Miami Spring Practice: A New Name Is Emerging At Running Back, Veterans Stand Out

The Canes have a versatile new running back

The Miami Hurricanes put full pads on for Tuesday’s spring football practice. AllHurricanes writer and Locked On Canes podcaster Alex Donno sent in the following report:

Miami spent most of the media viewing session working position drills. Early enrollee tight end Elijah Lofton worked both at tight end and running back. Lofton received carries during power running drills and does not look out of place whatsoever. 

Defensive backs who stood out to me today were Daryl Porter Jr. at cornerback and Mishael Powell with the safeties. Porter runs every drill with intensity. Powell has great instincts when tracking footballs and shows soft hands for interceptions. 

Beyond Lofton, it was a good day for Miami’s tight ends. Elijah Arroyo looked sharp and made a one handed grab during one on one drills, beating safety Jaden Harris. Riley Williams made a catch on the sideline from Reese Poffenbarger in seven on sevens and was fired up, talking some trash as he was pushed out of bounds. 

The media viewing ended with red zone drills. I thought Emory Williams looked very sharp today throwing fades to the corner. 

We got to watch a period of kickoff drills. Miami gave opportunities to a handful of young, faster players on kickoff drills. Receivers Robby Washington, Joshisa Trader and Ny Carr, along with running backs Chris Johnson and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey, were the players I saw returning kicks. Washington had one return where he looked especially explosive. There was no tackling in this drill. Plays were whistled dead. 

Miami will return to the practice field on Thursday morning, April 4th. Miami’s spring game will be Saturday, April 13th at 4 pm.