2008 Miami Hurricanes

2008 Miami Hurricanes Season, Game Recaps, Scores and Reviews

2008 Miami Hurricanes

Dec. 27
2008 Emerald Bowl
California 24 … Miami 17
Zack Follett forced a fumble deep in Miami territory leading to a two-yard touchdown catch from Anthony Miller to break a 17-17 tie with 2:41 to play. Miami had one final shot but stalled with poor time management and poor decision making wasting away time to get into range for a shot into the end zone. Cal appeared to be on the verge of blowing the game out early after Jahvid Best scoring runs from one and 42 yards out, but Miami came back to make it a game with a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive with the first of two Jacory Harris short touchdown passes. The two teams traded field goals before Harris lost the late fumble.
Player of the game: California RB Jahvid Best ran 20 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns  
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Jacory Harris, 25-41, 194 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 12-63. Receiving: Chris Zellner, 8-48
California - Passing: Nate Longshore, 10-21, 121 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Jahvid Best, 20-186, 2 TD. Receiving: Nyan Boateng, 3-27
Inside The Box Score ...  5 Thoughts on the Emerald Bowl …Cal’s Zack Follett made nine tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss and forced the fumble that would lead to the game-winning score. … Third down conversions: Miami 7-of-19 – Cal 2-of-11 … Time of possession: Miami 34:05 – Cal 25:55. … Average yards per carry: Cal 7.2 – Miami 4.7. … Total plays: Miami 73 – Cal 51. … First downs: Miami 17 – Cal 11.

- 2008 Miami Preview
- 2007 Miami Season

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 7-5
2008 Record: 7-6

Aug. 28 Char. Southern W 52-7
Sept. 6 at Florida L 26-3
Sept. 13  OPEN DATE
Sept. 20 at Texas A&M W 41-23
Sept. 27 North Carolina L 28-24
Oct. 4 Florida State L 41-39
Oct. 11 UCF W 20-14
Oct. 18 at Duke W 49-31
Oct. 25 Wake Forest W 16-10
Nov. 1 at Virginia W 24-17 OT
Nov. 8  OPEN DATE
Nov. 13 Virginia Tech W 16-14
Nov. 20 at Georgia Tech L 41-23
Nov. 29 at NC State L 38-28
EMERALD BOWL
Dec. 27 California L 24-17

2007 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 8-4
CFN Record: 5-7

Sept. 1 Marshall W 31-3
Sept. 8 at Oklahoma L 51-13
Sept. 15 FIU W 23-9
Sept. 20 Texas A&M W 34-17
Sept. 29 Duke W 24-14
Oct. 6 at North Carolina L 33-27
Oct. 13 Georgia Tech L 17-14
Oct. 20 at Florida State W 37-29
Nov. 3 NC State L 19-16 OT
Nov. 10 Virginia L 48-0
Nov. 17 at Virginia Tech L 44-14
Nov. 24  at Boston Coll L 28-14

Nov. 29
NC State 38 … Miami 28
NC State closed out the regular season with its fourth straight win as Russell Wilson threw two touchdown passes and ran for a 29-yard score, while Andre Brown scored twice. Miami held a first half 14-7 lead highlighted by a 69-yard Dedrick Epps scoring grab, but  NC State controlled the game with a 31-7 point run before the Canes got into the end zone in the final seconds. Javarris James ran for two one-yard touchdowns for Miami.
Player of the game: NC State RB Andre Brown ran 12 times for 93 yards and a touchdown, and he caught two passes for 24 yards and a score
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Jacory Harris, 12-20, 138 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Javarris James, 16-65, 2 TD. Receiving: Dedrick Epps, 4-101, 1 TD
NC State - Passing: Russell Wilson, 11-23, 220 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Andre Brown, 12-93, 1 TD. Receiving: T.J. Graham, 2-63
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Miami has closed out on a major down note losing two straight, and badly. The defense, all of a sudden, can’t handle the run, missing too many tackles and being out of position far too often, while the turnovers were a problem against NC State. Robert Marve wasn’t bad, but he didn’t lead the way to touchdowns when the team needed to stay in the game, and his two interceptions were killers. The Canes will go bowling, and they young team could use the extra practices going into next year.

