Sophomore WR Mike Harley was pointed out by Mark Richt earlier in the week as a guy that stepped up his leadership role in the days ahead of UM’s contest against FIU, challenging the offense to become a more efficient unit.
“I always stepped up with actions, not vocally, and last week I came out of the shell and gathered the offense up and just took over like that,” Harley said. “From then, I’ve been that voice of the offense if we were down.”
Perhaps it was no coincidence then that Harley had the biggest game of his career against the Panthers. With 7 catches for 76 yards, Harley showed he had an established rapport with QB N’Kosi Perry andwent across the middle for some tough grabs.
“I’m a mentally strong guy, so it’s just like I was picking guys up, but I wasn’t loud,” Harley said. “I just got loud and everything just clicked. … I’ve always been a leader since rec ball to high school, have been that leader. I was just scared to lead because I (might) mess up. I was thinking when I was younger, a leader doesn’t mess up, and coach (Ron) Dugans was telling me in the spring it’s okay to mess up, step up and be a leader. And that’s what I did.”
How has Harley improved his play? By watching film of former Hurricane slot WR Braxton Berrios.
“He was at my position last year,” Harley said on Berrios. “I’ve studied the game more instead of just trying to go out and beat the game with talent. That’s a big plus for me.”
The Canes continue their schedule with their first ACC opponent in UNC tomorrow night.
“A great group of guys,” Harley said on the Tar Heels. “The secondary plays a lot of man coverage so we just have to win. They grab a lot, so we have to use technique, our hands, just finish on the ball and make plays.”
Coming off his big performance against FIU, Harley was named Miami’s offensive captain for the UNC game.
“I’m very proud, it’s a dream come true, I never thought I’d be at this point as a captain,” Harley said. “I’m just trying to be captain for the rest of the season really… I was happy, told my mom - she was like `Wow, God is working, all the hard work is paying off, keep working, stay humble.’”
**With the weapons Miami has on offense, many have high expectations for their output each game. There may not be any higher than those of sophomore RB Deejay Dallas, who sees no reason the Hurricanes can’t average 60 points per game.
“I feel we can average like 60 points a game, honestly,” Dallas said. “So, I don’t think we’ve reached our full potential yet.”
Miami is currently under that 60 spot figure, sitting at 43.5 points per game and 18th in the nation in scoring offense with the easiest part of the schedule out of the way. What will it take to reach Dallas’ goal as the games begin to raise in difficulty?
“Just consistently making plays,” Dallas said. “And everybody doing the right things at the right time consistently. That’s what we’re missing from offensive line to quarterback to running back to receiver. It’s not one person, it’s all of us.”
What does he make of the QB battle to start that’s going on between N’Kosi Perry and Malik Rosier this week?
“They’re both applying energy and execution to practice, and that’s what we need from both guys,” Dallas said.
After a slow start vs. LSU, the UM running game has averaged nearly 250 yards the last 3 games, but Dallas believes it’s the offensive line that deserves the most praise for that.
“It’s the O-Line picking up everything, picking up defenses, the quarterback leading the way,” Dallas said. “The O-Line is making holes and we’re just running.”
**Senior offensive lineman Tyree St. Louis has noticed improvement in the offensive line as whole lately. These past three games, Miami has averaged nearly 250 yards per game on the ground and the O-Line has seemingly opened more and more running lanes for the backs each game.
“We’ve been more cohesive going into each game,” St. Louis said. “From the LSU game, each game we’ve gotten better and better. The run game is something personal for us, we’re in charge of the line of scrimmage.”
The Canes will have a tougher test this week though, as UNC’s defensive front gave Miami’s offensive line fits last season in their matchup in Chapel Hill. St. Louis hasn’t forgotten that game and feels ready to prove last year was a fluke.
“They are definitely a great unit,” St. Louis said on UNC’s defensive line. “They were a great unit last year and the year before. Not going to let their record or last year’s record hinder their ability. We’re ready for it.”
Going into gameday, the QB situation at Miami is still unsettled. Mark Richt hasn’t said much to the team on who it’s going to be, but St. Louis has a job to do and that won’t change, whoever is under center tomorrow night.
“He hasn’t really said anything, because he knows whoever is in the game it’s not going to change many things,” St. Louis said. “We’re still going to be the same team, same offense, and same unit. So, whoever is in there, it doesn’t matter.
