis Glenn get kicked out of Friday Night Lights in Gainesville for throwing up a U during Gators camp? I guess I'll just chalk up to the strange world of College Football.

SOUND CHECK... Again, a reminder. If you would like to listen in to the interviews I recorded today, check out our UM audio page. There are tons of stuff there to listen to.

Kosar, Reed helping Graham's transition to TE

In his first four seasons at UM, Jimmy Graham was being taught how to improve his jumper, his rebounding skills and how to take a charge. The last four months, however, have been a crash course in football.

Saturday at Land Shark Stadium, I caught up with the former shot swatter at Canesfest and found out how his transition from basketball to football has been going. And it was interesting to hear who the 6-8, 260-pound tight end hopeful has been learning the most from.

Here is my interview with Graham -- one of more than 15 from  today with some of the Canes' newest players. If you would like to hear them, check out our Canes audio page. If not, check back this week and in the Sunday paper for plenty of news and notes.

Q: What's been the toughest part about making the switch from hoops?
JG: "It's just very different. There's no more hardwood and no more air conditioning. It's been a hot summer. Just getting used to the heat has been one of the hardest things."

Q: What were the first seven-on-seven drills like? I'm sure you were using muscles you hadn't before.
JG: "It was fun. I remember the first week I was sore and my hips were sore. I was wondering why they hurt so much. I love the physicality of it. I've enjoyed it and being able to use my body and my hands. I'm excited. I really am."

Q: What do you feel is the biggest adjustment footballwise? Is it catching the ball?
JG: "I don't think its the catching. I know I can catch the ball. It's just getting used to hit after I catch it. And the playbook. We have a great offensive coordinator."

Q: Physically, what would they like you to do to get ready for this season? Anything?
JG: "I'm 260 right now and that's as big as I want to get. And they want me to keep my vertical."

Q: Why did you decide to give this a shot when you could have been playing overseas?
JG: "I want to win a ring. That's why I came back to college. I had some opportunities and some training camps in the NFL who wanted me to come in. But I've been in college for four years and I haven't won a ring. That's what I want to do."

Q: Who has helped you make the transition? Any former Canes teaching you?
JG: "One of the biggest helpers I've had is Bernie Kosar. I talk to him quite a bit. He's really helped me out a lot, teaching me little things. He's really been teaching me the game. He always tells me I have great hands. He talks about keeping the beginning of your route the same so people can't predict that. Also, how quickly to come out of a break and how quickly the ball is going to be on you and just getting used to that. I've also had a little help from Ed Reed, teaching me how to read defenses. You have to be able to read safeties and linebackers. It's a lot more than five people. I'm just getting used to that."

Q: What about film? Who are you studying?
JG: "I've watched more films in the tight ends in the last couple months than ever before. Kellen Winslow. I've been watching a lot on Greg Olsen. Bubba Franks. Bubba was the man. The good thing is there is so much film to watch. It's not like I have to search for it. It's easy to find."

Q: What are your goals? Do you want to start?
JG: "I just want to play. Football was my first love and just the opportunity to play it at the highest level is what I'm really excited for. I just want to get in the game and catch the ball."

Q: How has Dedrick Epps helped you out?
JG: "Dedrick's been doing all his rehab and stuff and he's been great. He's done well in 7-on-7 and I can't wait to have an opportunity to play beside him."

Q: What's it like to play football at the U versus basketball? This place today is insane.
JG: "Football is a little different. These fans are a little different. I love it. I wish basketball had fans like this."

Top 60 Countdown: No. 34, Jordan Futch

New day, new player to focus on in our countdown of the Top 60 Canes. Today, we take a look at No. 34 on our list, sophomore linebacker Jordan Futch. The former Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna standout followed the footsteps of Jon Beason and Glenn Cook to The U. But who will he end up being more like: Beason who is playing for the Carolina Panthers, or Cook who is playing for the Chicago Cubs Rookie League in Arizona?

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '08: Futch was one of the very first players UM received a commitment from in it's 2008 class, someone who tried and help sell The U most of his senior year. Although his senior season was a bit rocky (he had an altercation with his coach), Futch still came to UM with plenty of praise. He was ranked the 67th best player overall regardless of position by Rivals.com, the nation's 15h best strongside linebacker by Scout.com and the 77th best player overall by ESPN. He picked the Canes over Auburn, West Virginia, Georgia and Louisville.

> What he's done as a Cane: Futch got five games into his freshman season before a head injury forced him out the rest of the season. He finished with three tackles after playing mostly on special teams. This spring, he worked at both outside linebackers positions and ran with the first team during the spring game alongside Darryl Sharpton and Sean Spence.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: The first thing you notice about the 6-2, 215-pound Futch is his size, personality and smarts. Testing-wise, his spring numbers didn't compare well to fellow sophomore linebackers Ramon Buchanon (No. 28 on our list) or Sean Spence. But what Futch lacks physically, he makes up for with instinct and the ability to be in the right places. This season, all Hurricanes coaches are hoping for is for Futch to mature more and put himself in position next year to replace seniors like Sharpton and Colin McCarthy in the starting lineup. If he can rack up 25-30 tackles in spot situations, then his sophomore season should be considered a success.

Top 60 Countdown: No. 35, WR Tommy Streeter

We'll move back to the 30s in our countdown of the Top 60 players at The U. Although No. 35 on our list still hasn't played in his first game as a Cane, expect redshirt freshman receiver Tommy Streeter to start doing some special things when he does.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '08: Streeter didn't get as much love as Miami Northwestern High teammate Aldarius Johnson for most of his high school career. But he never let it bother him. In the Bulls' biggest game of the season -- a nationally televised game against Southlake Carroll in Texas -- Streeter showed the country what his 6-5, 202-pound frame and long, speedy strides could do. He caught three touchdowns --including a 75-yarder -- and finished his senior year with 36 catches for 676 yards and 11 touchdowns. That followed a junior season in which he caught 57 passes for 804 yards and 14 touchdowns. The PrepStar All-American was ranked 88th overall regardless of position by Rivals and 153rd by Scout.com. He chose Miami over Oregon, USF, South Carolina and Boston College.

> What he's done as a Cane: Streeter didn't get to play last season after suffering a wrist injury. But in the spring, he made his presence felt. He ran the fourth fastest 40-time in the spring (4.40) behind Sam Shields (4.20), Brandon McGee (4.23) and Graig Cooper (4.37) and hauled in a countless amount of long passes for touchdowns during practice.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Streeter obviously needs to put on some more weight down the road. But he has the size, speed and long arms to be very, very special. In addition to his talents, he also has the advantage of having already built several seasons worth of chemistry with starting quarterback Jacory Harris. That's something guys like Leonard Hankerson and LaRon Byrd don't have yet. While I don't expect Streeter to put up silly numbers at a position so loaded with talent, we should still expect him to find his way on the field and underneath a few of Harris' long bombs this season. Canes fans just ought to be ready to take the cue from Northwestern fansm who used to shout "wooooooooooooooooosh!" each time Harris and Streeter hooked up on big plays.

Top 60 Countdown: No. 18, RB Javarris James

As we move back inside the top 20 of our Top 60 countdown (I figured we could take a break from the 30s), we take a look at a player who came to UM with a lot of promise, but simply hasn't lived up to them because of injuries. That would be No. 18 on our list: Running back Javarris James. Baby J, now a senior, has one more shot to prove to the NFL he has star potential. But will he be able to prove it in a crowded backfield?And, more importantly, will he be able to stay healthy?

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '05: When Baby J was a senior at Immokalee there wasn't a newspaper, recruiting website or college football team that didn't have high expectations for him once he got to college. As the cousin of former two-time NFL rushing champion Edgerrin James, Baby J tore up high school opponents to the tune of 1,658 yards and 28 touchdowns as a junior before an injury his senior year caused him to miss five games. Rivals.com had Javarris ranked 13th at his position nationally, Scout.com had him 35th and ESPN had him 21st. When UM nabbed him over USC, Florida, USF, Nebraska and Oklahoma it looked like UM had found its next star in the backfield.

