STANDOUTS: Transfer WR Headlines Miami Hurricanes’ TOP PERFORMERS in Spring Football

0:00Hey everyone, this is Ross Jackson, one of the hosts of the Lockdown Podcast Network. If your group chats been a little quiet lately, I want to invite you to come and join ours. If you sign up for the everydayer club, you get access to the members' only group chats for your favorite teams, plus national chats for every sport. Personally, I love watching folks talk a little smack in the NFC South Trash talk chat. You also get an ad-free version of your favorite Lockdown show and a whole lot more. You can check it out by tapping the everydayer club link in the show notes. A certain transfer wide out has hit the ground running with the Miami Hurricanes, and he headlines a list of top performers from the first week of Spring Football. You are Lockdown Canes, your daily podcast on the Miami Hurricanes, part of the Lockdown

1:02Podcast Network, your team every day. Happy Sunday, I am Alex Dono, and today's episode is brought to you by Mazda. Like our players, we're driven by the details. Highlights make the real, but the work behind it makes it count. Stay tuned for this week's Moving the Game Forward. You all knew Mazda CX-5 more to move every side of you on this loaded episode. We'll talk recruiting, because a bunch of blue chippers have come through campus this past week, first week of Spring Football. We'll talk about all the standouts through these firsts now. They've done four practices at Miami, but let's start off with this. We bring on our special guest today, Gio Million. You know him. You love him. Great friend of the show. Great friend to every Miami in South Florida, sports fan. And so, Gio, like when I asked you off air, who you wanted to talk about first in terms of great stories through the first week of Spring, the name you came back at me with was Vandrayvius Dre Jacobs, the transfer receiver from South Carolina.

2:04Why Jacobs, and what did you see from him in this first week? Well, I think if there was one thing that Miami fans probably didn't like about last year's offense, many people said, man, I wish we were more explosive in the past game. I wish there was more deep passes. Dre Jacobs, he can get down field in a hurry. He's one of the fastest guys on the team. It's showing early on, even in some of the private work as well, that we don't get to see as media. I'm hearing a lot of buzz on him as a deep field threat. I think he could become a fan favorite early on because of explosive plays. Yeah. And he's not the only one in terms of the transfers. I mean, we can certainly see just the precision with which a guy like Cooper Barcait runs his routes, and he's got the chemistry already built in, you know, with Darian Mensa, and obviously Darian Mensa is the headline transfer, but I told Geo just to be transparent. I told Geo, give me anybody but Mensa to start the conversation with because we've already

3:08had so many conversations about Darian. Cam Vaughn has made some plays out there, another transfer receiver. And of course, you know, you're going to have Barcait, a lot of people assume it's going to be a starter this year that may be the case. Guys like Jacobs Vaughn, they're going to be competing with a guy like Josh Moore to be the starting X receiver on this team. I mean, receiver Geo, probably the deepest it's been in many years at Miami. Oh, absolutely. You look at it from the perspective of explosiveness, like how fast the room is now, just a hole. And then the size factor too, Miami didn't have multiple receivers that were six, three and above and could jump out of the gym and some could even run very well downfield. I like the diversity of the wide receiver room. There's many different skill sets. I think they can complement Malachi Tony very well. And funny enough, you mentioned Cooper Barcait because I've seen so much discourse on this

4:09guy from Miami fans saying, oh, but his athleticism, he has plenty of athleticism, plenty of speed for the position. He's like six to over 200 pounds, he's a veteran guy, he's played in this conference before. He will be fine. And the chemistry, yes, it absolutely is there between him and Mensa, that's some of the feedback I got out of Saturday. Some other guys standing off in the receiver room as well, Josh Moore, really nice close to the weekend. And Cam von has had some flashes as well. But I think the room is in a great spot. If there's a freshman that you could possibly see emerge for playing time this year, Samarian Wingo. He's been very strong and steady since he arrived during the playoff practices. So I didn't want to lead off with Mensa, but I do want to talk Darian Mensa. We were both out there the first couple of open day, well, open to the media anyway, days

