Spring practice is back, and there are many new faces on Greentree. Coach Mario Cristobal met with reporters to discuss the new arrivals:
On Carson Beck’s first impression: As positive as positive as you can have without actually having any kind of participation in live drills. I would say relationships and leadership, they do take time, but everything initially has been super positive.
On the team’s new defensive backs: Last year, we thought we could make it through the season and we didn't. We became unhealthy in a hurry and then things didn't work out on that side of the ball.
Ethan O'Connor is a special athlete, long, explosive. He's got a tremendous future. Great man-to-man ability. Willing tackler. Sticks his face in there. Competitive. Loves to have fun during practice. All these guys, you're probably going to hear the same traits about all of them.
Same thing with Emmanuel Karnley. He’s another physical, long corner. These guys are all between 6’ and 6’3 and they're all long. They're explosive. They can run.
Xavier Lucas, same thing. Y'all know him from his track days down here running. 10.4, 10.5 (100 meters). He's a bigger one. He's more in the 195, 200-pound range.
Charles Brantley, who played a lot of corner, also doubles as a nickel. But we're playing everybody at corner and at nickel. We were taking some reps over on the back-end at safety as well to give our guys some more reps.
Zech Poyser, special guy. Really physical, explosive, can track the ball really well, diagnoses plays, smart, great communicator.
They all have similar traits. I'm sure they want to get in pads and light it up and go full speed. We haven't done that yet. But in drills, in the offseason program, and today in practice, they looked the part. We're excited about them.
We're excited about the young guys as well. Jaboree Antoine, he's on the mend, but he's an exceptional player. We expect him to be a great one.
CJ Ewald has been outstanding. A guy that we feel is going to be an impact guy for us. Amari Wallace, who had an injury last year in high school, has come out right away and has made plays instantly. Very smart, comes from a great high school like all these guys do. Same thing with Ewald.
The only one that's not here right now is Bryce Fitzgerald. We expect him to join us at the end of May, early June.
On Amari Wallace wearing #26: I think anyone who brings up that number knows what comes with that. We're not in a position of luxury where we can not use all our numbers. It is what it is. It's a number that everybody wants to have when he's playing the position. I think Amari understands clearly the standard that must be upheld and the honor that comes with it.
On the freshmen WRs: They've stood out right away in a positive manner. You look at both Daylyn [Upshaw] and Josh Moore. Those guys can flat out go. They can create separation. They do a good job with the contested balls. Great balance and body control. Great contact balance. They get hit at the line of scrimmage, they get pressed, and they come out of it. And when they catch a ball, and they get crowded, and they get corralled, they find a way to come out of it. So, excited about them.
Obviously, inside with…they keep calling him “Baby Jesus.” You guys know who I'm talking about, right? [Malachi Toney]. He's been outstanding. Just saw his parents outside there.
It's awesome to have that many parents at practice. One of the many benefits of being a great player locally and playing at the University of Miami. You get to see your sons excel and develop as they prepare themselves to go win championships and for the next level.
But Malachi, he's been outstanding. These guys have played at a really high level. Them being here in January is a tremendous advantage for them, and they're showing it.
On how last season’s ending will motivate this year’s team: I think you’ll always carry that. … You always remember the more difficult moments than you do the positive ones. And if you’re any kind of competitor, you carry that with you and you use it to work.
On Miami’s new defensive coaches: What [defensive coordinator Corey] Hetherman does, besides being a great teacher, a great human being, he galvanizes people. He understands very quickly how to assess and then play to the strengths of your team. He’s also by nature a front seven guy with a lot of backend knowledge. And in [safeties coach] Will Harris and in [defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach] Zac Etheridge, as well as [defensive tackles coach] Damione Lewis, you’ve got some really just high level, high-energy, elite teachers that are very, very intense and they’re very intentional. … They approach practice with a purpose, and you could see it in our drill work and the way we chase the ball. I mean, so much of defense is playing really hard in chasing the ball. So, it’s great to see these guys line up [and] communicate with tremendous intensity, [and] just a lot of volume, which was again, a big issue from last year. Again, just really excited about those guys.
On the freshmen who have joined the program: Without a doubt, I think those guys are talented. The best part about what they’ve shown so far is that they’ve come in, they’ve stayed late at night. I’ve seen the wide receivers on more than a dozen occasions at 5:45, 5:30 in the morning, catching [on the] JUGS [Machine] out there. I’ve seen [Herbert] Scroggins, I’ve seen Hayden Lowe, I’ve seen Donta Simpson, I’ve seen Mykah Newton late in those meeting rooms, just taking in all kinds of extra meeting time and knowledge. I’ve seen the same with the offensive linemen and SJ [Alofaituli] and Max Buchanan and Jaden [Wilkerson] and Demetrius [Campbell], Girard Pringle. It’s a really talented class and they’re joining a really talented sophomore class, so I think the level of competition that they’re going to be seeing is going to naturally help them, and we’re looking forward to pushing them really hard.”