Nov. 20
Georgia Tech 41 ... Miami 23
Georgia Tech ran for 472 yards as the option worked its way up to a 41-10 lead after three quarters. Miami got two touchdown passes from Jacory Harris in the fourth, but they weren't nearly enough to overcome the huge day from a Tech ground game that touchdown runs from 58 and six yards out from Jonathan Dwyer and a 32-yard scoring run from Lucas Cox late in the third. The Yellow Jacket defense got involved as Michael Johnson reached up and grabbed a Robert Marve pass and took it for a second quarter score. The two teams combined to convert six of 23 first down chances.
Player of the game: Georgia Tech RB Jonathan Dwyer ran 10 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Jacory Harris, 13-18, 162 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 10-44. Receiving: Dedrick Epps, 4-57,  1 TD
Georgia Tech - Passing: Josh Nesbitt, 3-6, 24 yds
Rushing: Jonathan Dwyer, 10-128, 2 TD Receiving: Demaryius Thomas, 2-17
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Miami's speed and athleticism didn't make up for a lack of discipline against the Georgia Tech offense. It was almost as if the players were trying to react and make something happen, rather than stay home and let the plays come to them. It's not like the offense provided any help. Robert Marve was fine at times, but he didn't come up with any big throws to slow down the Yellow Jacket momentum. On the contrary, his pick six thrown to Michael Johnson turned out to be a killer. As ugly as the loss might have been, there's still plenty of hope to play for the ACC title. If the Canes can beat NC State next week, they'll be in the thick of the tie-breaker and they'll have a few nice advantages.

Nov.  13
Miami 16 ... Virginia Tech 14
Miami's defense came up with six sacks and Matt Bosher hit three field goals in the tight battle. The Canes, who also got a three-yard touchdown run from Javarrais James, seemed to have things well in hand, but Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor ran for his second score of the game with 3:28 to play to pull the team within two. The Hokies got the ball back, but the Miami D stuffed the Hokies on three straight plays before a sack of Taylor to end the drama. Virginia Tech gained 250 yards of total offense to Miami's 247.
Player of the game: Miami LB Marcus Robinson made seven tackles and three sacks with four tackles for loss
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Robert Marve, 7-16, 121 yds
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 15-52. Receiving: Aldarius Johnson, 3-48
Virginia Tech - Passing: Tyrod Taylor, 6-12, 75 yds
Rushing: Tyrod Taylor, 14-43, 2 TD. Receiving: Danny Coale, 4-59
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... The win over Virginia Tech might not have turned a corner for the program, but it showed tremendous progress. Now on a five-game winning steak, the Canes have a shot at the ACC title by winning their final two games, or at least splitting and getting some help. Robert Marve did a good job of keeping the offense viable, even if too many drives finished with field goals instead of touchdowns. The defense was suffocating as Marcus Robinson and the pass rush were all over Tyrod Taylor all game long. Up next will be road trips to Georgia Tech and NC State, and the defense will have to play even faster to stop both teams' running games.

Nov. 1
Miami 24 … Virginia 17 OT
Jacory Harris led Miami on a 16-play, 95-yard drive in the final moments with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Laron Byrd to force overtime. In the OT, Aldarius Johnson caught a jump ball for a nine-yard touchdown and a Hurricane lead. Virginia’s Cedric Peerman lost a fumble, and Miami pulled off the comeback. Robert Marve ran for a six-yard touchdown for the Canes in the first quarter, and Jared Green caught a two-yard scoring pass in the second to help Virginia take a 17-10 lead. Neither team scored in the second half until the final Miami drive in regulation.
Player of the game: Miami QB Jacory Harris completed 12-of-21 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: Virginia - Passing: Marc Verica, 27-41, 240 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Cedric Peerman, 14-71. Receiving: John Phillips, 7-36
Miami - Passing: Jacory Harris, 12-21, 160 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 24-131. Receiving: Thearon Collier, 3-64
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Robert Marve was a gametime call against Virginia with a leg injury, but as it turned out, Jacory Harris ended up saving the day with a brilliant late drive showing cool and calm under pressure. This wasn’t the team’s finest hour as far as being sharp with 12 penalties for 81 yards and three turnovers, but the running of Graig Cooper and a good date from the defense, holding UVa to 311 yards, made up for it. In the end, the young Miami team stepped up in the clutch, and Virginia didn’t. The team is bowl eligible, so now it’s time to use this off-week to really concentrate on a tough finishing kick and be in the hunt for the ACC title.  

