Pro Day Rewind: 'Canes, Owls & Cardinals

By ANDREW GARDA

Welcome to week two of Pro Day Rewind where we’ll catch you up on the previous week of Pro Days.

The news from the NFL Scouting Combine wasn’t even cold yet and schools were getting their guys into the spotlight immediately. At this point, it’s largely smaller schools that kick off the post-Combine workout schedule, but from those humble beginnings some mighty stars emerge.

So while the week after the Combine was pretty slow, we’ll talk a little about those few who got us kicked off.

Five schools had their Pro Days last week: Bethune-Cookman, Florida-International, Ball State, Florida Atlantic and a big school as well – the University of Miami. At the end of the week, it was the Florida schools which had made the biggest noise, though Ball State had its say as well.

MIAMI: On the 27th of February, 11 players showed off their skills to the representatives of ten NFL teams including Miami, Philadelphia, Tennessee and Atlanta. CB Bruce Johnson improved upon his Combine performance in the 40 (4.42 and 4.45) and vertical (38.5 inches), and posted a 4.03 shuttle and a 6.92 three cone drill. Fellow CB Carlos Armour made up for not being in Indianapolis by running a 4.55 and 4.59 in the 40 and jumping a 37.5 vertical, but was only able to bench press 10 times. However, none of the players looked good enough to go in the first round, which would end a 14-year streak for the 'Canes. In fact, it’s likely nobody will go the first day with Johnson possibly the lone 'Cane drafted.

Florida-Atlantic: The Owls got an unusual level of interest this year as representatives from 16 teams traveled to the school’s Pro Day, for the most part to see senior linebacker Frantz Joseph. Joseph, one of the players highlighted in last week’s column, was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine but his body of work certainly made him an attraction to scouts. He did not disappoint, running a 4.83 in the 40, benching 225 pounds 19 times, and measuring in at 6’1” and 242 pounds. Joseph also ran a 4.41 shuttle and a 7.34 three-cone drill. Overall, he continued to build heat and while Joseph is assuming he will need to fight for a spot on someone’s practice squad, he may hear his name called on the second day of the Draft. Of the other 17 players who put on a display for the visiting NFL dignitaries, the one who stood out the most was safety Carldayle Brantley. While he only started two games this past season, Brantley put on an eye-opening exhibition, running a 4.40 time in the 40 yard dash, jumping a 38 _ vertical and a 10’7” broad jump – all of which were tops on the day. Charles Pierre, the team’s 1,000 yard rusher, led the weight room, lifting the bar 26 times. Still, while the exposure may garner his fellow teammates a chance at a practice squad, if anyone is to be drafted it will most likely be Joseph and last week’s effort solidified that.

Ball State: Representatives from 14 teams came to Scheumann Stadium on a rainy day to see what Ball State’s players had to offer, but quarterback Nate Davis and offensive tackle Robert Brewster (both of whom participated in the Combine) sat out, although Davis threw for receivers working out. Both athletes will be working out for teams on March 20th instead and will be joined by punter Chris Williams, who could not work out because the event was held indoors due to the inclement weather. Of those who did participate, the most impressive was tight end Darius Hill. Hill ran a career-best 4.71 time in the 40 and did well in the pass-catching drill. The Cardinal tight end had been highly rated going into the 2008 season, but his stock dropped over its course. He is now hoping for at least a shot as a rookie free agent.

2.23.09 - Pro Day Rewind: Combine Edition


Photo Credit: University of Miami Sports Media Relations Office

HEAT HITS 'CANE

Next Level Scouting, Inc. is reporting that Miami U. senior defensive tackle Antonio Dixon was suffering from heat-related issues and dehydration when he was rushed to nearby HealthSouth Doctors Hospital during yesterday's practice. The weather has created several issues over the first five days of practice, but the 6'3", 325-pound senior is the first to suffer issues to this extent.

Wednesday’s practice was their first in pads and the heat index was in the 90s.