5:10of Spring football on Tuesday and Thursday. And Mensa is everything I expected, having watched him at Duke last year. You can see the accuracy, you can see the NFL caliber talent, seeing him up close. He's maybe even a little thicker than I thought, Geo, he's got a lot of lower body strength. The legs look really built. What were your takeaways on Mensa? Because those first two days, at least the media viewing, I don't really think I saw him make any notable mistakes out there. I think everything he did was on point. Yeah, I think first biggest thing, ball placement. Number one right there, he's able to put a nice touch on the ball. There was one pass specifically from day one, it was on an out route to Malachite, Tony. And the way he placed that ball, because a DV, if you don't put enough air on that, like arc and then enough zip, a DV can jump that route as everyone saw, like Keonthay Scott jumped the route against Ohio State. By the way, Donald, absolutely loved back in over the weekend on it, it's absolutely

6:14loved it. But staying on track here though, ball placement number one, absolutely, especially that out route was like a big one, I know is I'm like, okay, yeah, this guy is serious. And then even some of the deep passes too, like he has a really good connection early on with Dre Jacobs. He didn't play with this guy before. They've been connecting on some of those deep balls early on in the first week. And Malachite, Tony, it's just natural there with him, but I'm really excited to see like who becomes some of his favorite targets, because it seems like he's got a few guys already. There's more guys are going to work into the mix, but I think he has plenty of weapons and I think the tight end room will naturally be improved because of an injection of talent. Yeah. I was watching tight ends. I told my listeners really closely on Thursday, they were doing some drills right in front of our media viewing area and Gavin Mueller looks like he's going to be a dude, the true freshman.

7:15And I think Israel Briggs will as well, but I got a better view on Mueller and like physically he looks just more ready to be an early contributor, I think. You know, Luca Gilbert, his size, his long strides, it looks like he's coming into his own. And then, you know, Elijah Lofton always practices really well. I think for him, it's just about finding the health and the consistency. So, and you also have the new tight end coach, Mike VD, who's like a drill sergeant out there is an RV guy. So, I mean, I've said this all, I'm putting my reputation on the line here, Geo, because I would be very surprised if that tight end room doesn't have a big bounce back this year. Yeah. I agree. Just off the injection of talent alone, Elijah Lofton, yeah, he was a little up and down for him last season. He's been consistent throughout the first week in media of the sessions and even the private sessions. The feedback's been really strong on him. Gavin Mueller, you mentioned, he's been a standout guy since early on when he arrived

8:15during the playoff practices. He was one of the earlier guys that got here. And Israel Briggs is an interesting one. Athletically, I think he's the most gifted in that room. He's like almost a pseudo wide receiver. I've been using that, that keyword the entire week. Almost a pseudo wide receiver, but kind of like a flex tight end. He's put on some size. He's still going to have to put on more. I don't know if this year will be the year for him, but I'm buying some stock into Israel Briggs for like the future, like after this year. I think he's, I think he could definitely be a guy down the line. You know, one of the biggest stories through the first week has been Jackson Cantwell, you know, True Freshman, five star offensive tackle, getting a lot of work in and practice at left tackle. Like we have a long way to go before the season opens up, but it looks geo like Cantwell is getting every opportunity to be Miami's day one starter at left tackle when the season

9:16opens up. How do you see him handling that opportunity that he has in front of him? So far so well. He's responded very well. I got some feedback coming out of the weekend that he had a solid showing on Saturday. And I think the biggest thing that may get lost in translation here because some people had questions about like the transition from like the competition he played against and everything. That hasn't been a problem yet. He hasn't hit any type of freshman wall in terms of that aspect. He can absolutely move for a guy that's six, seven, three hundred and twenty plus pounds. He's built very well too. I don't know. I'm sure you saw like the pictures of like Francis Maumanoa from Pro Day that he does not look like your average offensive lineman like he looks like a wrestler like usually you expect offensive lineman to look very different. So kind of that same similar sentiment when it comes to Cantwell maybe not as developed as Francis yet like as he is physically you know three years in a program.

10:19But I think he's going to be just fine. I think he's going to be fine. I think Miami has plenty of trust in him already. I think the bigger development though is Ben Congdon is ahead of schedule from whatever one thought even just internally too. I don't know how much you'll play this year. I don't think he's going to start because you know, Matthew McCoy is taking a lot of the reps at right tackle. But right after him it's Ben Congdon and Jane Wilkerson on the other side of the left. Wilkerson has taken some steps in terms of his development. They're really excited about him but Ben Congdon men again don't know how much you'll play but exciting piece for the future and last note I'll mention about the old line. Some guys are a little banged up or whatever so people don't hear certain names don't freak out. There's no major injury like that right now but Max Buchanan he's going to be a guy this year. That's my guy. He's going to be a guy this year.

