Keys For Miami Hurricanes’ Passing Offense In 2024 From UM Legend
Who will be Cam Ward’s primary weapon for the Miami Hurricanes when he returns to the field next season?
Next season, Miami’s top two wide receivers from 2023 will both be back. With 1,093 receiving yards and 85 receptions, Xavier Restrepo was ranked 18th in America and in the top 20. Jacolby George recorded the most receiving touchdowns for the squad (8). Colbie Young, Miami’s third-leading receiver, was lost to Georgia via the transfer portal, though.
On my Locked On Canes Podcast, Bruce Warner and I were joined by Lamar Thomas, a two-time national champion receiver and inductee of the UM Sports Hall of Fame.
Thomas, who notes that Miami will require a real outside threat to open things up for Restrepo and company, is eager to see who steps into Young’s shoes.
“When I played, we had Horace Copeland and Kevin Williams taking the top off to open things up for me and Darryl Spencer,” recalled Thomas. Although Thomas is worried about Jacolby George’s “dumb mistakes” both on and off the field, he acknowledged that George had a fantastic year. He’s not yet my main outside person, in my opinion. I’ve even conveyed to Kevin Beard, the Miami wide receiver coach, who is doing an amazing job, the importance of making sure George knows it.”
Within, the Hurricanes have choices. The most plausible outside contender to take up Young’s previous starting position is Isaiah Horton. Horton caught 13 catches for 168 yards in his limited action, which included a 52-yard score. Joshisa Trader, a true freshman, has supposedly shown promise in offseason training and may be able to push for a starting position. When the portal reopens in April, it is anticipated that Miami may want to trade for a transfer receiver on the outside.
Thomas believes that with Ward at center, Miami will find greater consistency following Tyler Van Dyke’s erratic play. “Everyone is aware of the difficulties our quarterback faced last season. Something has been bothering him since his first year of college. He changed after his first year.” Thomas observes that Cam Ward “has the ability to run when the plays go apart. That’s what collegiate football will look like in the modern era. Ward is able to escape out of the pocket and create a play when all other options are exhausted and those defensive ends lose their contain.”
Thomas believes Ward will add excitement to Miami. “You can call the perfect defense, but if a guy can get out of it, extend plays, and make big plays out of it, it doesn’t matter what defense you called.”
-Thomas desires to see more tight end receptions. “The quarterback’s closest buddy is the tight end. You now have a tight end who is closer to the quarterback and has the ability to really harm you, so when you find a good one, he makes everything happen. For the guys outside, it opens up everything.”
-Thomas expressed faith in Miami Open champion Shannon Dawson. Dawson has to be accurate, but the quarterback also needs to be accurate. Call all the plays you want, but it won’t matter what plays you call if he struggles with progressions like we saw (with Van Dyke). We ought to be better, in my opinion, if Shannon and the quarterback are in sync and provide you more options.”
AUTHOR ALEX DONNO