> What he's done as a Cane: As a freshman, it looked like Baby J was headed for greatness. He was named a Rivals.com second-team Freshman All-American after carrying the ball 175 times for 802 yards, the second most ever by a Miami true freshman. His career since has been far less full of sparkle. Injuries and the emergence of Graig Cooper slowed him down as a sophomore. Last season, he missed four games and started just once, finishing with 286 yards on 68 carries to go with four touchdowns. This spring, he was out again with an injured wrist.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Nov. 3, 2007. Why is that date important? No, it is not because Timbaland and One Republic had the No. 1 song in the country (Apologize). It's the last time (and only time since his freshman year) James has managed to run for more than 100 yards in a game. The likelihood of it happening again before his UM career is over is doubtful at best. With Cooper healthy and freshman Mike James making a push for playing time, Baby J has a long way to go before proving he can be the man again. His speed (4.41) in the 40 (not far off from Cooper's 4.37) has improved. And his 315-pound bench (top among RBs) and 545-pound squat (third overall on the team behind Harland Gunn and Allan Bailey) show that physically he might be ready to break out. But until he proves he's fully healthy -- that he can take a lick and keep on ticking -- he'll just be among the many other highly touted recruits who came to UM and were not able to play up to their full potential.

Top 60 Countdown: No. 36, DT Micanor Regis

As we inch closer to the start of fall camp (Aug. 8) we inch closer toward the top of our countdown of the Top 60 players at UM. Now, we'll zero in on No. 36 on our list: Defensive tackle Micanor Regis. The big, talented sophomore surprised some last year with his early contributions. Will he take another step forward and help a UM run defense that took a huge step back in 2008? The Canes are hoping so.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '08: One of the starts for the nation's sixth-ranked high school football team according to USA Today, Regis was tabbed the 29th best defensive tackle in the country by Rivals.com, 31st by Scout.com and 28th by ESPN. At 6-2, 321 pounds, he plugged the hole for Pahokee, racking up 101 tackles (31 for loss) and five sacks as a senior. He built an early bond with defensive line coach Clint Hurtt and picked the Canes over Florida State, South Carolina and Tennessee.

> What he's done as a Cane: Micanor didn't get as much attention as fellow freshman defensive tackle Marcus Forston, but got nearly as much playing experience as the former Miami Northwestern star. Regis played in 10 games for the Canes and finished with 16 tackles. This spring, he graded out as one of the Canes' best, benching 390 pounds (fourth among defensive tackles, but fifth on the team) and lifting 330 pounds on the power clean (second only among DTs to Allen Bailey).

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: The first thing Clint Hurtt told me last spring right after the Canes had signed Forston was not to forget about Regis. The sophomore may not start -- Allen Bailey, Forston or Joe Joseph -- probably will. But he is just as important to UM's success this season stopping the run as those three are. The Canes dropped from 40th against the run in 2007 to 75th giving up an average of 151 yards a game last season. UM coaches have pointed to the depth and talent at the tackle position. If Regis is as good as advertised, there is no reason he won't be a big part of what should be an improvement by UM at stopping the run -- at least up front.

Top 60 Countdown: No. 37, WR Leonard Hankerson

As we move ahead in our countdown of the Top 60 players at The U, we take a look at the 37th-ranked player on our list: Receiver Leonard Hankerson. The junior has always had the physical tools to succeed. But it's hanging onto the ball that has plagued him. Will things change in 2009? Or, will Hankerson get passed up by the talented young, up-and-coming players behind him?

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '07: Hankerson was chosen as Broward's Male Athlete of the Year for Class 6A-4A by our paper after starring on the football field, track and basketball court. Hankerson led St. Thomas Aquinas to three straight state title games, catching 39 passes for 803 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior. He was rated the 43rd best receiver in the country by Rivals.com, 28th by Scout.com and chose the Canes over Ohio State, Michigan and Georgia.

> What he's done as a Cane: The transition from high school star to college star hasn't panned out the way Hankerson has hoped. In his first two seasons, he's caught a combined 17 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns. But it's his drops that stand out more than his catches. At 6-3, 215-pounds most expected Hankerson to be able to hold onto more passes -- considering its what his strength was coming out of high school. But that just hasn't been the case. Physically, he has gifts. He ran a 4.48 40 this past spring -- fourth fastest among receivers. His vertical leap of 37 inches is tops among receivers as is his 295-pound bench press.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Getting a chance to watch practice this spring confirmed what we saw on Saturdays from Hankerson. Game day isn't the only day he has trouble hanging onto the ball. This offseason, however, No. 85 has been spending a lot of time with another No. 85 -- former Dolphins receiver Mark Duper -- to try and put an end to the drops. UM coaches say they have been encouraged by his improvement. But the bottomline is Hankerson has to find a remedy if his career is going to move forward. Receiver is without question UM's deepest and most talented position. With sophomores LaRon Byrd and Aldarius Johnson expected to be entrenched in starting roles, Hankerson will most likely get most of his catches off the bench. But if others emerge -- like redshirt freshman Tommy Streeter -- he could find himself fourth on the depth chart among the guys lining up on the outside. If that's the case, Hankerson might not end up on the Canes' short receiver rotation at all.

Byrd loaded with talent -- and swagger

All the great Canes had it. It was part of their DNA. People have tried to use other words for it in the past. But when it comes to green and orange and that U, it should only be called what it is: Swagger.

Sophomore receiver LaRon Byrd is one of those new Canes who are covered in it. Before you judge or jump to conclusions, understand what swagger means. It isn't being cocky. It isn't being boastful. It isn't running underneath the stadium and firing imaginary guns like Randal Hill at the Cotton Bowl. It's confidence. The kind you are not afraid to show because you can back it up. Byrd -- a chiseled 6-4, 218 pounds -- is all of that. He's not scared. He believes what he says and -- thankfully for us in the media -- isn't afraid to say what he believes.

But it's not Kayne Farquharson swagger. It's Michael Irvin swagger. The kind that if you listen to him talk, you believe he can back it up.

Say what you want about the lack of talent, the terrible coaching and recruiting that has led to Canes mediocrity of late. Swagger is a big part of what you cheered for at the Orange Bowl when times weren't just good, but great. And it's what guys like Devin Hester and Antrel Rolle (who spend their summers working out at the U and mentoring young Canes) have said has been missing from Miami's mental makeup. But you hear it in Byrd. You hear it in Jacory Harris and Sean Spence. It's like a flicker of Canes hope, a spark maybe (think Transformers), that something special might really be brewing instead of the traditional pot of preseason coffee talk that is followed by the same old losing and frustration.

Think I'm full of it? Just listen to their voices and compare them to the guys who haven't gotten the job done. Today, as we inch closer to the start of fall practice Aug. 8, we were once again given access to three Canes players (we've got one week left). Byrd, kicker Matt Bosher and cornerback Sam Shields. You tell me who sounds like the guy you believe will get the job done? Who is the player oozing swagger?

TUESDAY'S NOTES

As usual, its pretty hard to get much in the way of news when you attend these preseason interviews. But if you like player observations and thoughts here are a few nuggets from today...

> Byrd said he's picked up a full 10th of a second of speed in the 40 -- going from a 4.52 as a freshman to a 4.42 in recent testing. "I think I've got a little more `X' button," Byrd said, making a video game reference. "There's a big difference."

> Former Canes Ed Reed and Reggie Wayne have apparently been spending a lot of time in Byrd's ear this offseason. "Reggie coaches me up a lot when he works with us," Byrd said. "And I get a lot of the leadership role from Ed Reed. He inspires me a lot, the way he talks to me, the way Reggie talks to me. `Don't embarrass Louisiana,' that's the first thing he'll say. And the second thing he'll say is `When you play for Miami you represent the right and take every play like it's your last because you never know when it's your last.' He said always approach the game serious. Reggie, he says represent the receiver spot right, that every time you run a route run it full speed, always expect that the ball is coming to you, never take off a play because you never know what will happen."

> Byrd said it's not just a rumor that the Canes will be shortening their receiver rotation this year. "They've told us the bus is going to be shorter," Byrd said. "I love it. It's going to bring out the best of both worlds. You're going to see who really wants it, who is going to back away from the competition and if it gets the drive out of you. You cut the list, say only three are going to travel, pand eople are going to work harder. I love it, love the challenges."

> While Miami hasn't had any recent 7-on-7s, I asked Byrd what some of them were like in the spring and who on the defensive side of the ball has impressed him: "To me, Brandon Harris is our best cornerback. He's very physical, he's smart, he knows the game. Brandon is my roommate, so every day I go out there and try to embarrass him, and he tries to embarrass me. Demarcus [Van Dyke] is more versatile - he can pick you off, undercut your route. He's very quick, moves off instinct. Chavez [Grant] knows the game."