Dixon started four games as a junior, and recorded career-highs across the board—21 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks (three quarterback pressures). He is a talented player who has had issues with conditioning in the past. Dixon is viewed as a critical piece to a potential bounce back season by the ‘Canes.

Photo Credit: University of Miami Sports Media Relations Office

Beating rival Florida State gives Miami some late-season momentum

By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) - When he arrived at the office Sunday morning, Miami coach Randy Shannon was eager to watch the final few moments of the Hurricanes' comeback win over Florida State from the night before.

He wanted to see how one particular thing happened.

Not Darnell Jenkins' two nifty catches on the dramatic game-winning 83-yard drive. Not Kirby Freeman's pinpoint throw to Dedrick Epps for the go-ahead score with 1:15 left. Not Graig Cooper's three big carries on that march, or Teraz McCray's fumble-causing hit that led to Colin McCarthy's 27-yard touchdown return.

No, Shannon only wanted to see who dumped the water bucket over his head amid the celebration.

``Nobody would tell me,'' Shannon said.

Miami defensive linemen Courtney Harris and Calais Campbell may want to stay away from Shannon for a little while, then, since their postgame revelry was the only thing dousing the first-year coach's mood Sunday.

The Hurricanes' 37-29 victory over the rival Seminoles did more than snap a two-game Miami losing streak. It may have saved the season, since another defeat would have essentially eliminated the 'Canes (5-3, 2-2) from Atlantic Coast Conference contention - hopes there are slim to begin with anyway - and put Miami's chances of simply making a bowl game in jeopardy.

``Not too many people win at Florida State,'' Shannon said. ``If you win at Florida State, you take it and you wrap that one up and you put it in a vault because you don't get that many wins there.''

Most teams don't. Miami actually does.

The Hurricanes are 13-7 in Tallahassee, and this one was for the record books, since it ended a streak that dated back nearly a quarter-century.

On Oct. 13, 1984, the Seminoles (4-3, 1-3) lost at Doak Campbell Stadium to Auburn 42-41. Since then, Florida State was a staggering 102-0-1 when scoring 29 or more points at home.

That is, until Saturday, when a Miami team that had lost five straight on the road somehow pulled one out in stunning fashion.

``Maybe they're just starting to realize what we're saying,'' Shannon said. ``They can do it now.''

There were no shortage of Miami players being lauded in the tiny visiting locker room after the game. Freeman, McCray, Jenkins, Cooper and McCarthy all got deserved pats on the back.

But the biggest praise may have been directed toward someone who lost his starting job one day earlier, relegated to backup duty.

Francesco Zampogna - the sixth-year walk-on kicker who was the starter until this week - probably threw the biggest pass of Miami's season. His fake field-goal toss for a touchdown to DajLeon Farr in the third quarter gave Miami a 24-23 lead and, perhaps more importantly, a huge emotional lift at a time where the Seminoles seemed poised to pull away.

``First pass ever,'' Zampogna said.

It was a tricky play and a trickier call.

Miami had the ball on the Florida State 26 _ the exact spot on the same side of the field where the new starting kicker, Daren Daly, made a 44-yard field goal earlier. But Zampogna was summoned, Farr ran away from two defenders, caught the ball and scored easily.

``I was thinking to myself, 'I hope they don't catch on,''' Farr said. ``But they didn't.''

So now Miami heads into a bye week with some hope.

The break comes at a good time, since the Hurricanes could use a few days to heal - especially at quarterback. Kyle Wright hurt his left leg and Freeman was shaken up late in the game, although Shannon said he thinks both players will be ready when practice resumes Tuesday.

Home games await against North Carolina State (Nov. 3) and Virginia (Nov. 10), followed by road trips to nationally ranked Virginia Tech and Boston College to end the season.

``This was the breakthrough game that we needed,'' Campbell said. ``Now we've got momentum.''

