Eye on the U

Depth Chart just released for last home game, vs. USF. Deon Bush (injured) not on it; Eddie Johnson (lack of football discipline) not on it.

Good morning.

The Hurricanes just released their newest depth chart for the USF game at 3 p.m. Saturday at Sun Life Stadium -- the final home game of the season, which will honor the seniors.

It's too bad some of the underclassmen haven't been disciplined enough, or done the right things, to help make it a more pleasant experience for the few seniors.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Eddie Johnson's status "is yet to be determined,'' UM coach Al Golden said Sunday evening. Eddie Johnson, a former starter and second-leading tackler on defense, wasn't allowed to make the trip because of something football-related, the coach said. Whether they say the word "suspended'' or not, if you did something wrong and you aren't allowed to travel and you're one of the most productive players on defense, you're suspended.

Starting safety Deon Bush, a freshman with stingers that usually affect the neck/shoulder area, is not on the depth chart and "doubtful'' for USF, according to Golden, who said that nonetheless he was still "hopeful'' that Deon could return. Kacy Rodgers and A.J. Highsmith are listed as the starting safeties.

Denzel Perryman is expected to practice at some point this week.

The new depth chart has sophomore Thurston Armbrister as a starting outside linebacker, Jimmy Gaines in the middle and Gionni Paul OR Denzel on the outside.

Davon Johnson now joins Phillip Dorsett and Allen Hurns as a starting receiver, with walk-on redshirt freshman Garrett Kidd as Johnson's backup.

And Curtis Porter, who made his first start of the season at Virginia, is now a first-team defensive tackle, along with Olsen Pierre.

DEPTH CHART, COURTESTY of UM

OFFENSE
WR	1	Allen Hurns	6-3	192	Jr.
	86	Herb Waters	6-2	185	Fr.
LT	79	Malcolm Bunche	6-7	325	RSo.
	64	Hunter Wells	6-4	300	RFr.
LG	70	Jon Feliciano	6-5	314	RSo.
	68	Jeremy Lewis	6-4	316	RSr.
C	62	Shane McDermott	6-4	295	RSo.
	75	Jared Wheeler	6-5	314	RJr.
RG	65	Brandon Linder	6-6	308	Jr.
	63	Danny Isidora	6-4	320	Fr.
RT	77	Seantrel Henderson	6-8	340	Jr.
	74	Ereck Flowers	6-6	314	Fr.
TE	46	Clive Walford	6-4	250	RSo.
	82	Asante Cleveland	6-5	263	Jr.
	49	Dyron Dye	6-5	255	RJr.
FB	33	Maurice Hagens	5-11	240	Jr.
	43	Sean Harvey	6-4	262	RSo.
QB	17	Stephen Morris	6-2	214	Jr.
	11	Ryan Williams	6-5	221	RSo.
RB	5	Mike James	5-11	220	Sr.
	8	Duke Johnson	5-9	188	Fr.
WR	4	Phillip Dorsett	5-10	185	So.
	83	Kendal Thompkins	5-10	182	RSr.
WR	24	Davon Johnson	6-0	188	Sr.
	87	Garrett Kidd	6-2	186	RFr.

 

  

DEFENSE
DE	71	Anthony Chickillo	6-4	262	So.
	92	Jalen Grimble	6-2	295	So.
	99	Jelani Hamilton	6-5	271	Fr.
DT	96	Curtis Porter	6-1	305	RJr.
	72	Earl Moore	6-1	300	Fr.
	66	Dequan Ivery	6-1	303	Fr.
DT	91	Olsen Pierre	6-4	300	So.
	93	Luther Robinson	6-3	288	RJr.
DE	51	Shayon Green	6-3	260	RJr.
	17	Tyriq McCord	6-3	236	Fr.
	90	Ricardo Williams	6-5	240	RFr.
OLB	34	Thurston Armbrister	6-3	222	So.
	59	Jimmy Gaines	6-3	230	Jr.
MLB	59	Jimmy Gaines	6-3	230	Jr.
	56	Raphael Kirby	6-0	218	Fr.
OLB	36	Gionni Paul -OR-	6-1	230	So.
	52	Denzel Perryman	6-0	229	So.
	31	Tyrone Cornileus	6-2	210	So.
CB	37	Ladarius Gunter	6-2	198	So.
	3	Tracy Howard	5-11	185	Fr.
	20	Thomas Finnie	5-10	183	So.
S	22	Kacy Rodgers II	6-2	210	Jr.
	29	Rayshawn Jenkins	6-1	203	Fr.
S	30	AJ Highsmith	6-0	202	RJr.
	7	Vaughn Telemaque	6-2	204	RSr.
CB	21	Brandon McGee	6-0	194	Sr.
	39	Antonio Crawford	5-11	188	Fr.