Oct. 23
Miami 16 … Wake Forest 10
Miami got a one-yard Robert Marve touchdown run and Matt Bosher field goals from 36, 52 and 43 yards, and then hung on for dear life. A bad punt led to just one of Wake Forest’s late chances to score, but the Miami defense came through with big stops. The Demon Deacons had one good drive to start the game, going 66 yards in 10 plays finishing with a one-yard Mike Rinfrette touchdown run, but only managed 186 yards the rest of the way.  
Player of the game: Miami DE Adewale Ojomo made six tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and forced a fumble
Stat Leaders: Wake Forest - Passing: Riley Skinner, 3-8, 57 yds
Rushing: Josh Adams, 21-111. Receiving: D.J. Boldin, 1-45
Miami - Passing: Robert Marve, 11-20, 153 yds
Rushing: Robert Marve, 9-56, 1 TD. Receiving: Travis Benjamin, 4-72
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Miami might not always be pretty, but if the defense can keep on improving, and if it can keep on playing like it did against Wake Forest, this should be a decent second half of the season. The offense got a decent day out of Robert Marve, while Jacory Harris, who completed 4-of-8, passes for 41 yards but wasn’t able to run much, didn’t lay claim to taking over the job. Now comes the Virginia game and a chance to avenge last year’s 48-0 loss. Now we’ll see just how far the program has come in 12 months.

Oct. 18
Miami 49 … Duke 31
Duke had a 17-7 first half lead helped by short touchdowns on a Clifford Harris catch and a one-yard Thaddeus Lewis run, And then it became the Jacory Harris show. Filling in for an ineffective Robert Marve, Harris threw four touchdown passes to four different receivers and ran for a 15-yard score as the Hurricanes erased a 24-14 deficit with a 35-point run. Harris threw two interceptions, but he made up for it with big play after big play. Duke finished with 333 yards of total offense, but Lewis went cold in the second half.
Player of the game: Miami QB Jacory Harris completed 18-of-28 passes for 185 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions, and he ran 10 times for 53 yards and a score
Stat Leaders: Duke - Passing: Thaddeus Lewis, 12-28, 130 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Tony Jackson, 11-69. Receiving: Raphael Chestnut, 5-48, 1 TD
Miami - Passing: Jacory Harris, 18-28, 185 yds, 4 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 7-64. Receiving: Aldarius Johnson, 8-84 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... There shouldn’t be any quarterback controversy, and Randy Shannon is doing his best not to allow one, but after the way Jacory Harris played in the win over Duke, this could be a problem. Shannon has come out to say that Robert Marve is the team’s starting quarterback without question, but he continues to be erratic. It’s all part of the learning process, but with the ACC title still out there for the taking if the Canes can go on a great run, if might be a hard sell to keep Harris on the bench. The offense exploded against Duke, and there’s no way Marve won’t be looking over his shoulder if he makes any mistakes against Wake Forest.

Oct. 11
Miami 20 … UCF 14
Miami took advantage of a muffed punt return from Joe Burnett to get a five-yard Graig Cooper touchdown run with just over five minutes to play to give the Canes a little bit of breathing room, but Burnett made up for his error by taking the ensuing kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown. It wasn’t enough as UCF only managed 78 yards of total offense in an ugly, mistake-filled game. Miami got up 10-0 in the first quarter highlighted by a 25-yard touchdown pass from Robert Marve to Travis Benjamin, but Marve struggled with three interceptions. Johnell Neal took one of the picks 62 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. The two teams combined to convert 5-of-35 third down chances.
Player of the game: Miami DB Glenn Cook made 10 tackles and a tackle for loss
Stat Leaders: UCF - Passing: Rob Calabrese, 11-35, 74 yds
Rushing: Rob Calabrese, 13-25. Receiving: Brian Watters, 5-37
Miami - Passing: Robert Marve, 8-19, 74 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 23-90, 1 TD. Receiving: Dedrick Epps, 3-20
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Miami needs to come up with some more answers on offense in a real hurry. Robert Marve is gutty and isn’t afraid to throw the tough passes, but he was awful against UCF. Graig Cooper ran well, with a career-high 23 carries, but he didn’t get much room to move. Fortunately, the defense came through with a stonewall effort keeping the Knights to a mere 78 yards with just four on the ground. Don’t assume a win at Duke next week; the Canes are far, far away from being consistent.

