Coral Gables, FL – Coach Manny Diaz introduced the era of the “New Miami” this weekend by hosting his first Paradise Camp as a head coach. The Camp hosted over 100 high school students from the graduating class of 2020 to 2023 to showcase their skills in front of the Hurricane’ Football staff along with several notable UM alumni. Honorary alumni in attendance were Jeremy Shockey, Duke Johnson, Santana Moss, Alonzo Highsmith, Gino Torretta, Michael Irvin and many more.
The night started off with Coach Diaz welcoming everyone to the camp and setting the expectations for the day and the standards of the program. The motto for the day, compete. Coach Diaz pointed up to the rafters acknowledging the greats enlisted into the UM Football Hall of Fame and more importantly the 5 national championships that the U holds.
“We are gonna recruit the best guys in the country starting in South Florida, moving up the state and then going national to find the best guys we can find. Then we are going to bring them here, and in that weight room and those fields we are gonna fall in love with work. We are going to learn to outwork the rest of the country…That’s how it was done in Miami in the past and that’s how it’s going to be done at Miami in the future.”
Diaz then went on to hand over the mic to introduce the Hurricane coaching staff and current players such as Michael Pinckney, Deejay Dallas and Shaq Quarterman. The introductions were then turned over to the high-profile alumni that were in attendance. Coach Diaz took it upon himself to introduce the 3x Super Bowl Champion, 5x Pro Bowl and NFL Hall of Fame Inductee, Michael Irvin. Irvin preached to the prospects about competition and grit on the field.
“Right here is about greatness. It’s about doing the things at a different level, and when you do it at a different level the whole world knows about it so make sure you take those opportunities and make the most out of them and start this dawn of the new era.”
After Irvin wrapped up the intro Coach Diaz dispersed the student-athletes by position out to their stations with their respective coaches and alumni. For the first 20 minutes the recruits had the opportunity to be coached by the Hurricane coaching staff on the field and in the meeting rooms.
Coach Diaz emphasized the importance of Paradise Camp and how much of an impact the alumni have on the program.
“This is about guys giving back. It’s why I say it over and over again, the Miami hurricanes belong to out Alumni because they are the guys that created this program.”
The alumni brought the energy and intensity throughout the night as they worked with the recruits on the field instructing them, guiding, competing and celebrating with them. David Njoku and Jeremy Shockey were just a few of the alumni that hopped on the line with the players leading them through routes and critiquing their work.
After an hour of field work the recruits had the opportunity to piece all their talents together in a 7v7 battle on the practice field. One player who sparked the eye of many bystanders was Quarterback, Tyler Van Dyke. The 6’4 Senior from Glastonbury, CA showed off his range and accuracy in front of Diaz and showed why he should be considered as a potential starter next year at the University of Miami. Van Dyke is a 4-star recruit within the class of 2020 who is currently committed to play at the University of Miami.
Other premier recruits in attendance were 5-star running back, Don Chaney Jr and 5-star tight end, Darnell Washington. Chaney is currently committed to the University of Miami with the intention of bringing his explosiveness to the U in 2020. Washington is a 6’7 tight end from Las Vegas, Nevada who is currently listed as the #1 athlete in the country according to 247Sports. With his size and strong hands, the senior has made himself one of the most sought-after recruits in the country. The University of Miami is competing for Washington against the likes of University of Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and LSU.
With competition being the motto of the day, Coach Diaz finished off the evening with a series of mini competitions. The first competition was a 1v1 offense vs defense drill where the defense stole the show and won off of an 80-yard interception down field. The last event showcased the speed of the recruits as they lined up by graduating class and position. The alumni judged the winners and celebrated the high level of competition inside the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility.
The evening ended with a group huddle in front of the U surrounded by the past, present and future of the University of Miami football program. The excitement around the future of the program is hopeful and it’s clear that the U is in a dawn of a new era under Coach Diaz.
Written by Merrissa Vault