> Shields, who switched over from receiver to cornerback this spring, said he expects to be a target of opposing offenses. When I spoke to a few UM staffers after today's press conference, they told me they believe Shields will probably get most of his snaps in dime situations and on the outside. "When we go to that, Brandon will move inside," I was told.

> Shields said he's been getting most of his help adjusting to defense from fifth-year senior Randy Phillips. But he's also been working with Reggie Wayne. "I ask him questions like who was the toughest corner he went against and how they play, who was the weakest and how do they play. What do I have to look at when looking at a receiver, how far they are out or in, what they're going to run - he helps me with things like that," Shields said.

> I asked both Shields and Byrd how much time they spend breaking down film during the summer time. While Shields said he goes about twice a week, Byrd said he's at UM nearly every day. "Usually when I'm walking out, I'm handing the keys to Aldarius [Johnson]," Byrd said. "We're just excited about this offense and learning it more and more."

> Bosher, who won last year's Team MVP award, said roommate and former Cane Francisco Zampogna had to sneak the trophy out of his room and into the living room. Bosher, who has always shied away from praise, said it is now on the table next to the TV in the living room. When asked if being MVP of the Hurricanes has helped him with the ladies, Bosher said: "I'm still with my girlfriend. So, no."

> I asked Bosher for a progress report on Jake Wieclaw and where he thinks the redshirt freshman might be closest to helping the team. "Field goals," Bosher said. "He's really starting to become a lot more consistent with those."

A Rolle model for pro athletes

The first time I interviewed Antrel Rolle, I was just getting my feet wet in reporting and he was just starting to get everyone's attention for his football talents at South Dade.

Ten years after I wrote my first high school football story on him -- one his father Al, Homestead's police chief, still keeps in his office -- I caught up Antrel for another on Tuesday. This time, it was about the South Dade kid who made good at The U and is doing even better now in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals. And by doing better, I mean by his contributions to his community. Tuesday, South Dade High renamed its weight room in Rolle's honor after he gave the school $30,000 this past Christmas. It bought new football uniforms, the $10,000 weight room floor, $5,000 in weights and a bunch of other stuff.

If you've ever been in a Miami-Dade or Broward High School weight room or athletic facility, you know just how poor the facilities run down they are. Most of the time, the equipment is out of date or just flat out dangerous. Rolle's money is going a long way toward helping his alma mater build a new image with its new campus.

But today's act of kindness isn't the only thing Rolle should be applauded for. He's been giving back for years. You just haven't heard much about it. He's not only given $4,000 to Southridge for their school to buy new uniforms, he's provided nine academic scholarships of $2,500 at South Dade and Homestead and helped back 140 kids in Florida City as part of the Marlins RBI program. His dad couldn't be prouder of his son, who planned to with former Canes teammate and the late Sean Taylor to do these quiet acts of kindness. Now, its just Antrel.

Anyway, I caught up with Mr. Rolle and found out he's also been busy working out at UM and helping several Canes cornerbacks get their acts together. Here's what he had to say.

Q: Why do you feel its so important to give back to your community? Some guys don't like coming back to their neighborhood because it wasn't safe or a place they enjoyed too much. Yet, you live right down the street from here. You run by here everyday.
AR: "For me, not a lot of people can say they made it from South Dade. I am one of the very fortunate and blessed who have made it and I want to come back and show them you don't have to move to Hollywood when you make it. You can be the same young and humble young man who just has a little more money in their pocket and a little more success and a public eye watching you. You don't have to leave from your hood. You can keep your foundation, your place of residence. I've always chosen to live down here because of my family."

Q: You played and won a national title. What was it like to play in the Super Bowl?
AR: "It was a life changing experience. I was 26 playing in the Super Bowl. Not a lot of people can even say they played in a Super Bowl, period. It was something you can't describe into words and something you definitely yearn for again."

Q: What was it like to be that close to winning and having Santonio Holmes snatch it from you?
AR: "I was on the opposite side [during the game-winning catch]. There are so many times I think and wish I could turn back the hands of time. I was wishing just for that one play. We switched all the time during the game. I just happened to choose the wrong side. It was a great play, a fantastic catch. But I think we gave the audience a fantastic show nobody predicted. Eight of 10 teams don't even make it to the playoffs after the Super Bowl. We just want to make sure we're not one of those eight teams."

Q: How is this year's Cardinals team going to look?
AR: "I think we're going to be pretty dynamic. Everyone is pretty much in place. We have a few guys that have endured a few bumps and bruises, contract situations. But I think we will get past it and once we do everyone will be looking forward to a fantastic year."

Q: You made a comment during Super Bowl week about the Canes that opened a few eyes. What were you really trying to say about your old program?
AR: "Just that I thought they were missing the swagger that made me attend the University of Miami when I went there. That same swagger that will help you come back from any deficit and help you stay on top. I just feel like we have to get better mentally, not physically. Those guys are a great physical group. I think they may have the fastest group that's ever been at UM. But I think they need to understand the pride and history that goes at the University of Miami. I feel like that will take them miles away from they are now."

Q: Have you tried working with some of those young guys while you've been working out at UM this summer?
AR: "I've had a few conversations with Chavez Grant. And I ran with [Demarcus] VanDyke and watched some film with him, just showed him how to breakdown the film and gave him pointers. All of those guys have my number. I talk to Randy Phillips all the time. I tell him if there is anything you need, give me a call."

Q: Four interceptions for the Canes secondary last year. You used to get four interceptions in your sleep. What was your reaction to that ugly stat?
AR: "Not good. From my end in the backfield, we were going to get that ball. We were fighting to get the ball. If it wasn't myself, it was Sean. It was Ed [Reed]. It was Phil [Buchanon]. We were hungry and we wanted to get that ball. I just feel like they have to get that same mentality. They need to learn how to play the ball once its in the air and become that defense that intimidates you before the game even starts."

Q: I was talking to Devin Hester last week about the new wave of Canes in the NFL and who might be able to carry the flag for The U moving forward now that guys like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Edgerrin James are getting older. You know the first round streak ended. But guys like you, Jon Beason, Kenny Phillips can keep the U visible. Why is it important?
AR: "I think it's important for us to keep it going. It shows the guys here it doesn't matter where you started or where you get drafted, its what you do when you get there. That's the one thing I've been trying to talk to the guys down at Miami about -- it doesn't matter what's happened up until now. It's where you finish."

Top 60 Countdown: No. 38, CB Chavez Grant

We've already unveiled more than half the field in our Top 60 Countdown. Today, we zero in on No. 38 on the list: Cornerback Chavez Grant. A great student and leader off the field, will the senior finally add the same adjetive to his play on the field? Or, will he continue to look like the rest of UM's ordinary secondary?

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '06: When Grant chose Miami over Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Auburn, the Canes believed they were getting not only one of the best cornerbacks in the country but a good student and leader on the football field. Grant certainly was both at Miami Booker T. Washington, where he picked off six passes his senior season and earned the academic award at the Dade-Broward All-Star game before graduating with a 3.6 GPA. He was rated 32nd nationally at corner by Rivals and 27th at his position by Scout.com.

> What he's done as a Cane: As a leader and example for other athletes to follow off the field, Grant has more than lived up to the expectations. As a corner who UM was hoping could develop into a dominating presence, Grant simply hasn't been that guy. He's made 17 starts in 37 career games and has two interceptions (the most memorable coming on the final play of UM's last bowl victory at the MPC Computers Bowl in 2006). Last season, Grant started seven games at left cornerback and led the team with six pass breakups. He also had 25 tackles (he had 26 as a sophomore and 24 as a freshman).

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Although he hasn't been burned nearly as much as some of UM's other corners, Grant has not been special either. At 5-11, 180-pounds, he is one of several corners on UM's roster who simply cannot match-up physically with big receivers. That's a big reason he's been more effective in the nickel spot, covering smaller, quicker slot receivers. The bottom line is Grant is better served helping UM in that nickel spot. If the Brandon Harris and Demarcus VanDyke continue to develop and handle the outside spots, than Grant will be able to help the team to the best of his abilities. But if that doesn't happen, it will probably be another long season for the Canes secondary.

Top 60 Countdown: No. 39, LB Arthur Brown

As we resume the countdown of the Top 60 players at the University of Miami we take a closer look at the guy who came in as last year's most hyped recruit: linebacker Arthur Brown. Is the 6-2, 223-pound high school All-American finally ready to contribute? Or will he need another year to figure things out with a new defensive coordinator?

