Miami Hurricanes Football Fall Camp Day Two: Freshmen Impress, Arroyo’s Return Encouraging

The Miami Hurricanes football team, under the leadership of Head Coach Mario Cristobal, is diligently preparing for the upcoming season as they enter the second day of fall camp practice. Let’s take a closer look at the highlights from day two of the media viewing portion of practice.

The secondary unit made some notable strides during the practice. Markeith Williams, who had been absent on Monday, was back on the field and participated fully, working with the second-team at safety alongside Jaden Harris. Both players displayed impressive skills in backpedal drills, and Williams even showcased some remarkable hops in a drill for highpointing the ball. The starting safety positions were occupied by James Williams and Kamren Kinchens, but the competition in the safety room looks promising.

Coach Guidry and Coach Addae were seen working exclusively with the safeties and cornerbacks, respectively. Guidry emphasized the importance of hip flipping for the safeties, while Addae focused on press coverage technique with the cornerbacks. Among the cornerbacks, Davonte Brown, Te’Cory Couch, Jaden Davis, and Daryl Porter Jr. took the lead in drills.

The freshmen class showcased their potential during the practice. Riley Williams, the talented freshman tight end, caught the ball naturally and demonstrated exceptional agility during drills. The coaching staff seems eager to utilize him in various roles within the offense.

On the defensive side, the group of freshman linebackers stood out. Bobby Washington Jr. displayed smooth footwork in drills, while Malik Bryant impressed with his pass-rushing abilities and shedding blocks, in addition to winning a rep against Matt Lee. The coaches particularly praised Raul “Popo” Aguirre for his strong reps during the pass rush.

Chase Smith is a full participant at linebacker but practicing with a brace on his right knee after returning from an injury during the 2022 season; he did win a rep in pass rushing drills. Veteran transfer linebacker KJ Cloyd had a few impressive reps pass rushing too.

Defensive ends Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor were getting some reps at defensive tackle as expected, and they will both play inside and outside. Damari Brown came out with the defense for first-team reps during 7-on-7 half-field work.

Third-year tight end Elijah Arroyo, who had been sidelined during the spring due to a knee injury last fall, showed tremendous progress in his recovery. Despite wearing a knee brace, Arroyo was running at full speed and working with the first-team offense on day two of fall camp. His return is a positive sign for the Hurricanes’ offense, as he provides playmaking ability at the tight end position.

Tyler showcased near-perfect throws, while freshman quarterback Emory Williams impressed with his zippy passes and accuracy. Williams caught attention from viewers when he went three-for-three on the passing nets. Jacurri Brown was a bit up and down and displayed some areas for improvement in terms of accuracy during the media viewing portion of practice.

Colbie Young, Isaiah Horton, Frank Ladson, and Shemar Kirk were all spotted working at the X-receiver position. Young led the group, with Horton following on the second team. Colbie Young looks noticeably bigger, at least in our opinion. Freshman Nathaniel “Ray Ray” Joseph, who showed great quickness in and out of his breaks, seemed to be ahead of Brashard Smith as the second-team slot receiver on Wednesday. He’s just such a fun player to watch, even during individual drills. One of Shemar Kirk’s biggest strengths is his YAC ability, and it shows in the way he bursts out of his cuts during drills.

Henry Parrish Jr. was the first-team running back, Cam McCormick came out with the second-team at tight end, and Don Chaney Jr. was the second-team running back. During routes on air with the quarterbacks, Colbie Young, Xavier Restrepo, Elijah Arroyo, and Henry Parrish Jr. were the first grouping out there with Tyler Van Dyke.

As day two of fall camp practice for the Miami Hurricanes football team comes to a close, with just 30 days left until the season kicks off, the anticipation among fans is palpable as they eagerly await the Hurricanes’ return to the field at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

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