2009 Record – 9-4, 5-3 ACC
Bowl Game – Champs Sports Bowl – Lost to Wisconsin 14-20
Letterman Returning: 51
Stadium – Sun Life Stadium (76,500)
College Location – Coral Gables, FL
Coach – Randy Shannon 21-17 (4th year)
OFFENSE: (7)
Key Returnees – QB Jacory Harris (below), WR Leonard Hankerson, RB Damian Berry, WR Travis Benjamin, T Orlando Franklin, RB Graig Cooper
Key Losses – RB Javarris James, T Jason Fox, TE Jimmy Graham
- The days of Ken Dorsey connecting with Santana Moss and Reggie Wayne on deep routes and Willis McGahee scoring six touchdowns in a game are all in the past. Sadly for Miami fans, the offense in Coral Gables as of late has been as hidden as an existing Lebron fan in Cleveland. Proceeding Dorsey at quarterback were a trio of single callers about as qualified to run a successful college football offense as Sarah Palin is to run a country, or state for that matter. Let the past be the past and move on from there, however, at least the 
Hurricanes can now with junior quarterback Jacory Harris under center. Harris lived up to his billing in his sophomore season for the Hurricanes becoming the team’s first 3,000 yard passer since Dorsey, while connecting on 60 percent of his passes for 24 touchdowns. His 17 interceptions, however, displayed his youth and a lingering thumb issue. With the thumb healed after offseason surgery and a second season under master mind coordinator, Mark Whipple, Harris is poised to have an even better 2010 campaign. Helping him on offense is perhaps the deepest rotation of wideouts in the county. The core is led by Biletnikoff watch list member, senior, Leonard Hankerson. Hankerson shook off a shaky past, catching 45 passes for 801 yards and six scores last season. The talent stretches to junior Travis Benjamin, one of college football’s fastest players, junior Aldarius Johnson, once a five star recruit, and junior LaRon Byrd, good enough to wear Michael Irvin’s No.47 for Miami. Sophomore Kendal Thompkins could be a breakout star in the slot. All will receive multiple catches this season as the Hurricanes had seven players reach at least 200 yards receiving last year. The running back position nearly runs as deep as the wideouts for the Hurricanes with senior Damien Berry leading the way. Berry rushed for 616 yards on a 6.6 average as the teams number three rusher last season. Despite not seeing a carry until week five, Berry led the ‘Canes with eight scores on the ground. Joining him in the backfield will be the return of sophomore Mike James, who has since moved back to running back after a season at fullback, and redshirt freshman Lamar Miller. Miller, a former five star recruit who has sprinter speed out of the backfield, could surprise a lot of people come fall. The ‘Canes also return senior Graig Cooper, who is recovering from a non-contact ACL tear from the bowl game. Cooper is expected back, but a timetable is yet to be made. The offensive line returns three starters along the front with senior left tackle Orlando Franklin offering the most excitement. Senior Joel Figueroa moves from guard to right tackle fulltime this season, just like Franklin.