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '08: When AB chose the Hurricanes over LSU, Alabama, USC and North Carolina, there wasn't an analyst in the country who wasn't praising Randy Shannon and Micheal Barrow. Brown, who enrolled in January at UM, was a consensus superstar according to every recruiting service. Scout.com tabbed him No. 1 regardless of position. Rivals had him fifth. ESPN had him sixth. And why not? The U.S. Army All-American made 151 tackles and 10 sacks as a senior Wichita East High in Kansas. The highlight reel plays between he and his younger brother Bryce had everyone in the nation believing the Browns might be America's next premier football family.

> What he's done as a Cane: Of course, Arthur didn't live up to the hype one bit in his first year and a half at Miami. Despite enrolling early with seven other freshmen, he still was far behind in terms of development and understanding former coordinator Bill Young's defense. Brown had problems in coverage situations and by the end of the season was learning middle linebacker (a role usually reserved for guys who struggled with that). In all, Brown played in 10 games and made four tackles -- all on special teams. This spring, he had a few eye-opening moments -- including a big hit in the backfield on a broken play. But he still didn't appear anywhere near ready to really contribute. He had two tackles in the spring game. According to spring testing, Brown runs a 4.64 in the 40 (4th among linebackers), benches 330 (most among LBs) and squats 435 (3rd among LBs).

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Too many people watched Arthur Brown closely in high school and thought well of him for me to believe he'll be a bust. But there is no doubt whatever football he played in Kansas did not prepare him for anything at Miami. I expect this to be another learning season for Brown, one hopefully that doesn't turn into a lost season. New defensive coordinator John Lovett has simplified things down enough (at least from what we've heard) that perhaps Brown can learn just enough to be able to contribute in the rotation at linebacker. The Hurricanes need all the help they can get at the position. And as long as Brown finds a role, whether its just making tackles at middle linebacker or using his speed and athleticism on the edge to make plays -- that is at least a step up in production.

Malcolm Grant unplugged, Part 2

Here is the rest of my interview with new Hurricanes point guard Malcolm Grant, aka MG3.

Q: So was MJ is your idol?
MG: "The only way I'd stop crying when I was little was if they put on a Michael Jordan Come Fly With Me tape. It's funny I finally met Jordan when I played in the Jordan Classic game. I was just in awe. It was just a great experience. He was real polite."

Q: Why are you going to be wearing No. 3?
MG: "Dwayne Wade. He's my favorite player. I love him. Besides, Dews has 23. I knew it was going to be a fight and he wasn't giving that up. Besides, I feel like me and Dwayne Wade have something in common. He couldn't play at first and came back. I feel like I have a lot to prove. People talked about Lebron [James] and Carmello [Anthony] when he came out. When I went to Villanova, people talked about Fish and Stokes and they left me out to dry. So I feel like we got a bond. I met him when I went to the Knicks game with Jack and he introduced us after he had that 50-point night. I was wearing a band-aid like him all week. Dews still messes with me about that today. I was going to practice with the Band-Aid on all week until coach said something."

Q: Tell me about your teammates. You watched these guys closely all last year. What do they have to do to get better?
MG: "Everybody knows Dwayne [Collins] is a beast. The only thing with him is he has to learn to bring it everyday. It starts now. It has to become a habit so when the game comes, he doesn't have to think about it twice. It has to come natural."

"[James] Dews biggest problem was he would get in the gym, but not as much as he is now. He's busting his butt now. He's running some of the one."

"I've worked with [Dequan Jones] a lot. He's like my little brother. I've told him he has to work on the jumper all the time. If he gets it, it will open it up even more. He's working off screens and some off the dribble. I'm expecting big things."

"Cyrus [McGowan] was hurt. But he's getting healthy now. He's been working on his jump shot a lot."

"Durand [Scott] is looking real good. He comes from a school with a great tradition and he's used to winning. He can defend. He has long arms and can score."

"Donnovan [Kirk] is looking really good, too. All those young guys are."

Q: Most people are saying there's no way this team is going to be good with Jack [McClinton] gone. How do you feel about that?
MG: "It's good that people are counting us out. I always love to be the underdog. If people feel like its going to be a down year, let them think that. Once the season starts everybody is going to say 'Wow.'They're going to be surprised. We hear what's going on, what people are saying. 'Oh, Jack is gone.' Who is going to score? Who is going to do this?' Let them think that. Our only goal is to win. We don't care who gets the media. All we care about is winning."

Q: How does this new offense look with you running the point?
MG: "We're looking really good. DJ is running the wing well. Dwayne hasn't been here. He's been in camps and stuff. The times he was here, we were looking really good. Dews is a shooter. You have to get him rhythm shots. When he hits the three, that's what opens up other things."

Q: Where can you get better?
MG: "I think my defense can get better. I'm never satisfied with my game. I don't want to be 'Oh Malcolm Grant was good.' I want to be one of the best, if not the best. That's my mindset. I bring it every day and I want to show the guys I'm working extremely hard and committed to this and I want to bring a championship here."

Q: People look at you as Jack's replacement. Is there pressure?
MG: "I don't look at it as a pressure. This is the game I love. They're big shoes to fill, but I'm not worried about it. I'm not going to let expectations mess my game up and what I'm trying to do. The only thing I'm focusing on is getting better individually and as a team."

Q: What are you planning to study?
MG: "Sports Administration. But I want to be a TV broadcaster. I feel like I'll be really good. I like to make people laugh. I look up people on my phone using google, celebrity look-a-likes. Dews says I look like Cheryl Underwood. That's messed up. He looks like Rodney Stuckey."

Q: Now that Jack is gone, who takes over the title of most tattooed Cane?
MG: "Antoine [Allen] has a lot of tats. He's tatted up. Me, I don't have any tattoos. I don't do that. I have to keep my body clean."

Q: If you had one message for Canes fans what would it be?
MG: "I'm not just playing this game to play. I want to be the best."

Malcolm Grant unplugged, Part I

Whenever we write stories on any athlete, there always a ton of leftovers. I spent more than 20 minutes talking with Malcolm Grant last week and although I used a few of his quotes in his feature story Saturday, there was only so much room.

Here is the first part of a two part interview with the 6-1, 185-pound point guard, who plans on taking over the leadership role for the Canes with Jack McClinton gone.

Q: Everybody on this team seems to pick up a nickname. What should we call you?
MG: "MG3. That's the latest one going around. But everybody calls me Malcolm or Malky."

Q: What ultimately happened at Villanova? Why did you leave?
MG: "Without getting too much into it, coach [Jay Wright] made a decision and his decision was not to play me anymore. Not sure what it was. I just stopped playing. I was having some good games. He told me 'I need you to sacrifice, if you can't you have to do what's best for you.' But everything happens for a reason. I'm in a position like this. I sat out. I got a chance to learn the game even more. I got better, mentally, physically and I'm just so happy I got good guys around me -- Dews, Dwayne Collins, the young guys. I just feel like its going to be special."

Q: Why did you choose Miami?
MG: "They recruited me before I went to Villanova. It was UM, St. John's or Villanova. After I opened things back up a few other big schools came after me. I said you know what, if I pick them I'm probably going to go through the same thing. If another guard with a big name comes in, I might have to sit out. I felt like Miami was a great opportunity. The weather is great, beautiful women and the team is pretty good. I feel like the program has come a long way and I want to be a part of it."

Q: What was it like sitting out last year?
MG: "Frustrating. I've been playing basketball my whole life and to have the game taken from me was very frustrating. And having the season we had knowing I could have helped the team was very frustrating."

Q: How much did this team need you last year?
MG: "A team always needs a leader, especially a point guard. A point guard is an extension of the coach. I feel like whatever coach wants, me being a point guard on the floor, I have to get his message through to the players."

Q: Coach has always talked about your leadership. How much do you feel you need to be a leader for this team?
MG: "I think I have to be a leader at all times, whether its on the court or off the court. I think last year, we were lacking that a little bit. Sitting out, I had a different view and I knew this team needed a leader. So, I already had a plan that in order for us to be good, I had to be a leader."

