Special teams got its turn in the spotlight on Day Nine of Miami Hurricanes fall camp, and the kicking competition remains very much alive.
Northwestern transfer Jack Olsen and FSU transfer Jake Weinberg are still battling for the job, with Mario Cristobal making clear the staff is keeping the race open and putting both kickers through every possible situation. Cristobal said the group has shown enough leg to handle long attempts, noting, "They could both take it out of the end zone and they both have excellent range and we did kick 48, 50s and 52s. I forget what we got to, but it was close enough to 55 where you feel confident."
He also stressed that Miami wants the process to stay fair while the coaches continue evaluating both players. "We feel really good about all three but we're putting them in every situation," Cristobal said.
"If they have to shine and create separation, so I really can't say how it's going to work out. We'd rather let it play out, but make it as fair as possible.
Assess and then provide each guy with a path for betterment to give them a chance to be that guy. But I think this will be an ongoing thing."
Cristobal also addressed running back Jordan Lyle, saying he looks like the player Miami saw a year ago, only with better physical traits. He credited Irv Young, the sports science staff and the training program for helping the team get to a place where it can practice the way it wants to. Cristobal said Lyle has taken strength and conditioning seriously, has improved, and is healthy after being more banged up last season than many people realized.
"I see the Jordan Lyle that we saw a year ago in many respects but with better physical traits. Meaning, I think credit to coach Irv Young and and the staff sports science and the training.
Those guys have really collaborated to put us in position to be able to practice like this, right? Because you train to be able to practice and you practice to be able to play.
And you want to you're going to you're going to play like the train, right? And we want to be, you know, we don't want to post it or tweet it.
We want to be for letting us take a physically violent, imposing, elite-conditioned football team. Jordan has taken strength conditioning very seriously.
I think he's certainly improved. He's healthy, which I think is a really important part.
I don't think people really knew the extent of how banged up he was last year. And we see a full-speed player.
Really excited about the about him. We're gonna test him really hard for the next couple of days."
Olsen also talked about what his time in the Big Ten taught him as he adjusts to kicking in South Florida. He said the weather should be a welcome change after dealing with cold, windy November conditions in that league.
"It will be a little different down here for sure. It won't be as cold and I'm excited about that.
Really all the Big 10 stadiums are windy and once you get to November it gets cold and not as fun. Excited to kick at Hard Rock."
In Other News...
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For Miami, that matters because the Hurricanes are not just looking for another body at receiver, they are looking for players who can raise the level of the room and give the offense more options. Barkate appears to believe there is still another gear to find, and his optimism extends beyond this season to the idea that a stronger year in Coral Gables could improve his NFL Draft standing. The interesting part is how much more the Hurricanes can unlock before camp gives way to the real test. [Read more 🡒]
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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 🡒]