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: Miami University

MIAMI UPSETS No. 20 TEXAS A&M

MIAMI (AP) -- The last Thursday night game at the venerable Orange Bowl was something for the Miami Hurricanes to cherish.

And it was a win they desperately needed.

Kyle Wright threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns, Graig Cooper scored twice and the Hurricanes stymied No. 20 Texas A&M's high-powered offense in a 34-17 victory -- just the second in their last nine games against ranked opponents.

"It was a Thursday night game, prime time, so the nation got to come out and see what we really have as a University of Miami football team," Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon said.

The Aggies (3-1) entered averaging 46.3 points, scoring at least 38 in every game. Those numbers plummeted against the Hurricanes (3-1), who held a 402-240 edge in yards and said a spotlight game like this represented the perfect chance to make a statement.

It came through loud and clear.

"We just got beat, got beat by a better team," Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione said.

Wright completed 21 of 26 passes, finding Cooper with one scoring throw and Chris Zellner with another late in the third quarter to make it 31-0.

Sam Shields had six catches for 117 yards for Miami, which had three scoring drives take a combined 1 minute, 9 seconds.

"We had to trust each other, come out, play hard," Shields said. "And win."

The Hurricanes, who are 10-0 on Thursday nights at home since 1986, are leaving the Orange Bowl for Dolphin Stadium next season.

"I think this is something that's going to get us on a roll," Wright said. "It kind of got our confidence back up."

Stephen McGee had a 1-yard touchdown run with 8:03 left for Texas A&M, and backup quarterback Jerrod Johnson threw a 33-yard scoring pass to tight end Martellus Bennett with 5 seconds left.

Texas A&M's three leading rushers -- McGee, Mike Goodson and Jorvorskie Lane -- came into the game averaging a combined 235 yards, a big reason why the Aggies' were ranked fifth nationally in rushing offense with nearly 300 yards per outing.

That trio rushed for 21 yards in the first half and 69 for the game. Lane had no carries in the first half, and the Aggies didn't get on the board until Matt Szymanski's 32-yard field goal with 11:40 left.

"We just never got comfortable out there until real late," McGee said. "And of course, by then it was just too little."

The Miami mood was so joyous that university president Donna Shalala was posing for photos with smiling guests on the sideline as the clock ticked down.

"It was a big game for them," Aggies defensive back Devin Gregg said. "They realized that it's Thursday night -- everybody's watching. So they came out there a lot more aggressive."

The Hurricanes held the Aggies to 38 yards in the first half, taking a 24-0 lead. Miami scored 10 points off three Texas A&M turnovers in the final 3:40 before halftime.

Miami opened with an 18-play, 80-yard drive, with Wright going 5-for-5 on third downs, and took a 7-0 lead when Cooper took a direct snap and rumbled 7 yards for a score.

The direct snap, a new Miami wrinkle for this game, also had a role in the Hurricanes' second score.

Miami got inside the Texas A&M 10 on a fortunate bounce; Wright's pass hit off Darnell Jenkins' hands, caromed off Aggies' linebacker Mark Dodge, and landed on Jenkins -- who made the catch on the ground.

It was that kind of night for Miami.

"This is the best feeling in the world," Cooper said.

Wright was spread right like a wide receiver on third-and-2 and fourth-and-1 plays inside the Aggies' 5. Javarris James took both snaps, eventually got the first down, then scored from 1 yard out for a 14-0 lead.

Goodson fumbled the ball away later in the half, and the Hurricanes needed one play to go up 21-0. Wright hit Cooper with a screen pass and the freshman did the rest, barreling in from 12 yards out with 33 seconds left.

It got worse for Texas A&M. After a short kickoff, Cody Wallace -- an offensive lineman -- fumbled the ensuing return, the Hurricanes recovered again and Francesco Zampogna hit a 45-yarder as time expired in the half.

They ran off the field celebrating, and never had a reason to stop in the second half, either.

"Knowing this is the last year in the Orange Bowl, we want to make history here," defensive end Calais Campbell said.