Q: How different can this team be with a point guard, distributor?
MG: "I think we could be beyond special. I'm not even talking. Me and Dews talk about it all the time. Jack was just a pure scorer. You give him the ball and he's going to put the ball in the hoop. I think what I bring to the table is I like to get guys involved, I like to play in transition and we're concentrating on being a better defensive team. In order to run, you got to get stops. We've been working on that the whole summer. I feel like I can bring that, being a leader and getting guys involved. I can put the ball in the hole too."

Q: New York has produced so many special guards over the years. Who did you look up to and pattern your game after?
MG: "Growing up in New York was great. In my era, I was under Sebastian [Telfair]. He was the best in New York at the time. Every where you go it's always competitive. There's a park, there's a game. You learn so much about toughness. It makes you want to be the best player you can be."

Q: What was it like to sit out last season? How did you make yourself better with all that time off?
MG: "Mentally and physically. Mentally it is so tough because you are practicing with the scout team. Sometimes guys aren't on the same level. You want to win, but you are going up against the starting five in the conference. I got stronger, did extra sets. I'm healthy and I'm just so excited to play."

Q: Tell me why and when you got hooked on hoops?
MG: "My older brothers. I used to go watch them play. I started at age 4. I would get on their nerves, dribbling up and down all day. My father he used to record Lavar's games. That's how I learned to play, watching his tapes and dribbling up and down the house. And of course, the great Michael Jordan. My brothers would tell me sit down man, people live under us. My dad told them to leave me alone. It all worked out."

Q: But where did you get the basketball bug from?
MG: "My father William Duncan played on the streets in New York. He wasn't an And One guy. But everybody in the neighborhood tells me he could jump. Unfortunately, I didn't get any hops from him."

"And I had my brothers, two who played hoops. Both of them were good. The middle brother [LeVar] was way shorter than me. He realized at a certain age he just couldn't take it any further. He got his degree and his masters. My older brother played in a college upstate. He's got a good job now."

Q: Tell me more about your dad. You get your loud nature from him?
MG: "My father man, we're going to have to get him some different seats. He's calmed down a lot. But I haven't played in a while. I'm not sure what he's going to do. I just know he's known all over New York for getting into it with the refs."

Catching up with James Dews

I know I might get fined by Canes Nation for posting a basketball blog with football season on the horizon. But for the few hoops diehards like OrangeCane and others who are wondering what Frank Haith's basketball team might look like next season without Jack McClinton, Brian Asbury, Lance Hurdle and Jimmy Graham, here's a pretty good interview I had with James Dews last week.

JD, who will be a senior and one of the few familiar faces on this team, talked about just how different this team has looked in the gym during summer workouts without McClinton and with six new players on the roster. Dews also said sophomore point guard Malcolm Grant, who sat out last season per NCAA transfer rules, is the proverbial truth and has added a new dimension to a team that hasn't had a true point guard in two seasons. FYI, be sure to check out my feature on Grant in Saturday's paper.

Q: How is Malcolm Grant different from Jack?

JD: "I think Jack led mostly by example. He spoke a lot. But Malcolm, he leads by example too, but is also more vocal. He demands a lot, which is good. Some players can't take that. But the majority of us can. And Malcolm demands we all work hard. If its an end of a drill, running through the end of the line, Malcolm demands that. If he makes a mistake, he's also the first one to say my bad. He demands a lot from himself. And that's important."

Q: How will having a vocal leader versus an example guy help this team?

JD: "I think its good because Malcolm's energy and leadership is rubbing off on other guys. Not just me. We always talk about being leaders. We'll hear some of the younger guys speaking up. As a senior, we'll be like 'Wow. He's just a sophomore.' And having that in the huddle will help us all next year. We can all be our own leaders to."

Q: How different is it having that passer on the court?

JD: "Not a knock on Jack, he was a scoring point guard first. Lance, he was a scorer. Malcolm is a scorer too, but he can come down and get you nine assists a game. He can come down and just find the guys. Working with him in open gym and even last year playing with him, I find myself personally scoring my buckets a lot easier with Malcolm. He'll do all the work and I'm wide open all of a sudden. Playing with somebody like that, I'm really excited. I know a lot of other guys are really excited. Malcolm is going to bring a lot to the table.

Q: How is he helping the guys in the paint like Dwayne [Collins] who see a lot of doubles?

JD: "Malcolm is definitely helping out. He's not just driving, he's creating for us. When he creates and we hit a big three, that's going to open up the inside. Also with the pick and roll, I know Malcolm is looking for the roll a lot. The post guys are realizing there's a good chance I'm going to get the ball instead of just setting the screen when before they really weren't expecting it. Malcolm is coming off that screen hard and is looking to dump it off for an easy layup."

Q: How different do you guys look without Jack?

JD: "We are a different team. We lost Jack, Hurdle, Graham, Asbury, we're a totally different team. We got six new guys. We're young, but I think that's good. We don't have the expectations. We're all going to play hard and play 'D' and that's what's important. The offense will take care of itself."

Q: How is the offense different? Coach Haith said you'll run a lot more this year.

JD: "It's way different. We're a much more longer, real athletic team. It's something coach has always talked about -- get out and go. And, we're definitely going to be in shape. The training is way different. We're going to be in shape. That was a problem last year. We weren't as good a shape as we are now. Now, we're capable of doing all the running coach wants us to do. Our team is definitely different."

Q: How is this summer's training been different?

JD: "We're doing a lot of long distance running. We could probably be a cross country team. Last year we only ran a couple times a week. This year, we're running three or four times a week. We run on the track. We're hitting it and getting it."

Q: What are your early impressions of the freshmen?

JD: "They're all hard workers and they all want to get better. They're asking us for advice. They just want to fit in. Durand [Scott] is athletic and long. He's really good around the basket. Garrius [Adams] is a great shooter. Donovan [Kirk] is so athletic. He's long. He plays hard. He's going to be one of our energy guys, who takes a charge and dives on the floor. And Antoine [Allen] is really good with the ball. He can get to the hole at will. All of them are really going to help us."

Q: How is Reggie [Johnson] and some of the other guys who didn't play a lot last year coming along?

JD: "Reggie has trimmed down. Me and Malcom were just talking about this. When he sets a screen for you, you're wide open. The other day we probably had about 10 open shots a piece. He just clears it out -- down screens, ball screens. He's a good rebounder and he's real good around the basket. Julian [Gamble] is an energy guy who never stops playing. He has a lot of heart. He's going to hit the glass for us. He loves setting screens, you never have to call for it. Jewels is going to be a lot more vocal too."

Q: What's your reaction to seeing Jimmy Graham in a football uniform?

JD: "It was so weird. We're out running on the track one morning and he's out there catching footballs. Jimmy is still with as much as he was last year. We watched the draft at Hooters. We all still hang out together. I know he's going to be great. Watch out for Jimmy Graham. No. 80. Listening to Jacory [Harris] tell us as well as other guys, he really is doing great out there."

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DEVIN HESTER COMMERCIAL: For those of you who would like to see the former Hurricane's new commercial, set to debut Sunday during the ESPY's click on the link.

Hester ready to break out at receiver for Bears

The one thing the University of Miami has been able to hold onto even through the tough times in the mid 1990s and the more recent mediocre run are the faces that shine on Sundays in the NFL.

In the 1980s and 1990s it wasn't hard to spot The U. If it wasn't Vinny Testaverde under center or Michael Irvin hauling in passes for the Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys, it was linebackers like Micheal Barrow or defensive lineman like Warren Sapp who would pop up on SportsCenter. This decade, its been players like the Ravens Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, tight end Jeremy Shockey and the great Edgerrin James who have carried the torch.

But as those players reach the latter stages of their pro careers, its becoming a little harder to figure out who will be ready to carry the Canes NFL image strong into the next decade. 

Several former Canes greats are entering transition points in their careers. Willis McGahee, who ran for the fewest yards in his career last season (631), is in a crowded Baltimore backfield. Kellen Winslow is starting fresh with Tampa Bay. Of course, there still is Clinton Portis, who will always draw cameras with his profound characters. But he's entering his eighth season. There is Andre Johnson, who is arguably the most physical and talented receiver in the game. But AJ isn't a guy loves the spotlight beyond Sundays.

So who can hande the glitz and glamour beyond 2010? Right now nobody might be able to carry it better for the Canes than Devin Hester. Remember him? The guy who UM coaches couldn't figure out how to use, but who broke the NFL record for kick returns with the Bears and opened Super Bowl XLI by taking one back on the Colts? He's about to blow up some more. When ESPN televises the ESPY's Sunday, Under Armour will unveil another 30-second commercial that shows us a day in the life through Hester's eyes.