Oct. 4
Florida State 41 ... Miami 39
In a wild game, Florida State appeared to be on its way to an easy win with a 24-0 first half helped by two of Antone Smith’s four rushing touchdowns and a 15-yard Greg Carr scoring grab. Midway through the third quarter it was 31-10 on Smith’s third scoring run, and then things got weird. Miami scored 12 points in just over two minutes on a field goal, a blown punt snap for a safety, and a 51-yard Travis Benjamin touchdown catch on a halfback option pass from Graig Cooper. Off a bad pass from Christian Ponder, Sean Spence took an interception seven yards for a Miami score to get within five, and Matt Bosher made it 34-32 with a 24-yard field goal. FSU finally pulled away with a 20-yard Smith touchdown run with less than four minutes to play. Miami scored with 14 seconds to play, but couldn’t get the onside kick. In the driving rain, there were seven turnovers and 22 penalties between the two teams. Florida State didn’t punt.
Player of the game: Florida State RB Antone Smith ran 27 times for 92 yards and four touchdowns
Stat Leaders: Florida State - Passing: Christian Ponder, 14-31, 159 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Christian Ponder, 19-144. Receiving: Bert Reed, 3-43
Miami - Passing: Robert Marve, 17-40, 122 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 6-31. Receiving: Graig Cooper, 7-16
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Miami committed 10 penalties against Florida State, held on to the ball for 19:44, and converted 2-of-15 third down chances, and even with everything going wrong, the team still fought its way back into the game late. It was a wild game, but even though the defense and special teams found a way to get back into it, the offense can’t be ignored. The passing game was awful, the running game was worse, and Robert Mavre was miserable on third downs. Miami is close to being decent, but first it has to be more consistent.

Sept. 27
North Carolina 28 ... Miami 24
North Carolina got a 14-yard touchdown catch from Brooks Foster with 46 seconds to play to take the lead for good, but it took a big play in the end zone to secure the win. Miami got to the UNC 20 with 15 seconds to play, and it appeared that Robert Marve had connected with Kayne Farquharson for a touchdown, but the ball was bobbled and Tremaine Goddard picked it off for the win. The Canes jumped out to a 14-0 lead on two Marve touchdown passes, and a four-yard scoring pass to Aldarius Johnson in the fourth quarter made it a ten-point lead with under ten minutes remaining. UNC got back in it on a 74-yard Hakeem Nicks touchdown play.
Player of the game: North Carolina CB Tremaine Goddard made eight tackles and two interceptions with a broken up pass
Stat Leaders: North Carolina - Passing: Cameron Sexton, 11-19, 242 yds, 2 TDs
Rushing: Greg Little, 14-38, 1 TD. Receiving: Hakeem Nicks, 5-133, 1 TD
Miami - Passing: Robert Marve, 18-27, 135 yds, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 19-110. Receiving: Kayne Farquharson, 3-51, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Miami lost the battle to North Carolina, but it once again found its leader. Robert Marve came up with a great performance, and while his two interceptions aren't good, he can't be blamed for the second one as he hit Kayne Farquharson in the hands in the end zone. Marve played well, Graig Cooper ran for 110 yards, and the offense was moving, but it wasn't enough. The defense struggled way too much against a mediocre Tar Heel passing game, and now comes Florida State. Miami has to be just as strong against the run and it'll have to keep finding ways to score to prevent another collapse against the improving Seminoles.

Sept. 20
Miami 41 ... Texas A&M 23
Texas A&M scored first on a brilliant 62-yard touchdown catch from Mike Goodson, and after two Graig Cooper touchdown runs for Miami, got within four on a 38-yard Riche Bean field goal late in the first quarter. And then it was all Miami with a 27-pount run helped by two Robert Marve touchdown passes and a fumble return for a score from Glenn Cook following a sack. A&M got the final two touchdowns on passes from Jerrod Johnson, including a one-yarder to Goodson, but it was far too little, too late. Cook led the Canes with nine tackles.
Player of the game: Miami RB Graig Cooper rushed for 128 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 16 carries.
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Robert Marve, 16-22, 212 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 16-128, 2 TDs. Receiving: Kayne Farquharson, 5-67, 1 TD
Texas A&M - Passing: Jerrod Johnson, 19-32, 275 yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing: Mike Goodson, 12-67. Receiving: Jeff Fuller, 5-79, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... All of a sudden, Miami looked very fast, very sharp, and very dominant as it exploded on Texas A&M with a big run to put away a tight game. Robert Mavre had his breakout game with a great passing day, while Graig Cooper took over the running game with Javarris James out. The defense softened late, but when it mattered, it gave up one big play early to Mike Goodson for a touchdown, and that was it. The team appeared to be playing with confidence, but most importantly, it was playing well on the lines. That was missing over the last few years. Next week's game against North Carolina will show if Miami really is on the rise, or if A&M is just awful.