On Carson Beck’s first impression: As positive as positive as you can have without actually having any kind of participation in live drills. I would say relationships and leadership, they do take time, but everything initially has been super positive.
On the team’s new defensive backs: Last year, we thought we could make it through the season and we didn't. We became unhealthy in a hurry and then things didn't work out on that side of the ball.
Ethan O'Connor is a special athlete, long, explosive. He's got a tremendous future. Great man-to-man ability. Willing tackler. Sticks his face in there. Competitive. Loves to have fun during practice. All these guys, you're probably going to hear the same traits about all of them.
Same thing with Emmanuel Karnley. He’s another physical, long corner. These guys are all between 6’ and 6’3 and they're all long. They're explosive. They can run.
Xavier Lucas, same thing. Y'all know him from his track days down here running. 10.4, 10.5 (100 meters). He's a bigger one. He's more in the 195, 200-pound range.
Charles Brantley, who played a lot of corner, also doubles as a nickel. But we're playing everybody at corner and at nickel. We were taking some reps over on the back-end at safety as well to give our guys some more reps.
Zech Poyser, special guy. Really physical, explosive, can track the ball really well, diagnoses plays, smart, great communicator.
They all have similar traits. I'm sure they want to get in pads and light it up and go full speed. We haven't done that yet. But in drills, in the offseason program, and today in practice, they looked the part. We're excited about them.
We're excited about the young guys as well. Jaboree Antoine, he's on the mend, but he's an exceptional player. We expect him to be a great one.
CJ Ewald has been outstanding. A guy that we feel is going to be an impact guy for us. Amari Wallace, who had an injury last year in high school, has come out right away and has made plays instantly. Very smart, comes from a great high school like all these guys do. Same thing with Ewald.
The only one that's not here right now is Bryce Fitzgerald. We expect him to join us at the end of May, early June.
On Amari Wallace wearing #26: I think anyone who brings up that number knows what comes with that. We're not in a position of luxury where we can not use all our numbers. It is what it is. It's a number that everybody wants to have when he's playing the position. I think Amari understands clearly the standard that must be upheld and the honor that comes with it.
On the freshmen WRs: They've stood out right away in a positive manner. You look at both Daylyn [Upshaw] and Josh Moore. Those guys can flat out go. They can create separation. They do a good job with the contested balls. Great balance and body control. Great contact balance. They get hit at the line of scrimmage, they get pressed, and they come out of it. And when they catch a ball, and they get crowded, and they get corralled, they find a way to come out of it. So, excited about them.
Obviously, inside with…they keep calling him “Baby Jesus.” You guys know who I'm talking about, right? [Malachi Toney]. He's been outstanding. Just saw his parents outside there.
It's awesome to have that many parents at practice. One of the many benefits of being a great player locally and playing at the University of Miami. You get to see your sons excel and develop as they prepare themselves to go win championships and for the next level.
But Malachi, he's been outstanding. These guys have played at a really high level. Them being here in January is a tremendous advantage for them, and they're showing it.
On how last season’s ending will motivate this year’s team: I think you’ll always carry that. … You always remember the more difficult moments than you do the positive ones. And if you’re any kind of competitor, you carry that with you and you use it to work.
On Miami’s new defensive coaches: What [defensive coordinator Corey] Hetherman does, besides being a great teacher, a great human being, he galvanizes people. He understands very quickly how to assess and then play to the strengths of your team. He’s also by nature a front seven guy with a lot of backend knowledge. And in [safeties coach] Will Harris and in [defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach] Zac Etheridge, as well as [defensive tackles coach] Damione Lewis, you’ve got some really just high level, high-energy, elite teachers that are very, very intense and they’re very intentional. … They approach practice with a purpose, and you could see it in our drill work and the way we chase the ball. I mean, so much of defense is playing really hard in chasing the ball. So, it’s great to see these guys line up [and] communicate with tremendous intensity, [and] just a lot of volume, which was again, a big issue from last year. Again, just really excited about those guys.
On the freshmen who have joined the program: Without a doubt, I think those guys are talented. The best part about what they’ve shown so far is that they’ve come in, they’ve stayed late at night. I’ve seen the wide receivers on more than a dozen occasions at 5:45, 5:30 in the morning, catching [on the] JUGS [Machine] out there. I’ve seen [Herbert] Scroggins, I’ve seen Hayden Lowe, I’ve seen Donta Simpson, I’ve seen Mykah Newton late in those meeting rooms, just taking in all kinds of extra meeting time and knowledge. I’ve seen the same with the offensive linemen and SJ [Alofaituli] and Max Buchanan and Jaden [Wilkerson] and Demetrius [Campbell], Girard Pringle. It’s a really talented class and they’re joining a really talented sophomore class, so I think the level of competition that they’re going to be seeing is going to naturally help them, and we’re looking forward to pushing them really hard.”