“We’re positive for both guys, no matter who it is. We’re going to rally behind them. Both guys can play, both guys are very experienced now. So, whoever it is, we’re blocking for them.”
**Every fan wants to know who will be starting at QB for UM on Thursday night against UNC. That includes the student body, friends, and family that surround senior center Tyler Gauthier.
“As soon as they know I’m a lineman, they’re like, ‘Who is it?’” Gauthier said. “Pretty much everyone I talk to (asks).”
N’Kosi Perry or Malik Rosier: Who does he see getting the nod?
“Everyone’s getting reps, man,” Gauthier said. “I don’t know. I’ve seen all three (plus Cade Weldon) back there. So, we’ll see what happens when we walk out Thursday night.
“Our quarterbacks all work the same and we al lget work with them in practice. I’m used to the way they call things. It’s not that much of a change (regardless of the starter).”
Coming off leading Miami to a 31-17 victory over FIU, Perry has had a strong week of practice according to Gauthier.
“(He) looks good,” Gauthier said on Perry. “He comes out here and he works every day, is definitely being more assertive in the huddle, which is good. He comes in and calls the plays - if he wants to change something, he changes it. It’s definitely nice to see that out of him.”
What’s the difference between Rosier and Perry?
“Malik’s been back there longer and N’Kosi got significant playing time last week,” Gauthier said. “So Malik, I would say his comfort level in just saying things off the top of his head is different. But I mean, Kosi is getting it. By the end of the game vs. FIU it was `boom, boom, boom,’ we were rolling. They’re both really good players, know what to do and will go out and do that.”
North Carolina’s defense is tied for 22nd in the country in sacks per game and their defensive line had their way with the Canes last season.
“They’re quick, they’re strong, they have some good dudes inside,” Gauthier said on UNC. “It’s definitely going to be a test for sure… We’ll be okay.”
On the short week: “You have to do a lot of stuff on your own,” Gauthier said. “If you’re in between class for an hour, you watch film for that hour. You come in, watch your Saturday film on Sunday and go straight to North Carolina that night… “If you aren’t sleeping or are out on this practice field, you’re watching film, and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
“I always stepped up with actions, not vocally, and last week I came out of the shell and gathered the offense up and just took over like that,” Harley said. “From then, I’ve been that voice of the offense if we were down.”
Perhaps it was no coincidence then that Harley had the biggest game of his career against the Panthers. With 7 catches for 76 yards, Harley showed he had an established rapport with QB N’Kosi Perry andwent across the middle for some tough grabs.
“I’m a mentally strong guy, so it’s just like I was picking guys up, but I wasn’t loud,” Harley said. “I just got loud and everything just clicked. … I’ve always been a leader since rec ball to high school, have been that leader. I was just scared to lead because I (might) mess up. I was thinking when I was younger, a leader doesn’t mess up, and coach (Ron) Dugans was telling me in the spring it’s okay to mess up, step up and be a leader. And that’s what I did.”
How has Harley improved his play? By watching film of former Hurricane slot WR Braxton Berrios.
“He was at my position last year,” Harley said on Berrios. “I’ve studied the game more instead of just trying to go out and beat the game with talent. That’s a big plus for me.”
The Canes continue their schedule with their first ACC opponent in UNC tomorrow night.
“A great group of guys,” Harley said on the Tar Heels. “The secondary plays a lot of man coverage so we just have to win. They grab a lot, so we have to use technique, our hands, just finish on the ball and make plays.”
Coming off his big performance against FIU, Harley was named Miami’s offensive captain for the UNC game.
“I’m very proud, it’s a dream come true, I never thought I’d be at this point as a captain,” Harley said. “I’m just trying to be captain for the rest of the season really… I was happy, told my mom - she was like `Wow, God is working, all the hard work is paying off, keep working, stay humble.’”
**With the weapons Miami has on offense, many have high expectations for their output each game. There may not be any higher than those of sophomore RB Deejay Dallas, who sees no reason the Hurricanes can’t average 60 points per game.
“I feel we can average like 60 points a game, honestly,” Dallas said. “So, I don’t think we’ve reached our full potential yet.”
