As Randy Shannon began his first season as head coach in Miami, he found his Hurricanes unranked in the preseason polls for the first time since 1998. While sporting one of the nations least productive offenses, Shannon finished the 2007 season with a 5-7 record and missed playing in a bowl game for the first time since 1997. Miami finished with its worst record since 1977 and has now gone 12-13 over the past two seasons. As they move into Dolphin Stadium, the Hurricanes are hoping that a change in scenery will help them find their winning ways.
Miami Hurricanes
Coach: Randy Shannon (5-7, second season at Miami)
2007 Record: 5-7, 2-6 in ACC
Starters Returning: 11 (5 Offense, 6 Defense)
Top Returnees:: RB Graig Cooper, RB Javarris James, LT Reggie Youngblood, RT Jason Fox, DE Eric Moncur, LB Colin McCarthy, CB DeMarcus Van Dyke, SS Randy Phillips
Key Losses: QB Kyle Wright, WR Darnell Jenkins, WR Lance Leggett, OG Andrew Bain, C John Rochford, OG Derrick Morse, DE Vegas Franklin, LB Tavares Gooden, S Willis Cooper, S Kenny Phillips
2008 Schedule
Aug. 28 Charleston Southern
Sept. 6 @ Florida
Sept. 20 @ Texas A&M
Sept. 27 North Carolina
Oct. 4 Florida State
Oct. 11 UCF
Oct. 18 @ Duke
Oct 25 Wake Forest
Nov. 1 @ Virginia
Nov. 13 Virginia Tech
Nov. 20 @ Georgia Tech
Nov. 29 @ North Carolina State
Key Game: October 4th vs. Florida State. Simply put, this is always Miami’s biggest game. After Miami won last year’s meeting 37-29 in Tallahassee, the Seminoles will look to return the favor on the Hurricanes’ new home field. Miami may need to pull of an upset or two if they are going to return to a bowl game. A big rivalry game at home could be their best chance for that upset. More importantly, this game always plays a big role in recruiting.
2008 Outlook
After a disappointing season in ‘07, the Hurricanes are looking to reestablish themselves as one of the premier teams in the ACC. With the talent that Miami always brings in, an eight win season may not be out of the question. However, with the number of key losses suffered on both sides of the ball, six or seven wins is more likely.
Offensive Coordinator Patrick Nix will need to find a suitable quarterback to improve an offense that only averaged 170 yards per game through the air. While it looks to be a two man race for the starting spot between redshirt freshman Robert Marve and true freshman Jacory Harris, there is not a quarterback on campus who has ever thrown a pass in college. However, either one could supply an upgrade at quarterback from last season.
The offense will depend on its running game to carry the load early on. Both of last seasons top two rushers will return. Sophomore Graig Cooper led the team in ‘07 with 682 yards on the ground, and junior Javarris James was second with 582 yards rushing. Last season, the Hurricanes averaged 147 rushing yards per game, good enough for third in the ACC.
The running game should get some help from an improving offensive line. Shannon’s son, Xavier Shannon, has transferred in from Florida International, and will provide a big boost at the center position. Two starters return on the line from last season, in senior Reggie Youngblood at left tackle and junior Jason Fox at right tackle. The line lost two starters at the guard spots, but will replace them with some young talent. Sophomores Orlando Franklin and Joel Figueroa should do just fine as replacements. Coaches insist that the line will be an improved unit, which is good news for running backs Cooper and James.
There is some serious talent at receiver, but they are very young. Darnell Jenkins, who led the team with 619 yards on 31 catches, must be replaced. Junior Sam Shields returns with the most experience and production, 346 yards on 27 catches in ’07, but freshman Aldarius Johnson could be the best of the group and will be looked upon to lead the unit. Although they are replacing two of their top receivers, this year’s group could be better than a year ago.
The defense will be led by new coordinator Bill Young, who was in charge of the Kansas defense for six seasons. His first goal will be to improve the secondary, where they return seven guys with starting experience. Senior Randy Phillips will take over at safety and will be the leader of the secondary after recording 34 tackles and two interceptions a year ago. At the corners, junior Chavez Grant and sophomore DeMarcus Van Dyke, a returning starter, should both be solid cover guys.
The defensive line will return only one starter from ‘07, end Eric Moncur, who had six sacks a year ago. Senior tackle Antonio Dixon will step into a starting role, and will be expected to become a leader up front. The line should be deeper and more talented than last year’s group.
The strength of the defense will be at the linebacker position. Last season, the Hurricanes lost their two best linebackers, Glenn Cook and Romeo Davis, to injury for most of the season. Despite losing their best tackler from ‘07, Tavares Gooden (119), both Cook and Davis will return and team up with a very talented group of incoming freshmen. Arthur Brown and Marcus Robinson were two of the more highly recruited linebackers in the country, and are expected to contribute immediately.
Despite playing two tough games on the road, at Florida and Texas A&M, the schedule may be favorable enough for the Hurricanes to reach a bowl game. There is plenty of talent in Miami, but most of it is young. If they can get better play at quarterback, the ‘Canes could be an upset away from an eight win season and be in line for a return to the spotlight before too long.
