Written by Garin Turner
There’s less than a week left before the turnover chain comes back for the 2018 College Football season. The #8 Miami Hurricanes are looking to start off with a bang as they take on #25 LSU Tigers at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas with a 6:30 pm CST start time.
The Hurricanes want to build on a successful season from a year ago when they finished 10-3 (7-1 ACC) and earned a berth to the Orange Bowl. They fizzled out at the end losing three-straight. It’s head coach Mark Richt third season at the helm. In addition to LSU, the Hurricanes face #19 Florida State at home Oct. 6 and travel to play #20 Virginia Tech Nov. 17.
Redshirt senior quarterback Malik Rosier returns after an impressive season last year. He started all 13 games for the Hurricanes throwing for 3,120 yards which put him 10th in Hurricanes history for a single season. He had 26 touchdowns to 14 interceptions and added 468 yards on the ground with five touchdowns. His 31 total scores set the single season record for a Miami player. On August 16, Rosier was named a candidate for the Manning Award.
Also returning for the Hurricanes on offense is junior running back Travis Homer. Homer led the team in rushing yards last year with 966 and had eight touchdowns. The Hurricanes will be looking for someone in the receiving core to step up as both Braxton Berrio and Chris Herndon are in the NFL. Redshirt junior receiver Lawrence Cager looks to step into a bigger role this year. “We’re good. We’re making strides from the start of camp. You see how we’re progressing each day. We’re not getting worse, we’re getting better each day and being more consistent as a whole unit. So, I think we’re ready to show the world what we’ve got,” Cager said.
Ahmmon Richards could have a big year. He caught 24 passes last year for 439 yards and three touchdowns but is coming off of knee surgery. “I’m just so grateful to be out here, to be able to run around and get tackled and just all the little things, be tired from practice. I just missed all that because when I was hurt, I couldn’t do anything. I was just sitting on the couch, couldn’t walk or anything. So, I’m just happy to be back out here,” Richards said.
The defense lost RJ McIntosh and Kendrick Norton as they took their talents to the NFL. Malek Young suffered a career-ending neck injury. However, Shaq Quarterman, Zach McCloud, and Michael Pinckney anchor the middle of the field. Despite losing two defensive tackles, Gerald Willis is back after sitting out last year. Safety Jaquan Johnson and cornerback Michael Jackson will need help in the secondary. “You’ve just got to get the jitters out early. For the freshmen, first game, it’s a big difference going from high school into Dallas Cowboys’ stadium. You’re going to look up and it’s a crowd full of people. You’re not used to that in high. So, just to get the jitters out early and just relax and just play football,” senior defensive back Sheldrick Redwine said.
The Hurricanes will need to show that the last three games were just a slump and won’t carry over into this season. Sept. 2nd will be a true test right out of the gate.