Miami is currently under that 60 spot figure, sitting at 43.5 points per game and 18th in the nation in scoring offense with the easiest part of the schedule out of the way. What will it take to reach Dallas’ goal as the games begin to raise in difficulty?
“Just consistently making plays,” Dallas said. “And everybody doing the right things at the right time consistently. That’s what we’re missing from offensive line to quarterback to running back to receiver. It’s not one person, it’s all of us.”
What does he make of the QB battle to start that’s going on between N’Kosi Perry and Malik Rosier this week?
“They’re both applying energy and execution to practice, and that’s what we need from both guys,” Dallas said.
After a slow start vs. LSU, the UM running game has averaged nearly 250 yards the last 3 games, but Dallas believes it’s the offensive line that deserves the most praise for that.
“It’s the O-Line picking up everything, picking up defenses, the quarterback leading the way,” Dallas said. “The O-Line is making holes and we’re just running.”
**Senior offensive lineman Tyree St. Louis has noticed improvement in the offensive line as whole lately. These past three games, Miami has averaged nearly 250 yards per game on the ground and the O-Line has seemingly opened more and more running lanes for the backs each game.
“We’ve been more cohesive going into each game,” St. Louis said. “From the LSU game, each game we’ve gotten better and better. The run game is something personal for us, we’re in charge of the line of scrimmage.”
The Canes will have a tougher test this week though, as UNC’s defensive front gave Miami’s offensive line fits last season in their matchup in Chapel Hill. St. Louis hasn’t forgotten that game and feels ready to prove last year was a fluke.
“They are definitely a great unit,” St. Louis said on UNC’s defensive line. “They were a great unit last year and the year before. Not going to let their record or last year’s record hinder their ability. We’re ready for it.”
Going into gameday, the QB situation at Miami is still unsettled. Mark Richt hasn’t said much to the team on who it’s going to be, but St. Louis has a job to do and that won’t change, whoever is under center tomorrow night.
“He hasn’t really said anything, because he knows whoever is in the game it’s not going to change many things,” St. Louis said. “We’re still going to be the same team, same offense, and same unit. So, whoever is in there, it doesn’t matter.
“We’re positive for both guys, no matter who it is. We’re going to rally behind them. Both guys can play, both guys are very experienced now. So, whoever it is, we’re blocking for them.”
**Every fan wants to know who will be starting at QB for UM on Thursday night against UNC. That includes the student body, friends, and family that surround senior center Tyler Gauthier.
“As soon as they know I’m a lineman, they’re like, ‘Who is it?’” Gauthier said. “Pretty much everyone I talk to (asks).”
N’Kosi Perry or Malik Rosier: Who does he see getting the nod?
“Everyone’s getting reps, man,” Gauthier said. “I don’t know. I’ve seen all three (plus Cade Weldon) back there. So, we’ll see what happens when we walk out Thursday night.
“Our quarterbacks all work the same and we al lget work with them in practice. I’m used to the way they call things. It’s not that much of a change (regardless of the starter).”
Coming off leading Miami to a 31-17 victory over FIU, Perry has had a strong week of practice according to Gauthier.
“(He) looks good,” Gauthier said on Perry. “He comes out here and he works every day, is definitely being more assertive in the huddle, which is good. He comes in and calls the plays - if he wants to change something, he changes it. It’s definitely nice to see that out of him.”
What’s the difference between Rosier and Perry?
“Malik’s been back there longer and N’Kosi got significant playing time last week,” Gauthier said. “So Malik, I would say his comfort level in just saying things off the top of his head is different. But I mean, Kosi is getting it. By the end of the game vs. FIU it was `boom, boom, boom,’ we were rolling. They’re both really good players, know what to do and will go out and do that.”
North Carolina’s defense is tied for 22nd in the country in sacks per game and their defensive line had their way with the Canes last season.
“They’re quick, they’re strong, they have some good dudes inside,” Gauthier said on UNC. “It’s definitely going to be a test for sure… We’ll be okay.”
On the short week: “You have to do a lot of stuff on your own,” Gauthier said. “If you’re in between class for an hour, you watch film for that hour. You come in, watch your Saturday film on Sunday and go straight to North Carolina that night… “If you aren’t sleeping or are out on this practice field, you’re watching film, and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