It's obviously meant to help Under Armour sell its brand name. But Randy Shannon and the Canes should be happy because its going to help sell The U too (have you seen how many kids are wearing Under-Armour these days?) At the very least, commercials with former Hurricane stars can help combat some of the stuff that's been happening lately (like the Gators winning two national championships in three years, the Canes first round draft streak ending and that whole 12-13 run).

Anyway, I caught up with Hester for about 10 minutes over the phone Wednesday after I flew back in from the All-Star Game in St. Louis. It's the first time I had spoken to him since his rookie season at the Super Bowl. Hester, who was out in L.A. for the ESPYs, is now 26, engaged and expecting to become a father for the first time soon. And, on the football field, he feels he's ready to become much more than just an electrifying return man. With the new Bears quarterback Jay Cutler at the helm, Hester believes he could become the game's most explosive deep threat.

"I'm definitely very excited about this season," said Hester, who caught 51 passes for 665 yards and three scores in his third NFL season. "I'm really understanding the offensive side of the ball now and I'm expecting to have a lot of success. My biggest obstacle was that I really hadn't played receiver at all before. I played there just twice when I was at The U. With a guy like Jay Cutler throwing the ball, I feel like I'm going to be even better."

Here's what else we talked about.

Q: This obviously isn't your first commercial. Everyone remembers the Madden commercial from last year. In this one, you get to hang out with your friend Deion Sanders. How is this one different and how has your life been different since you showed the world what you can do with that return in the Super Bowl?

A: "This commercial is really more about me and what I do, every day life. I had a lot of fun doing it, especially with Prime. My life has definitely changed, though. I can't go into a place anymore without somebody noticing me and having to sign autographs. It's been good though. It's a humbling experience."

Q: You know The U has been struggling lately. Have you been hearing it more in the locker room from other NFL guys? And what do you and [Bears teammate] Greg Olsen usually tell people when they mess with the Canes?

"We've definitely been hearing it -- especially from those Gators. I just tell them the same thing. We got this. Our guys are young, freshmen, sophomore, but they're good. Real good. Things are going to change soon and they better be careful what they say. I'm definitely ready to do some talking of my own."

Q: Have you been to The U recently and spoken with any of the freshmen receivers? There's a young guy there now, Travis Benjamin, who is from Palm Beach County and has that same blazing speed -- even the same hair style -- you have. Talk to him?

"I haven't had a chance yet. But I definitely want to. I've heard a lot about him. I'll be down there to see [Andreu] Swasey and those guys before the season, I hope to catch up with him then."

Q: Some of the older former Canes -- Ray Lewis, Edge -- are nearing the end of their careers. Do you feel like you have to carry the torch on Sundays at all for the Canes going forward?

"There a lot of Canes still doing their thing. Great players all around the league. I just want to be able to do what I can. People are watching you all the time, so you have to do the right things. If I can be someone to look up to, an example for the Canes, then I'll do it. We're still The U. We'll be back."

Top 60 Countdown: No. 40, S Ray Ray Armstrong

As we hit No. 40 on our countdown of the Top 60 players at The U we take a look at freshman safety Aravious Armstrong. Ray Ray (as we’ll refer to him from now on, think Ichiro) was widely considered the best player signed by UM in its 09 class. He’s drawn comparisons to Sean Taylor because of his size and athletic ability. So will Ray Ray live up to the hype? And how much will he exactly be able to help UM this season?

> What we heard about him on Signing Day ‘09: Despite playing for a program at Sanford Seminole that had a history of losing, Ray Ray – with the assistance of UF-bound Andre Debose and fellow UM signee Dyron Dye – helped turn the Seminoles into the Class 6A state champions last year. At 6-4, 215 pounds, Armstrong was often a man among boys on the field at the high school level. And he did it all. He played quarterback (throwing for 1,297 yards and 13 touchdowns), safety (60 tackles, 2 INTs), running back (rushing for 1,044 yards, 19 touchdowns) and had a penchant for making huge plays. He was selected to the Under Armour All-American Game and soared up the recruiting rankings at the end. Rivals.com tabbed him the 13th best player in the country and ESPN had him 21st overall regardless of position. Scout.com rated him the 13th best safety in the country.

> What he's done as a Cane: Nothing yet. He arrived in June and began lifting weights with strength and conditioning coach Andreu Swasey.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: There might not be a freshman on the team with higher expectations than Ray Ray, who has the size and playmaking ability to make an instant impact. Of course, we’ve heard the same things before about other players who didn’t live up to the hype as freshmen. Aren’t we still waiting for Arthur Brown and Allen Bailey to break out? Here is why I feel that won’t be the case with Armstrong. He’s been a flat out star against some of the country’s best athletes. Unlike Brown and Bailey (who were stars out in nowhere Kansas and nowhere Georgia), Armstrong did his damage against the likes of real powerhouses in Florida. The bottomline is there aren’t many kids who can say they were down 21-0 to Miami Northwestern and came back to beat them to win a state title. Only special guys can do that. Armstrong, like the late Taylor who led Gulliver Prep to an improbable state title, has that kind of special written all over him.

Aside from that, there aren’t any safeties on this UM team who can rival Ray Ray’s size. There are some who believe Armstrong might be headed to linebacker because of it. That could happen. But I think his playmaking ability and physical nature will be too much not to have as the last line of defense. This season, I expect him to make his biggest impact on special teams and playing in the rotation at safety. I would not be surprised if he's starting by the end of the season if Vaughn Telemaque or Randy Phillips sputter or go down with injuries. But its the future that is really exciting. In a perfect Canes world, there might not be a scarier down the middle defense in college football in 2010 than Marcus Forston, Sean Spence and Ray Ray Armstrong. Yes, get excited Canes fans. But if you’ve learned anything from the last few seasons – do so with caution.

RECAPPING THE COUNTDOWN
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No. 60: LB C.J. Holton
No. 59: OL Tyler Horn
No. 58: DB Jamal Reid
No. 57: DE Gavin Hardin
No. 56: DT Josh Holmes
No. 55: TE Richard Gordon
No. 54: OL Jermaine Johnson
No. 53: OL Ben Jones
No. 52: DL Jeremy Lewis
No. 51: FB Patrick Hill
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No. 50: OL Brandon Washington
No. 49: OL Harland Gunn
No. 48: RB Damien Berry
No. 47: QB Taylor Cook
No. 46: DE Andrew Smith
No. 45: DE Olivier Vernon
No. 44: RB Lee Chambers
No. 43: OT Matt Pipho
No. 42: DE Steven Wesley
No. 41: WR Davon Johnson
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No. 30: CB Sam Shields
No. 29: LB Ramon Buchanon
No. 28: CB Brandon McGee
No. 27: DB Ryan Hill
No. 26: CB Demarcus Van Dyke
No. 25: RB Mike James
No. 24: LB Darryl Sharpton
No. 23: DT Joe Joseph
No. 22: DE Adewale Ojomo
No. 21: C AJ Trump
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No. 20: CB Brandon Harris]
No. 19: TE Dedrick Epps

Top 60 Countdown: No. 19, TE Dedrick Epps

As we creep ahead in our countdown of the Top 60 players at The U, we take a look at No. 19 on our list: Tight end Dedrick Epps. The 6-4, 253-pound senior is coming back from a torn ACL and won't be ready for the start of the season. But the Canes are hopeful he'll be back at some point. UM certainly needs Epps because of their youth and inexperience at the position. How much will Epps be able to contribute? We'll find out soon.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '06: As a senior at Huguenot High in Richmond (Va), Epps caught 38 passes for more than 700 yards and eight touchdowns. He picked the Canes over the hometown Hokies, University of Florida and Tennessee. Rivals.com and Scout.com both rated him the nation's 12th best tight end. He was one of 10 players rated by Rivals.com in UM's 2006 class as a 4-star recruit.