11:20I love it. Well, I want to get some of Geo's nuggets from the defensive side of the football when we come back and anything else he's been here in these last couple days because Geo is absolutely plugged in. We're going to talk recruiting as well because it's been a who's who of visitors throughout these first several days of spring football. You want to keep it locked right here. We got Geo a million with us and we're only getting started on this new locked on canes. This is moving the game forward by Mazda for those who know the score never tells the whole story. You know who's moved the game forward at Miami hometown hero Mark Fletcher could have gone anywhere. In fact Fletcher you remember four years ago was committed to Ohio State but rather than doing what you know number four in Buckeye country did Mark Fletcher decided to put on for his hometown and has zero regrets for that decision. He had a major playoff run last year and Fletcher decided to stay at Miami for his fourth

12:21and final season. I have so much appreciation for the Fletcher's, the Bains, the Malachitone's, the South Florida legends who could have gone anywhere but they chose to be foundational players at Miami and make the Miami Hurricanes a contender again. There's more to these players than the highlights. The early mornings, the late night runs constantly showing up for their squad on and off the field. The all new Mazda CX-5 moves the same way with more space to connect, a bold new design and more intuitive technology so you can stay connected to the road in every position you play. The all new Mazda CX-5, more to move every side of you. Guys, this is the five hour energy flavor draft. The board is set, the flavors are ready, I've got my number one pick in that flavor draft. There's some new amazing options like confetti, craze, fruity, rainbow, cotton candy. There is something for everyone. Guys with my number one pick, this is difficult because I love all these flavors but I'm going

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14:27We'll see you in the everyday or club. We got Gio Million with us coming off the first week of Miami Hurricanes Spring football or Gio defensive side of the football. You could go dealer's choice, any position, any player you want. Who are some of the guys that are stepping up so far, whether it be a young guy, experience guy, who's making an impression? Come on, Bonner. Looks entirely different from last year. It's much better shape. He's healthy now. He had multiple injuries last year. He's a guy that they're very excited about. Chase Smith, and a new number. I heard some good things about him coming out of this weekend, Cam Prude as well. Some nice developments with the linebacker room still want to continue to hear more about it. I believe, if you ask any Miami fan that's maybe the one position people are hoping takes that next big step. You've seen it in the defensive line, you've seen it in the defensive backs. You hope Miami gets back to that standard at a linebacker, so I absolutely feel the

15:31fans on that. Lots of linewise, I've heard a lot of good things about Armando Blunt and Justin Scott early on. Justin Scott, specifically just very, very explosive, had a really good practice on Saturday as well. Armando Blunt in particular, really good setting the edge has improved his past fresh technique as well. That was one of the things that Coach just wanted to work on with him. One guy specifically that I want to mention with the defensive fence, and no one take this wrong. If I don't mention Damon Wilson, whatever it is, only spurts of info that I get here and there, but when it comes to hate and low, I was told this, there is the thinking there that he may have the best combination of being a speed rusher and being able to be a legitimate run defender, like a just complete breach show, like you look at it, it looks like an NFL player.

16:32So, they're really excited and bullish about what he could do this year. I am too. I mean, I think he was the best kept secret from last season. You know, it's unfortunate the injury, but Miami had big plans for him last season. They really did. So, we'll be exciting as long as he stays healthy to see what he can do this year. And defensive back, I'll touch on that subject. Not much change with the corners, the top four guys that you have, but I do think there are young players emerging. Everyone saw Jabari Antoine show some flashes near the end of last season, especially some key special team plays. Chris E. Walg was a guy that I brought up since spring last year. I'll say this, not many people talk about him, at least the average fan, but I think people should keep an eye more on him. He could play some corner, he could play some nigga, play some safety. I think he's got the talent to play here at Miami. I don't know how much he'll play this year because it's a heavy, top heavy room with veteran

17:36guys, but I think he's someone that I would hope, like him and Jabari Antoine, could get some snaps here and there this season because you may have some guys move on after this year, whether it's NFL or whatever the case may be, and safety was, and like nickel as well, you could kind of bunch those two together. Bryce Fitzgerald, let's put on some size, still looks very explosive, fluid athlete, Zachariah Poiser, considered the leader of that group very consistent and solid, very good in terms of like short area coverage as well, like tight ends and just things over the middle. And then JJ Nunnigan, who's been the hot topic throughout the entire week, don't know the hype is real. The hype is real. The only thing I was telling people is like, yeah, he's been impressing since he arrived for the playoff practices. I was hearing the buzz since then, but it's the fact that the pads are on and it's still

