Miami Hurricanes Preview: Wide Receivers
The Miami Hurricanes, through the ups and downs of the last decade, have always had a stable of wide receivers. Names you’ve known or learned very quickly in their time in Coral Gables. 2012 is going to be a little different.
The Canes have many great wide receivers over the past three decades. Men that struck fear into the hearts of defensive coordinators every Saturday. Heck, to make matters worse, gone are Tommy Streeter, Aldarius Johnson, LaRon Byrd, and Travis Benjamin. What made matters worse than just those losses, is the Canes had just a few guys trying to catch the ball in the spring because of injuries and early departures, when most teams have 10 or more receivers. So who will Miami throw the ball to this season?
Junior Allen Hurns is the leading returning wide-out. At 6’3″, 190 he has ideal size and decent wheels. He caught 31 balls for 415 yards and 4 touchdowns a year ago. He had a shoulder injury that slowed him last year, and missed the spring because of it. He is likely to be the top target this season.
Sophomore Phillip Dorsett (5’9″, 180) is among the fastest players on the team (4.35-40yd) and is expected to handle the return duties and start at wide receiver. His longest catch a year ago went for only 31 yards, but I’d look for that to change this year. He reeled in 14-147-1 in limited playing time off the bench in 2011.
Sophomore Rashawn Scott (6’2″, 200) missed half of his freshman season with a shoulder injury, had an outstanding spring. Perhaps the most acrobatic athlete on the outside, he was named the most improved player in the spring. Big things are expected of him this season.
Five new wide receivers stepped on the campus this summer, and could see immediate playing time.
“Everyone here is talented,” quarterback Stephen Morris said of the newcomers that include highly touted 6’1″ 175 Robert Lockhart, out of Fork Union Military Academy via West Boca High; Malcolm Lewis (6’0″, 195) out of state-runner up Miramar High; and 6’2″, 172 Herb Waters from Homestead High. “They’re all doing extremely well.”
“Lewis is explosive, he’s quick, man. Great hands. Lockhart can really jump, very athletic. Herb Waters is very energetic, always in my face talking about plays and defenses,” raved Morris.
Absent, is perhaps the best incoming freshman.
Former Palm Beach Central wide receiver Angelo Jean-Louis, who signed with Miami in February, will attend Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy this fall.
-Tags: Allen Hurns, College Football, Miami Hurricanes, Tuck and O'Neill, Wide Receivers