DEFENSE: (7)
Key Returnees – DE Allen Bailey (below), CB Brandon Harris, OLB Colin McCarthy, OLB Sean Spence, S Vaughn Telemaque, S Ray-Ray Armstrong
Key Losses – MLB Darryl Sharpton, S Randy Phillips, DT Joe Joseph
- One thing Miami’s defenses never lack is speed. The ‘Canes linebackers and defensive backs would give track teams around the country a run for their money. What the Miami defenses have lacked as of late, however, are depth and experience. Speed and youth combined makes for a lot of over running plays and a lot of early guessing. What the 2010 Miami defense has is both speed and experience. The Hurricanes welcome back their most talented and deep defensive unit since the 2002 12-1 team. The defensive line rotation runs 11 players deep and 
may be the country’s most talented group. First team ACC selection and pre-season All-American, Allen Bailey, leads the group. The senior end stands as one of college football’s biggest freaks measuring in at 6’4’’ 290 pounds, running a 4.65 40 yard dash with a 41 inch vertical. Bailey led the ‘Canes with seven sacks last season and could double that this season. Others in line to start and rotate at end are junior Marcus Robinson, a speed rushing specialist, sophomore, Olivier Vernon, who brought in 25 stops and seven tackles for loss as a true freshman, junior Andrew Smith, who has been having the best offseason of the lineman, and junior Adewale Ojomo, who is recovering from a broken Jaw. Former freshman All-American Marcus Forston has won back his starting job at tackle and should be joined by junior breakout Micanor Regis inside. The Hurricanes defensive backfield welcomes back junior All-American Brandon Harris, who finished third nationally with 17 passes defended. Harris is joined by senior DeMarcus Van Dyke and sophomore Brandon McGee at corner. Seniors, Corey Nelms and Ryan Hill, will also be in the mix. Van Dyke, McGee and Nelms, along with wideout Travis Benjamin, were all members of a 4X100 relay team which qualified for the track National Championship this offseason with a time of 40.15. Sophomores Vaughn Telemaque and Ray-Ray Armstrong bring an old school mentality of ball hawking and knock out hitting back to a Miami secondary that has produced five current safety starters in the NFL. The linebacker unit for The U may make or break the defense this season. Leading the way is the return of second leading tackler Colin McCarthy, who finished with 95 stops last season. McCarthy should move to the middle where the team lacks experience, leaving talented junior Sean Spence to one outside position and a scrum for the other. Junior Ramon Buchanan and senior Kylan Robinson, look to be battling it out for the spot right now. Junior Jordan Futch, recovering from an ACL injury, will also be in the mix when healthy.
SCHEDULE:
- Randy Shannon is bringing a never back down attitude back to The U. In the days of late the Miami teams never shied away from the Notre Dame’s and Alabama’s of college football and as of recent years in Miami, neither has this current ‘Canes team. A lot of college football analyst predicted a rough start for the Hurricanes brutal four game opening stretch last season which included at FSU, Georgia Tech, at Virginia Tech and Oklahoma. Some saw a 1-3 or possibly 2-2 start as the best possible outcome. Miami opened eyes around the country beginning 3-1 in that stretch. The ‘Canes young eyes, however, opened a little too wide, later losing to two conference opponents in Clemson and UNC. This season, Miami begins with perhaps just as tough a start as last season. After Florida A&M to begin the season, the ‘Canes head to Ohio State to take on the Buckeyes in a Sept. 11 showdown. Miami will be looking for payback of what should have been their sixth National Championship from the 2002 season. Two weeks later the Hurricanes travel north once again to Pittsburgh for a Thursday night meeting. The visit to Pitt is the first reunion with the Panthers since leaving the Big East conference. A visit to Clemson, Oct. 2, ends a brutal three game road trip. The season opening stretch ends with a home meeting with top rival, Florida State, Oct. 9. At Duke, North Carolina at home and at Virginia end the month of October. The ‘Canes will look to beat the Tar Heels for the first time since 2006. Maryland, Nov. 6 leads into games at Georgia Tech and a pivotal Coastal division game against Virginia Tech, Nov. 20. Miami ends the season against USF, whom they beat 31-10 on the road last season. The schedule includes six teams ranked within the AP Preseason Top 25 poll.
Schedule rating: A
Red = Toughest Game. Blue = Pivotal to conference.
Top Incoming Freshman:
1.) Seantrel Henderson, *#1 OT, 6-8 340, Saint Paul, MN
The well documented saga of Seantrel Henderson ends with Miami receiving the nation’s top prep player. Henderson could earn a great deal of playing time this season.
2.) Latwan Anderson, #9 S, 5-10 185, Cleveland, OH
Once a West Virginia commitment, Anderson switched to the ‘Canes well after signing day bringing more sprinter speed to the Miami secondary.
3.) Eduardo Clements, #14 RB, 5-11 185, Miami, FL
An elusive and quick runner, the Hurricanes will use Clements playmaking ability on kickoff and punt returns this season.
4.) Brandon Linder, #1 C, 6-7 290, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Linder is a polished lineman from St. Thomas Aquinas HS who is already listed as the team’s No. 2 at center.
5.) Storm Johnson, #40 RB, 6-1 215, Loganville, GA
An spring enrollee, Johnson has turned heads since arriving at Miami and will have his change to see the field right away, even in a deep backfield.
*Rankings according to scout.com
Photos:
Harris - Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images US
Bailey - Boug Benc/Getty Images US
Henderson - John Albright/Icon SMI
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