SPECIALISTS
P	13	Dalton Botts	6-3	205	Sr.
	40	Jake Wieclaw	6-2	193	RSr.
FG	40	Jake Wieclaw	6-2	193	RSr.
	18	Matt Goudis	6-0	170	RFr.
KO	40	Jake Wieclaw	6-2	193	RSr.
	18	Matt Goudis	6-0	170	RFr.
H	13	Dalton Botts	6-3	205	Sr.
	11	Ryan Williams	6-5	221	RSo.
LS	61	Paul Kelly	6-1	262	RSr.
	59	Jimmy Gaines	6-3	230	Jr.
SS	61	Paul Kelly	6-1	262	RSr.
	65	Brandon Linder	6-6	308	Jr.
PR	4	Phillip Dorsett	5-10	185	So.
	8	Duke Johnson	5-9	192	Fr.
KR	4	Phillip Dorsett	5-10	185	So.
	8	Duke Johnson	5-9	188	Fr.

SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN

 

 

QBs still neck and neck. Who do you think should be named starter? Also: Howard Schnellenberger to make announcement at 4 p.m.

So, as of Thursday, we still don't have a clear picture -- or even fuzzy one -- of who the starting quarterback will be for the Hurricanes.

I asked Coach Al Golden, "Are you hoping to wait until after the second scrimmage to decide the starter at quarterback?"

Golden: "Sure. Yeah. Again, we’ve had five practices now and you look at the stats, you look at the completion percentages, you look at the touchdowns, you look at all that and it’s like a dead heat right now. It doesn’t look like it’s going to be resolved before that time."

Is that good?

Golden: "Yeah, it’s good. If they’re going to keep competing that’s great. I think that’s awesome. Neither one is backing down and the team is rallying around both of them. So all those things are important right now.''

Since we don't see the qbs competing against each other in practice I'm not sure how good it really is. Are they both doing great? Are they both so-so? Or not-so-great?

 So if you were the coach, and the two were truly in a dead heat after the second scrimmage (Aug. 22), would you

1. Wait to make your decision and announcement until closer to the Sept. 5 opener?

2. Make your decision and stick to it.

And if you had to make the decision right now, knowing both are in a "dead heat,'' who would you pick and why? Jacory Harris or Stephen Morris.

I have my thoughts but am a bit hesitant to throw it out there (I am not a columnist, though the lines sure are blurred these days with this new media stuff).

What do you guys think?

ALSO:

> Blake Ayles is injured and sat out again Thursday. For the record, Coach Golden said the reason he came out of practice earlier this week was not heat-related.

"Blake is dealing with a little injury right now,'' Golden said. "Hopefully it will be day to day with him. But he’s good on his assignments. Obviously at his age, from a technical standpoint, he’s solid so he’ll get back soon."

> Former defensive lineman Dyron Dye has been moved to tight end.

In closing, FAU has called a press conference for 4 p.m. Word is that Howard Schnellenberger will announce he is retiring after this season. I have a soft spot for Howard. How can you not? The man brought UM its first national title. I know he bolted, but what a great figure and representative for UM. Let's face it, he might be the FAU coach, but he'll always be a Hurricane.

SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN