It took a certain type of personality from a college football prospect that had other options to remain committed to the Miami Hurricanes through the turmoil of the 2019 season.
For the collection of 23 true freshmen on scholarship for UM, they saw something in the future for the Hurricanes that allowed them to see beyond that 6-7 campaign in Manny Diaz’s first as head coach.
Sticking to their commitments or even jumping on board despite the tumultuous times last season, their decisions appear promising based on the early return returns of a 3-0 start and No. 8 ranking coming off a 52-10 win over rival Florida State.
There’s a similarity in the mentality that 2020 recruiting class had of the team’s ability to bounce back and the mindset it took into this new season.
“Our big motto of the year is ‘play the next play,’ ” said freshman receiver Xavier Restrepo, a Deerfield Beach grad. “Our minds are not really on last year. It’s a whole new team this year. Whether it’s people on this team from last year, it’s just the mindset has changed, truthfully. With the mindset, ‘play the next play,’ we’re doing a great job of just forgetting the past and executing and preparing for the future — and for the present.”
Much of the class signed early last December to finalize their recruitment and even enrolled early for the past spring, one that was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cornerback Isaiah Dunson, though, was one of the few that committed in January, after the 2019 season, to ink with the Hurricanes on the traditional National Signing Day in February.
“I knew the program was a good program,” said Dunson, who is now the team’s No. 4 cornerback after sophomore Christian Williams entered the transfer portal. “The people and the coaches, it was just a matter of time until they started putting it all together. The players want to win. The coaches want to win. The team’s going to win. We got a lot of talent.”
UM got many of its freshmen to play at the end of Saturday night’s landslide victory. Although Miami can put out a starting 11 on both offense and defense comprised entirely of players that are at least in their third year of college, several freshmen have contributed in meaningful moments.
The freshman running back tandem of Donald Chaney Jr. and Jaylan Knighton behind junior starter Cam’Ron Harris has provided a trifecta in the backfield, coupled with quarterback D’Eriq King’s abilities on the ground. Both have two touchdowns through three games. Receiver Michael Redding III caught his first touchdown late in the win over the Seminoles, but he also made a key third-down catch in the first quarter that kept a drive alive and led to a touchdown.
“It brought a lot of confidence,” Redding said. “Even the older guys, Mike Harley, said, ‘If you wouldn’t have made that play, we wouldn’t have scored that touchdown.’ It just did a lot for me.”
Redding battled injuries in the spring and early in fall camp. In the one week of spring before COVID-19 halted all athletic activities, he was seen out on the practice field with a cast on his hand/wrist, still lightly going through the motions in practice and running routes.
“Mostly, it was just taking mental reps, make sure I know what I’m doing,” Redding said. “Being in the right spot, being where I’m supposed to. Just learning those things, it helped me learn the playbook a lot better, a lot more efficient because I’m actually running those routes. I’m actually seeing what everybody else is seeing and knowing what routes they’re running also.”
Linebacker Corey Flagg, in at the end of the game Saturday, got in on his first college tackle.
“A lot of stuff burst through my veins, as far as [it feeling] exhilarating and just feeling good when I got that first tackle,” he said. “I got up and talked trash. I was just so excited getting that first tackle — at FSU game, at that. I was pretty lit up, pretty excited.”
Flagg (5-11, 228) has been touted by coaches for his physicality. He’s also learning the position from veterans.
“As a linebacker, you have to be physical,” Flagg said. “I just want to get better playing with my eyes, play smart. Bradley Jennings, he helps me a lot with playing with my eyes, playing smart, being a student of the game. Coming from high school to college, it’s a big [emphasis] on you have play smarter. It’s not just bang, bang, bang. You have to play with your eyes.”
The freshmen have also been involved in extra workouts where they come in at 5:45 a.m. to work with strength and conditioning coach David Feeley.
“We have some great leaders in there,” Restrepo said. “We wake up every morning and just work our butts off. We don’t stop working, and we’re real motivated by each other. We’re self-motivated, and coach Feeley does a great job with us.”
The Hurricanes have a bye on Saturday before facing No. 1 Clemson on Oct. 10.