18:37translating. I hope he doesn't hit a freshman wall. I don't expect him to. He comes from a very heavy football-laden family as far as I'm at his dad last week and we had a nice chat just to see and he, you know, he played Kansas State and you, but he looks like he could play today, his dad's not nearly as tall as JJ, so he must have a really tall mom because he's like, JJ, like towers over, James Sr., but you can tell, that is a football family and James Sr., if he's got any eligibility left, he could suit up tomorrow. So, yeah, so, yeah, just super impressed with him. The biggest thing too is like closing speed as well, this guy, this kid, he's like legitimate between six to six, three, 195, 200 pounds right now. One of the faster guys on the team, I don't know about fastest yet, I'll try to find that out, but just really, really impressed with him early on. I know there's been some discussion like what position he's going to play or whatnot. He's capable of playing some corner, he could play nickel, could play safety.

19:38I have heard he's played mostly safety so far, a lot of rotation for him coming in and everything, but I definitely think he's going to be a guy that fans are going to be really excited about. And two last guys to mention, Omar Thornton, there is this course throughout the off season, some people saying, oh, you know, what about his coverage skills? I've heard otherwise that he's actually been pretty impressive in that aspect while playing from nickel. He's played some safety as well. And Conrad Hussey is a guy that plenty of people are sleeping on that, I think, could be a key contributor this season, whether it's as a rotation guy or if he starts that potentially a nickel, whatever the case may be, he's a legitimate player. I think some people were kind of mixed on their feelings about him coming in. You know, he had a really good freshman year at Florida State, second year, so-so, but Florida State, that's a whole different story, you know, that program's in a lot of disarray, so I don't want to take too much thought into it. His second year there was the year that they went to and tend, just so people remember.

20:42So it was a little hard to thrive in that environment and then he transferred to Oregon State, which I don't think I watched a single down of Oregon State football last year, so I'm not sure how he did, but I know the second year at Florida State was a tough one. Yeah. And two last things I'll mention, special teams wise. I'm sure you've shared this as well, Gano, but there's been a heavy emphasis on special teams drills throughout the first week, I'm sure that would put a nice grin on many fans of yours to hear that aspect. And the other thing was special teams as well. Jake Weinberg, he transferred from Florida State, he's had a really strong start in camp from when I was told that. I was actually told a few good things about him from Saturday's practice. And I totally skipped this earlier, but quick note, because I'm sure everyone's wondering about backup, QB situation and whatnot. Luke Wigolk, he is improved from last year, process is much quicker. Very uncommon, the highs are highs and the lows are lows, but it's exciting, the arm

21:47talent. Absolutely exciting. And I'm sure you saw it too, Gano, that. Oh my God. Yeah. Yeah, like I was texting with, you know, his quarterbacks coach for the past eight years Balan Trujillo after the practices and like, you know, it's just seeing that, that zip that he has on his throws and the release in person is impressive. And you're right. I mean, the ups, downs, like I saw him throw a couple of interceptions and drills, Daryon, but especially for a true freshman quarterback, I just see that as part of the process where you're adapting to the speed of the college game and sort of figuring out what you can get away with and what you can't, because you and I, we both saw Luke Nichol go through the exact same thing last year where he would throw interceptions and practice. I think it's important for these guys to kind of figure out what the boundaries are. Because I'm sure for Nichol, you know, where he won all these state championships in Georgia and for, you know, Coleman who played in a state championship game last year, there were things they could get away with at the high school level that they cannot get away with

22:50against, you know, teammates from Miami. I think just the ability for improvisation from Coleman as well is something really exciting what could potentially be in the future. And you're right on point about Luke Nichol. That was like one of his biggest drawbacks a year ago was that there was some, wow, throws you'd be like, wow. And then there was a lot of, oh, my God, why did he throw that? Yeah. Now for sure. And I want to get into, because you know, Miami early last week did get a couple of important verbal commitments in recruiting Sherrod Gordin, defensive back, Josh Johnson defensive lineman. A lot more visitors have come through. I wonder who might be next? We got Gio Million with us. You want to keep it locked right here on this brand new episode of Lockdown Cains. Hey, what if sports were traded like markets? Now you can put your sports IQ to work in real time with Robin Hood prediction markets.