Sept. 6
Florida 26 ... Miami 3
The final score doesn't reflect how tough the game was for Florida. The Gators struggled until the fourth quarter when Percy Harvin provided some breathing room with a two-yard touchdown run and Tim Tebow connected with Louis Murphy from 19 yards out. Miami only managed 140 yards of total offense and a 50-yard field goal, but the defense kept the Florida attack in check throughout most of the game. Back after missing the season opener, Florida LB Brandon Spikes made 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Player of the game: Florida QB Tim Tebow completed 21-of-35 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran 13 times for 55 yards.
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Robert Marve, 10-18, 69 yds
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 15-31. Receiving: Leonard Hankerson, 3-22
Florida - Passing: Tim Tebow, 21-35, 256 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Tim Tebow, 13-55. Receiving: Aaron Hernandez, 5-58, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Miami was too young and too inexperienced to beat a team like Florida. The running game was stuffed from the start, Robert Marve, moxie and all, couldn't get the ball down the field, and it took a 50-yard bomb of a field goal to avoid the shutout. However, the defense, until the fourth quarter, played extremely well, hit very hard, and confused and frustrated Tim Tebow and the Gator attack. While the Canes appear to be a year away from making some serious noise, in a year when the ACC stinks, the defense alone could put them in the conference title hunt.

Aug. 28
Miami 52 ... Charleston Southern 7
Miami had no problem blowing away CSU as QB Jacory Harris ran for a 30-yard score and threw for another as part of a 21-0 first quarter. Graig Cooper put the game well out of reach with a 14-yard touchdown dash and a 66-yard punt return for a score for a 35-0 lead before Tribble Reese threw a two-yard touchdown pass for the only CSU points. Miami allowed just 126 yards of offense.
Player of the game: Miami QB Jacory Harris completed 16 of 26 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown, and ran three times for 22 yards and a score.
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Jacory Harris, 16-26, 190 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Jarvarris James, 12-73, 1 TD3. Receiving: Leonard Hankerson, 3-20
Charleston Southern - Passing: Tribble Reese, 10-21, 81 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: T.J. Latimore, 6-29. Receiving: Dee Brown, 4-24
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Miami needed a big game, even if it was against Charleston Southern, if only to make everyone around the program feel good about things for a week before dealing with Florida. If there were any problems, it might be panic time before facing the Gators. Did Jacory Harris do enough to win over the starting job from a banged up Robert Marve? If not, he showed the mobility to at least see a little time here and there. Graig Cooper firmly established himself as one of the team's top weapons every time he touched the ball.

2008 Recruiting Class

Star of the Class

Arthur Brown LB, 6-1, 210 Wichita, Kan. / Wichita East HS
The nation's top high school linebacker and the top prospect at any position according to Scout.com. Called a play-maker on defense, he has incredible short-range explosion. Has a fabulous work ethic and is always trying to get better. Thickly built with long arms, with instincts and quick feet, he's a fierce tackler who has great physical tools. Has great change-of-direction skill and closing speed, giving him the ability to pursue ball-carriers from behind. Played in the U.S. Army All-American game. As a senior in 2007, made 151 tackles, 10 sacks and one fumble recovery for a touchdown, despite missing two games. As a junior in 2006, totaled 132 tackles and 12 sacks. Chose Miami over Louisiana State, Alabama, Southern California and North Carolina.

Potential Instant Impact Players

Brandon Harris CB, 5-11, 185 Miami, Fla. / Booker T. Washington HS
The best cornerback from Miami-Dade County and the brother of former UM three-time track All-American Tim Harris. Aggressive, competitive and fast, he played cornerback, quarterback, tailback and receiver as a senior in leading his team to the No. 6 national ranking by USA Today. Has very good technique to go with size, speed, quickness and ball awareness. As a senior in 2007, caught 26 passes for 501 yards and eight touchdowns, with 1,069 all-purpose yards. On defense, he made 49 tackles, five sacks and four interceptions (two returned for scores). Also played quarterback in some key situations and completed eight of 17 passes for 230 yards with a touchdown. As a junior in 2006, completed 10 of 10 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns and caught 38 passes for 576 yards and 10 TDs. On defense, made 41 tackles, four sacks and five interceptions (two returned for touchdowns). Played in the inaugural Under Armour All-Star game. Chose Miami over Ohio State, Florida, Central Florida and Louisiana State

