CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Cooper Barkate has already done his time at Harvard and Duke, and now Miami is getting its turn with one of the country’s top receivers.
The Hurricanes are into their second week of fall camp, and Barkate is still adjusting to the “hotter” Miami weather. Even so, the heat hasn’t slowed him down. If anything, it’s been part of the push that has sharpened him as he settles in with the program.
On Monday, Barkate kept the focus simple when asked what he wants his season to look like.
"Play my best and win," Barkate said about what he wants his season to look like during Monday's Fall Camp practice.
The senior has looked smooth throughout camp and all through the offseason work that came before it. His nickname, “Spiderman,” fits the way he moves, and Miami’s wideout competition has only added to the edge in his game.
For Barkate, that battle is part of the appeal.
"Yeah, it's everything," Barkate said on the competition in the receiver room. "I mean, it's really why I came here, because I wanted to sharpen my game and not only having the DBs to go against, but you know, you got someone right behind you coming for your spot, so I love it here."
That kind of daily pressure is exactly what makes the Hurricanes’ receiver room matter so much. Barkate’s work against Miami’s secondary has been one of the most eye-catching parts of camp, with both groups feeding off the same competitive energy.
"Definitely sets it apart because of the competitiveness that we have," Barkate said. "We got a lot of depth, so every day we're kind of just feeding off each other. trying to make plays.
But I'd say the culture's a great culture. I think everyone respects each other and loves each other, and culture Beard does a great job of doing that."
Week 2 of Miami’s fall camp is underway. Expect to see a lot of this: Darian Mensah to Cooper Barkate. pic.twitter.com/iPKuSNFN78
Barkate’s production says plenty about why he arrived in Coral Gables with so much attention. He put up 72 catches, more than 1,000 yards, and seven touchdowns to reach this point as a senior.
Still, the 6-foot-1 receiver says there are parts of his game he’s still working to tighten up, especially in the areas that show up when the lights get brighter.
"I say my physicality, it downfield and also in the run game, and these spots in my game to work on that," Barkate said.
Even with that work still ahead, Barkate’s mindset is clear. He believes this season can be the one that lifts him into another tier and puts him on track as a prized NFL Draft prospect.
In Other News...
Miami Suddenly Has A Fall Camp Battle Fans Can't Ignore
Special teams has become one of the more intriguing parts of Miamis fall camp, and the spotlight is falling on a kicking competition that is still very much unresolved. The Hurricanes brought in two transfer options to sort it out, with one coming from Northwestern and the other from FSU, and Mario Cristobal has pointed to the unit as an area he feels good about as camp moves along.
Cristobal also spent time talking about Jordan Lyle, whose recovery and improved conditioning have been part of the programs broader August conversation. The coaching staff clearly believes there is value in having him healthier and better prepared entering the season, but for now the kicking job remains one of the quieter battles that could end up mattering a lot once the games start. [Read more 🡒]
Former Miami Standout Could Reopen A Hurricanes Roster Debate
Malik Reneaus name is back in the college basketball conversation, and for Miami fans it brings a familiar what-if back into focus. After three years at Indiana, Reneau transferred to Miami and put together a career season, earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team honors while giving the Hurricanes the kind of frontcourt production that can reshape a roster discussion in a hurry.
Now, after going undrafted and signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Orlando Magic, Reneau is pursuing the possibility of another college season following a recent court ruling that opened the door for certain athletes to regain eligibility. The move raises an intriguing question for Miami circles: if that path stays open, would the Hurricanes have a place for a player who already proved he can change the look of a team in one year? [Read more 🡒]