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

Fisch not scared to start Flowers at right tackle 'or any freshman who deserves' it

CORAL GABLES -- Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch only called on one true freshman to start for him last season -- receiver Phillip Dorsett, who did it once in a 6-3 win at South Florida.

True freshman Ereck Flowers (74) continues to work with the first team with Seantrel Henderson out.

Fisch's second season at the helm of the Hurricanes' offense could feature quite a few more starts from baby-faced Canes -- and former Under-Armor All-American Ereck Flowers (6-6, 314) of Miami Norland could be the first in line.

With Seantrel Henderson now listed as day-to-day according to coach Al Golden and it unclear when the 6-8, 340-pound junior will be back following his car accident and concussion, Flowers continues to run with the first team. And he continues to impress.

"He's doing great. I'm really impressed with him. He's running with the ones everyday," Fisch said. "There is no hesitancy. You wouldn't think he's a freshman the way he's playing. He understands the system. He's next to Brandon Linder everyday and he can communicate. I'm really proud of the way Ereck is playing and all the potential he's showing us. He's strong. He's physical. He's athletic and he really seems to enjoy the game. 

"I don't have any apprehension at all starting any true freshman that deserves to be the starter."

Flowers, a former basketball standout who didn't begin focusing on football until his junior year at Miami Dr. Krop, was known best at Norland for his run blocking and opening up holes for fellow Canes freshman and Mr. Florida football Duke Johnson. But so far at UM, Flowers' pass blocking has also passed the eye-test according to Fisch.

"I think his pass [protection] has been excellent," Fisch said. "He has great feet and he's been doing a great job with us there."

MORE TIDBITS FROM FRIDAY'S PRACTICE

> As expected, linebacker Jimmy Gaines returned to practice Friday morning after missing the first week with an ankle injury he carried over from the spring. Gaines, the only linebacker with starting experience at all three linebacker spots, dodged a question about whether or not he's 100 percent.

Golden said he would bring Gaines back along slowly and reiterated that he probably won't play in Sunday's scrimmage. Gaines said he spent the off-season studying with former teammate Sean Spence and continues to talk to him on a regular basis.

"I'm ready for him to start flying around again," teammate Denzel Perryman said. "He adds a lot. Jimmy knows all three positions. If I ever get stuck on anything, I can just turnaround and ask him or somebody else can turnaround and ask him and we get the answer."

> Golden said he expects sophomore linebacker Gionni Paul to return on Tuesday. "Gionni was doing good [before he was hurt]," Golden said. "We need Gionni to step up, not just at linebacker but as a special teams player. He's a physical run and hit guy for us. We need him back."

> Golden said sophomore linebacker Thurston Armbrister was "banged up" Thursday, but didn't elaborate how long he would be out or limited.

> Sophomore receiver Rashawn Scott, who broke out this past spring, said he spent the off-season studying Giants receivers Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks and former Hurricane Andre Johnson and the way they create separation. Scott is working mostly at split end. He said his improved grasp of the Hurricanes playbook has really helped him play a lot faster. Scott played in a wildcat offense in high school.

"I couldn't play fast last year," Scott said. "Now, I know exactly where I'm supposed to be and where everybody else is supposed to be."

> Running back Mike James said he hasn't had to humble freshman Duke Johnson at all. 

"Duke is humble. In fact, I have to tell him, let it hang out, don't hold back," James said. "There's a difference between confidence and cockiness. I told him if you make a play, celebrate it. Let everybody know. It's alright."

> Redshirt freshman Ricardo Williams, listed as the backup to Anthony Chickillo at defensive end, has gained 35 pounds in the past year, going from 220 to 255. Williams said it has helped him improve tremendously on run defense. 

"I feel like I still got my speed and my quickness," Williams said. "I'm at 255, but you don't really see it."

> Kicker Jake Wieclaw said his focus in camp has been trying to get his kicks up higher and quicker this season. Wieclaw said he had two field goal attempts blocked last season.

He's also adjusting to the new NCAA kickoff rules. Starting this season, teams will kick off at the 35-yard line instead of the 30 and the kicking team can’t line up for kickoffs behind the 30-yard line -- a move intended to limit the running start kicking teams have during the play and potential injuries.

Another significant rule change affects touchbacks, which will now be moved to the 25-yard line instead of the 20. Touchbacks on other plays, such as punts in the end zone or fumbles that go out of the end zone, will remain at the 20-yard line.

"It's kind of a trade-off," Wieclaw said. "The 35 is a little bit shorter field so it's easier to get it out there. So hang time is something we're focusing on. We don't always wanted to just kick out of the end zone and let them have it at the 25."

Last season, Wieclaw booted four touchbacks. UM ranked 13th nationally in kickoff coverage defense, allowing just 18.58 yards per return -- 2nd in the ACC.