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25:54All right, so Gio, after that first practice on Tuesday, Miami got an early afternoon commitment from Sherrod Gordine from Hollywood MacArthur, the defense back, an evening commitment from Key West defensive lineman, Josh Johnson. There have been a bunch of other guys who have come through and anyone we're looking at and saying, hey, Miami might be making a move here. Who might be next? I'll tell you this, Andre Hippolyte came very close to committing when he visited for 305 day, that's North Miami Beach, three stars safety. Don't think you'll be a three star for long if you watch the tape and how he's being recruited nationally. He's considered a national scale prospect and that's how he's viewed internally at Miami. Miami has a very strong conviction and belief in their evaluations too. There's times where what they think may not match with the ranking system or sites like rivals or two for seven may think. The other guy I'll share, I've had a pick log for Sean Tatum

26:59for about, I think, two months now, more star, interior offensive lineman out of the Palm Beach area, a little further north from there, but really where Miami stands with him, I think he could be in the class sooner or later. Maybe a little later, hearing that potentially summer decision for him, but Miami's firmly in the lead. And on some of the other visitors that were here this weekend, Dante Wright, he'll be officially visiting this summer. Right now, he's five star cornerback committed to Georgia. Yeah. Most people don't expect that commitment to stick. He's been looking around. Oregon is the hot team, but Miami get an official that puts their foot in the door. And I think they definitely made a good impression this weekend. Jake Wantsnell, five star safety who's committed to Texas A&M. Miami's been trying to chase after him for some while now. He finally got him down for a spring visit. He's in the process of setting up

27:59an official visit. We'll see if that happens. If Texas A&M doesn't try to save that off. And one other guy that I want to mention that many hurricane fans have talked about Xavier Muhammad, who visited this weekend. Miami's trending very well there. I'm not saying I'd put a pick in right now because still some time on the clock. It's likely a summer decision, but he is going to officially visit. He has a great relationship with the staff. Mom loved the visit from what I heard. So good stuff for Miami going forward. I expect more. Other thing I'll mention. I know this is a hotly disgusting this week because there was some report that came out on Mark Matthews. And some hurricane fans were freaking out. Like, wait a minute. What, that he could go out of state or whatnot? I don't expect that to happen. We'll see. But Miami feels really good about the progress they've made with him. And this is not just right now. This is over the course

29:02of years. And he's never been shy about it that Miami is the school that he's dreamt of flying for. So yeah, no, that's well said. And I want to address another name who I don't think and probably you don't either at this point think he's coming here. But I know the comments are coming up. And that's that's Nef Guiwa. I had some hopes for a while, but it looks last I heard geo trending to South Carolina. Is that the same thing you're hearing? Because I think he's I think he's announcing today. The two schools I was last hearing was between Texas and South Carolina. I'm not sure what the decision is, but Miami doesn't anticipate him. Yeah, that's what I thought. I just wanted to get that out there because I'll admit like up until because he visited I think on Tuesday. And like at that point, like I was like, you know, I really thought, hey, maybe we can get this one over the finish line. But I just want to communicate to people that it seems to be trending away from here in the last few days. So we're I'm not going to be marking my my calendar for whatever time he commits later today. I'm not expecting that to go

30:03Miami's way, but it's always a great time here with geo and geo. You are you are so omnipresent when it comes to covering the Miami Hurricanes. Let people know where they can find you your accounts, your discord. When's the next time you're doing a show? Let the folks know. Yeah, everyone can find me on X right below at geomillion on X you can also find me on canes wears official YouTube channel. We just opened up a brand new YouTube channel for canes where you can find it youtube.com at caneswear or right in the search bar on YouTube. Just look up caneswear tv. You'll find it trying to build up that channel. Who wants smoke is coming back very soon. I'm on Richards in myself. I know plenty of people will receive that. It's coming back. We're just getting some things prepared for it, but I know plenty of people will be excited for that and that's about it for now. I love it. Well, geo does a great job and make sure you're following that ex account

31:04at geomillion. Make sure you follow me at Alex Dono and make sure you're smashing that like button for locked on canes and you subscribe to locked on canes on apple podcasts spotify YouTube wherever you get your pods and make sure you check out that every day or club locked on canes.supercast.com a free month with the code March. We'll talk to you all next time on another episode of locked on canes. We are part of the number one locked on podcast network your team every day. It's tax time and for a lot of us the old way of doing taxes is just a lot, but this year you're getting an upgrade into it. TurboTax now has in-person locations where you can meet face-to-face with a real tax expert get your documents uploaded and just like that you're done your expert works to get you every dollar you deserve while you get real time updates and go about your day head to TurboTax.com slash local to book your appointment