Tommy Streeter WR, 6-4, 190  Miami, Fla. / Northwestern HS
Tall receiver who starred on the nation's No. 1 high school team in 2007. Deep threat who has great speed despite his height. Can also be a possession receiver because he has very good hands. Is also a good blocker. As a senior in 2007, caught 36 passes for 676 yards with 11 touchdowns. As a junior in 2006, had 57 receptions for 804 yards and 14 touchdowns on a state championship team. Attended a technical magnet school but played football at Northwestern. Chose Miami over Oregon, South Florida, South Carolina and Boston College

Rest of the Class 

Travis Benjamin	WR	5-11	141	Belle Glade, FL
Ramon Buchanan	DB	6-0	181	Melbourne, FL
LaRon Byrd	WR	6-4	205	Boutte, LA
John Calhoun	ATH	6-3	235	Vero Beach, FL
Thearon Collier	WR	5-9	163	Miami, FL
Taylor Cook	QB	6-7	210	Altair, TX
Marcus Forston	DT	6-2	286	Miami, FL
Jordan Futch	LB	6-3	202	Hollywood, FL
Gavin Hardin	LB	6-5	225	Jackson, TN
Antonio Harper	LB	6-4	220	Memphis, TN
Jacory Harris	QB	6-4	169	Miami, FL
Patrick Hill	RB	5-10	248	Torrance, CA
C.J. Holton	DB	6-2	195	Crawfordville, FL
Aldarius Johnson	WR	6-2	200	Miami, FL
Davon Johnson	ATH	5-11	163	Miami, FL
Benjamin Jones	OL	6-6	270	Miami, FL
Zach Kane	ATH	6-3	220	Toms River, NJ
Jeremy Lewis	DT	6-3	271	West Palm Beach, FL
Brandon Marti	ATH	6-0	196	Miami, FL
C.J. Odom	DB	6-0	198	Fort Myers, FL
Micanor Regis	DT	6-3	300	Pahokee, FL
Marcus Robinson	LB	6-2	210	Homestead, FL
Andrew Smith	DE	6-3	223	Coconut Creek , FL
Cannon Smith	QB	5-11	200	Chatham, VA
Sean Spence	LB	6-0	186	Miami, FL
Vaughn Telemaque	DB	6-2	180	Long Beach, CA
Kendall Thompkins	WR	5-10	165	Miami, FL
Brandon Washington	OL	6-4	315	Miami, FL
Jake Wieclaw	K	6-2	180	New Lenox, IL
Joe  Wylie	DB	6-2	171	Lauderdale Lakes, FL

2007 Recap

Recap: On paper, the Hurricanes appeared more than capable of winning eight or nine games, but on grass, they managed just five in Randy Shannon’s first season, resulting in the program’s worst record since 1977.  At 4-1 Miami looked to be on solid footing before completely collapsing in the second half of the year, including a 48-0 loss to Virginia in its Orange Bowl swan song.  Although the defense was a year-long disappointment, there were even bigger concerns on an offense that’s still pining for a reliable quarterback, and finished next-to-last in the ACC in scoring and total offense.           

Offensive Player of the Year: RB Graig Cooper

Defensive Player of the Year: S Kenny Phillips

Biggest Surprise: Reeling from back-to-back losses to North Carolina and Georgia Tech, Miami stepped up at rival Florida State on Oct. 20 for a 37-29 victory.  The ‘Canes got a Kirby Freeman-to-Dedrick Epps touchdown pass and a Colin McCarthy fumble return for a score in the final 75 seconds, snapping an ugly five-game road losing streak. 

Biggest Disappointment: The defense.  With S Kenny Phillips and DE Calais Campbell acting as the cornerstones of a veteran unit, the defense figured to be a mainstay of this year’s Hurricanes.  Uh-uh.  They allowed 312 points, more than any ‘Cane team since 1984, coming apart at the seams in losses to Oklahoma, Virginia, and Virginia Tech.  

Looking Ahead: Even after going 7-6 a year ago, Miami actually regressed in 2007, needing Duke to avoid the ACC cellar.  If the rebuilding timetable is to be shortened, the ‘Canes desperately need an offensive firebrand, say freshman QB Robert Marve, to step forward in 2008.