> What he's done as a Cane: After catching just eight passes for 83 yards (and one very big touchdown in the 2007 win at FSU) in his first two years at UM, Epps became the primary tight end in UM's offense last season thanks to the transfer of Dajleon Farr to Memphis. Last season, Epps caught 22 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns -- including a 69-yarder (UM's longest play from scrimmage) against N.C. State. He finished with 101 yards in the game to become the first UM tight end to catch finish with more than 100 yards receiving since Greg Olsen had 132 yards on eight catches against FSU in 2005. Epps was all ready to take the next step then suffered a torn ACL in his left knee when the Canes were preparing for the Emerald Bowl. He missed the spring and hopes to be back in September.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: No player is tougher to forecast on this team than Epps. There is no question he's the best tight end on this team. He's the best route runner, the best blocker, the only real weapon who will be effective at the tight end position in Mark Whipple's offense (the other guys are either too young or just have never given us reason to believe they'll improve). Randy Shannon has said Epps has been ahead of schedule in his rehab and is hopeful he will be back in September. But even in the best case scenario, its going to take him time to get his body physically ready for action. Then, he has to actually execute plays in the offense. At best, Epps will be back in the lineup by October (the middle of the season). When he comes back, he'll provide a big lift to this new offense, which showed us it relies a lot on underneath targets to make plays. Epps can do that if he's healthy. But if he doesn't come back in time or if he doesn't come back the same, it could be a huge blow to this offense. That being said, it will be interesting to see who else steps up at the position. Jimmy Graham makes the move over from basketball and is athletic and big, but hasn't played football since he was in ninth grade. Will any of the incoming recruits be able to help? Probably not. Either way, this position enters the fall as the clear cut biggest question on the team.

Top 60 Countdown: No. 41, WR Davon Johnson

As we move down our list of the Top 60 players at UM, we bump into another talented receiver at No. 41: Sophomore Davon Johnson. With so many talented players at receiver, there is a chance DJ could get lost in the shuffle. But there is no questioning his talent or ability.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '08: DJ was a PrepStar All-American at Booker T. Washington in Miami where he helped the Tornadoes win the Class 4A state championship with UM teammates Thearon Collier and Brandon Harris. As a senior, he caught 27 passes for 628 yards and seven touchdowns and was tabbed by Rivals as the 12th best athlete in the country and 116th ranked player in the country regardless of position. ESPN tabbed him the 13th best receiver and No. 67 player regardless of position. Scout.com thought less and ranked him 91st at receiver. He chose UM over South Carolina, South Florida and UCF.

> What he's done as a Cane: Last season, Johnson made one start (against Virginia) but played in 11 games and caught five passes for 71 yards including an important 17-yard touchdown catch in the come-from-behind win over Duke. Johnson had one catch for seven yards in the spring.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: At 5-11, 190 pounds, Johnson is as talented and as fast a slot receiver on the team. But he'll enter the fall likely sitting behind Collier and redshirt freshman Kendall Thompkins on the depth chart. It's not that Johnson can't play, its that Collier and Thompkins are a little better. UM coach Randy Shannon has said he wants to have a smaller rotation this season at receiver, which could hurt Johnson's opportunities to see the ball thrown his way. But it doesn't mean that when he is in there, he won't make plays. I expect another quiet season for DJ, maybe one that includes a redshirt if Miami tries to space out its receivers.

Calm amid the storm -- that's been Jason Fox

He's blocked for two head coaches, three position coaches, three offensive coordinators and four different starting quarterbacks in three seasons at the University of Miami.

To say Jason Fox has been through a lot since arriving from Fort Worth North Crowley High School in Texas would be an understatement. But the truth is, if there has been one constant for the Hurricanes over the past three up-and-down years -- one real good constant -- it's been No. 64.

Fox has started 36 games at left tackle (it would have been 37 if he hadn't gotten hurt at Virginia) and has been the one familiar, calming voice in Miami's offense three years running. And if not for all the losing, he would probably be a lot more recognized than he is today.

Despite being among the few players in the country entering their senior season with more than 30 starts, finding Fox on any Preseason All-American lists can be as challenging as playing Where's Waldo. Some magazines don't even have him on the ACC's Preseason First Team.

Fox (6-7, 310) isn't complaining. He'll be the first to tell you his experience of mediocrity with the Hurricanes isn't what he signed up for when former offensive line coach Art Kehoe convinced him to come to Miami instead of signing with Texas A&M or Oklahoma State. But eventually, somebody is going to have to take notice of what Fox has done at Miami. Because he hasn't just been just good, he could make some Canes history this season.

If he stays injury free yet again, he'll match Richard Mercier and Mike Sullivan for the most career starts ever by an offensive lineman (48). If the Canes make it to the ACC Championship and then a bowl game, he'll tie William Joseph for the most career starts ever by a Cane (50).

"That would mean a lot to me," Fox said. "When I was a freshman I actually added it up. I definitely set that as one of my goals and now we can do it."

But individual goals aren't really what Fox is about. What matters more to him is being one of the leaders to break UM out of its funk. Truth be told, Miami is beyond lucky Fox is around. Because even with him, their offensive line situation isn't pretty.

Beyond junior guards Orlando Franklin (14 career starts) and Joel Figueroa (4 starts), and senior center AJ Trump (10 career starts), offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland has a group of college football virgins to break in this year. Senior Matt Pipho, penciled in as the starter at right tackle, saw his most action in four years last year when Fox went down against Virginia. But by the time Fox was back after Virginia Tech, Pipho was the fourth man on the offensive tackle rotation.

The rest of UM's offensive line has about as much college football playing experience as I do. Redshirt sophomore Harland Gunn played sparingly against Charleston Southern, then went back to the scout team. Ditto for sophomore Tyler Horne. Redshirt freshman Ben Jones missed most of the season with an arm injury and began his first real college work this spring. The rest of the group? Freshmen. Tackle Jermaine Johnson and guard Brandon Washington come highly regarded and enrolled in January. But both were in prep school last year. Cory White, working at tackle, and Jared Wheeler, working at guard, are fresh out of high school.

It sounds daunting -- especially when you consider UM's first four opponents were all ranked among the Top 25 nationally for sacks last year. But Fox, somehow, has faith. When asked about his buddies Pipho and Trump, who have never had to be "the man," Fox exudes confidence.

"They've had playing experience, but it's different when you're out there all game long," Fox said. "They've been waiting for their opportunity and now they've got it. They're not going to take anything for granted. They're working hard."

But it's going to take more than hard work to protect quarterback Jacory Harris -- and Fox knows that. He's trimmed more fat off his body from the end of last season and improved his strength numbers. Among offensive linemen, his 455 pound squat ranks third and his 308-pound power clean is second.

And even if sports writers and magazines haven't noticed him, the NFL has. Among the seniors in the 2010 NFL Draft at tackle, he currently ranks 11th and projects to be between a fourth or fifth round pick.

Of course, that matters little to him in July. What he wants more than anything else is to leave this rocky place a little more sturdy than when he got here.

"I know a lot of younger guys look up to me," Fox said. "I've played so much here and started so many games. I welcome that role. I want that role. I think I try to lead by example and when the time comes I have to speak up. The great thing about us is we don't have guys that are scared to do that. I think this senior class gives us something we haven't had the last couple years."

No Jason, this team has always had it. It's just been hard for some people to spot you amid the mess.

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 redshirted in 2006 and recording just six tackles as a sophomore in 2007, Wesley stepped him game up in 2008. He started 11 games and made 21 tackles -- three for loss. It wasn't a spectacular season, but it was steady. This spring, despite being beat out for a first team spot  by 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 are 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 is if he'll ever become more than that. Ojomo showed improvement rushing the passer last season. With Vernon impressing in the spring and the return of veteran 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. 

Top 60 Countdown: No. 49, OL Harland Gunn

As we move deeper into our countdown of the Top 60 players at Miami, we look at No. 49: Offensive lineman Harland Gunn, who came to UM highly regarded and is looking to finally deliver this season as a redshirt sophomore.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '07: Gunn attended the same high school in Omaha -- Central High -- as Gale Sayers, Ahman Green, Calvin Jones and Keith Jones. He was tabbed as the nation's No. 8 center by Rivals.com, the sixth best guard by Scout.com and the 63rd best player -- regardless of position -- by the same website. When the 6-2, 313-pound Gunn chose UM over Nebraska in their own backyard, the Canes believed they had a steal.

> What he's done as a Cane: Until this spring, Gunn was basically an invisible man on UM's offensive line depth chart. He was redshirted his freshman season and didn't get out of scout team duties in his second season either. Gunn was passed up on the depth chart by a player not nearly as highly regarded as him (Joel Figueroa). But now, Gunn appears ready to start making some noise. This spring with Figueroa out, Gunn saw a lot of time at both guard positions alongside Orlando Franklin and is expected to compete with Figueroa for a starting job in the fall. There is no questioning Gunn's abilities in the weight room, he has the strongest bench (425) and squat (600) on the team. His 330-pound power clean is the third best on the team behind Allen Bailey (375) and Eric Moncur (340).

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Some players simply are late bloomers. The Hurricanes are hoping that is the case with Gunn. After two years of anonymity, Gunn needs to emerge from the pack and put his strength to use in the ground game. Outside of Jason Fox (36 starts) and Orlando Franklin (14 starts), there isn't a ton of experience on UM's offensive line. If Gunn can start delivering on the field -- and not just the weight room -- Miami's offense will obviously benefit. But if he gets passed up by Figueroa again or even freshman Brandon Washington, then it will be hard not to consider him another promising Canes recruit who turned out to be a bust. Ultimately, though, I see Gunn sharing the workload inside with Washington and Figueroa. 

Top 60 Countdown: No. 20, CB Brandon Harris

As we inch closer to toward the top spot in the countdown of the top 60 players at the University of Miami, we hit No. 20: CB Brandon Harris. The South Florida product and younger brother of former UM track star Tim Harris came to UM with high expectations. Will he live up to them?

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '08: Landing Harris was a major coup on National Signing Day. The former track and football standout at Miami Booker T. Washington High was The Miami Herald's Class 6A-4A Athlete of The Year and Gatorade's Player of the Year in Florida. He had more than 1,069 all-purpose yards on offense and made 49 tackles, five sacks and four picks while playing safety and corner. Rivals.com, Scout.com and ESPN had him ranked a consensus Top 100 national player and a top three national corner.

> What he's done as a Cane: Although he played in all 13 games and started six of them at left corner, Harris had some struggles as a freshman. At 5-10, 190 pounds, Florida State's big receivers exploited him for three scores and two pass interference penalties. He finished the season with 26 tackles including making his first interception in the regular season finale at N.C. State. He also served as a kick returner and had 13 returns for 274 yards, including a career-long 41 yard return versus Texas A&M. He looked sharp in the spring, tallying four tackles and one pass breakup in the spring game.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Harris is the most talented corner UM has recruited since Kelly Jennings was around. Ask Randy Shannon about his secondary and the player he is most excited about is Harris. The Hurricanes desperately need Harris to deliver this season. We expect him to do that and be in the starting lineup versus the Seminoles and the rest of the season alongside either senior Chavez Grant or Demarcus Van Dyke. One thing Harris has the ability to do is break on balls and create turnovers. As a sophomore, the Hurricanes will urge him to do more of that now.

Top 60 Countdown: No. 50, OL Brandon Washington

As we move deeper into the countdown of the Top 60 players at UM, we hit the big 5-0, No. 50 on our list. That would be freshman offensive lineman Brandon Washington, who spent a year in prep school and is probably ready to contribute this season.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '08: He was ranked as a consensus Top 15 guard in the country by Rivals, Scout and ESPN coming out of Miami Northwestern in 2008. But after some academic struggles, Washington was forced to attend Milford Prep for a season. The 6-4, 354-pounder resigned with Miami after being tabbed the second-best prep school player in the country by Rivals.com.

> What he's done as a Cane: He came in the spring and competed at right guard and left guard. He was on the second team at left guard in the spring game. Said offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland of Washington: "You talk about a bright kid, he’s very, very intelligent. We can do a lot of things with him and you only have to coach him once. He’s not going to [make a mistake] next time. He could actually, like Orlando [Franklin] did, end up helping us this year. He can play tackle, center. He’s extremely bright. Right now we got him playing left guard. Before he’s done here, who knows where he’ll play." He's also a strong kid. He's already benching 400 pounds. Only Harland Gunn (425) and Allen Bailey (405) are lifting more. His other numbers, however, 365-pound squat and 242-pound power lift need to improve.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: Washington is the most highly regarded offensive lineman UM has signed in the last three years. The bottom line is he's probably the most talented offensive lineman on the team among the newcomers. He's played offensive line at the high school level since he was a freshman under UM Director of Football Operations Corey Bell. If Washington isn't starting by the end of the season or seeing significant playing time in the rotation at guard, you have to believe his 2009 season has been a failure. But I don't think that's going to happen. This is a guy who could and probably will be a three-year starter in his career at UM.

RECAPPING THE COUNTDOWN

No. 60: LB C.J. Holton

No. 59: OL Tyler Horn

No. 58: DB Jamal Reid

No. 57: DE Gavin Hardin

No. 56: DT Josh Holmes

No. 55: TE Richard Gordon

No. 54: OL Jermaine Johnson

No. 53: OL Ben Jones

No. 52: DL Jeremy Lewis

No. 51: FB Patrick Hill

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No. 30: CB Sam Shields

No. 29: LB Ramon Buchanon

No. 28: CB Brandon McGee

No. 27: DB Ryan Hill

No. 26: CB Demarcus Van Dyke

No. 25: RB Mike James

No. 24: LB Darryl Sharpton

No. 23: DT Joe Joseph

No. 22: DE Adewale Ojomo

No. 21: C AJ Trump

Top 60 Countdown: No. 21, C AJ Trump

As we move ahead in our countdown of the Top 60 players at UM, we hit No. 21: Center A.J. Trump. The senior has been hampered by injuries in his career, but will be counted on heavily heading into his senior season.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '05: At Clearwater Central Catholic, Trump was a two-way playing stud. His senior season he started at left tackle and racked up 81 tackles, 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss while playing at defensive end, defensive tackle and middle linebacker. He was selected to the CaliFlorida Bowl and rated the No. 8 offensive guard prospect in the country by Rivals.com and the 27th best offensive lineman in the country by Scout.com. He chose UM over Notre Dame and Florida.

> What he's done as a Cane: After being redshirted as a freshman in 2005, Trump saw action in six games at both center and left guard in 2006 until he went down with a knee injury against Virginia. Trump tried coming back in 2007, but just wasn't the same and he played just once in the opener before sitting out the rest of the year. Last season, he started in 10 games at both guard positions. Now, he'll enter his fifth and final season at UM as the leading candidate to start at center. At 6-3, 300 pounds, he is the third most experienced player on UM's line and will be the fourth different center to start in the last four years.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: When it comes to pushing the pile, Trump can do it. His strength numbers (370 bench, 485 squat) rank in the Top 10 on the team and are stronger than each of his offensive line mates -- except for Harland Gunn and Orlando Franklin. Bottomline is UM needs Trump to have a stellar senior season. There are too many young and inexperienced guys behind him. Losing him at center would be a huge blow to the line.

Joe Wylie granted his release

We heard the rumors for weeks. Now, we know Joe Wylie won't be a member of the University of Miami football team anymore.

The Hurricanes released the former Boyd Anderson standout safety from his scholarship Wednesday, allowing him to transfer to Tennessee State. Wylie played in three games for UM in his freshman season -- Charleston Southern, Georgia Tech and Duke.

As a senior at Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson, Wylie helped the Cobras to a 9-1 record and made more than 100 tackles. His father played basketball at UM from 1988-91 and ranks 15th in points scored and ninth in rebounds at UM.

Wylie came to Miami ranked as the nation's 27th safety by Rivals.com. The Hurricanes are loaded at the position at the moment with redshirt safety Vaughn Telemaque and incoming freshmen Ray Ray Armstrong and Jamal Reid. 

Top 60 Countdown: No. 51, FB Patrick Hill

As we take another step forward in the countdown of the Top 60 players at UM, we look at No. 51: Fullback Patrick Hill. The senior doesn't play a lot, but usually has gotten the job done when called upon.

> What we heard about him on Signing Day '08: Coming out of El Camino Community College in California, we didn't hear a lot about the 5-9, 256-pound fullback other than he could block, catch and run. He chose the Canes over Texas A&M and Colorado and wasn't highly ranked among JUCO recruits.

> What he's done as a Cane: Hill has basically lived up to expectations, starting four games and making four catches for 17 yards the entire season. His biggest contribution was a 10-yard catch on the game-tying drive against Virginia. He made two catches in the Emerald Bowl loss to Cal. He was given The U's Unsung Hero award for his blocking.

> What Eye On The U expects from him in '09: More of the same. Miami really didn't use Hill a lot in Patrick Nix's offense and we don't expect him to see much action in Mark Whipple's offense except for third and short and goalline situations. Hill's best attribute is his blocking. If he can spring a few key blocks in tough situations, he'll have done his job.