Back in January, former Oklahoma senior WR Charleston Rambo became part of the Miami Hurricanes’ transfer class ahead of the 2021 season, and he talked yesterday about how he landed on UM as his school of choice to finish out his college career.
“It was a big decision,” Rambo said. “A lot of schools came at me, the options were pretty open. It’s just, [Miami players] came at me, a few players. (D’Eriq) King, knowing how he played at Houston and what he did there, how he can function with coach (Rhett) Lashlee, coach (Rob) Likens, the offense - it was `I can fit in.’ Coach Likens, how he builds up his past receivers - I wanted to go somewhere and work. Me and Likens are on the same page. It felt right.”
As a sophomore at OU in 2019, Rambo broke out with 43 catches for 743 yards and 5 TD’s, but took a step back as a junior last season (25-312-3) and lost playing time to younger Sooners receivers as the season went along. Despite his 2020 setback, Rambo feels he is on the verge of returning to his sophomore form with the Canes this year.
“Hearing guys say `Can he get back to the person of 2019?', I see that. I’m a better person than I was,” Rambo said. “Other than that, just put it on tape, do better with the job. Bigger, faster, stronger Charleston.”
Miami returns all of their starting receivers in 2021, but overall, the group struggled with drops and consistency issues last year. Still, Rambo says he has high hopes for the unit as a whole this coming season.
“Going through mat drills, workouts, 7-on-7, throwing the ball around with the QBs, we have a lot of potential with the young guys,” Rambo said. “We want to feed off each other. They can watch me and I can help them, let them know. We just learn from each other right now, bonding.”
With a prime opportunity to take hold of a starting job at UM and further his potential pro prospects, Rambo says he’s focusing on maximizing his strengths in 2021.
“What I do best - in the weight room I go to our running backs and say `Come my way running the ball,'” Rambo said. “(My strengths are) route running, speed, getting open - that’s what you want to do… Most important is get my work done, do my thing, get to the league, do my thing.”
**After spending 4 years in the SEC, former Tennessee senior DE Deandre Johnson had his college career come full circle when he decided to transfer to the Miami Hurricanes in January, returning home to South Florida where football career originally began at Miami Southridge High.
“Last season, finishing out the season at Tennessee I had a big decision to make on whether I wanted to go pro or come back to school, got a good feeling on coming back to school,” Johnson said. “Once I hit the portal, Miami was one of the first schools to contact me and it all made sense, coming back home, a loyal fan base, a scheme that fits me. It was pretty much a no-brainer.”
In making his choice of UM, Johnson says he consulted former Miami Southridge teammates and current Hurricanes such as Dee Wiggins and Mark Pope, as well as former Canes and Miami natives Jaquan Johnson and Sheldrick Redwine.
“I had a pretty good feeling for the program, how things are run here,” Johnson said. “The U has first round picks, that’s so appealing, stuck out to me bigtime.”
Johnson has also already connected with Miami DL coach Jess Simpson, and he sees Simpson as someone that can help take his game to the next level.
"Coach Simpson is a great teacher," Johnson said. "That is the first thing I take away from him. He comes into the room with great energy and great passion. He gives it everything to coach football and I am learning a lot from him and I can’t wait to see my game progress."
As a junior in 2020, Johnson came on in his first year as a starter for the Volunteers, finishing the year with 28 tackles, 6 TFL, and 4.5 sacks.
“Last year being my first as really a full-time starter, a couple of things I felt I needed to come back and work on to improve my stock, leave college the right way, with winning,” Johnson said. “I’m just excited man, it’s a great opportunity to bring the U back to where it should be.”
“It was a big decision,” Rambo said. “A lot of schools came at me, the options were pretty open. It’s just, [Miami players] came at me, a few players. (D’Eriq) King, knowing how he played at Houston and what he did there, how he can function with coach (Rhett) Lashlee, coach (Rob) Likens, the offense - it was `I can fit in.’ Coach Likens, how he builds up his past receivers - I wanted to go somewhere and work. Me and Likens are on the same page. It felt right.”
As a sophomore at OU in 2019, Rambo broke out with 43 catches for 743 yards and 5 TD’s, but took a step back as a junior last season (25-312-3) and lost playing time to younger Sooners receivers as the season went along. Despite his 2020 setback, Rambo feels he is on the verge of returning to his sophomore form with the Canes this year.
“Hearing guys say `Can he get back to the person of 2019?', I see that. I’m a better person than I was,” Rambo said. “Other than that, just put it on tape, do better with the job. Bigger, faster, stronger Charleston.”
Miami returns all of their starting receivers in 2021, but overall, the group struggled with drops and consistency issues last year. Still, Rambo says he has high hopes for the unit as a whole this coming season.
“Going through mat drills, workouts, 7-on-7, throwing the ball around with the QBs, we have a lot of potential with the young guys,” Rambo said. “We want to feed off each other. They can watch me and I can help them, let them know. We just learn from each other right now, bonding.”
With a prime opportunity to take hold of a starting job at UM and further his potential pro prospects, Rambo says he’s focusing on maximizing his strengths in 2021.
“What I do best - in the weight room I go to our running backs and say `Come my way running the ball,'” Rambo said. “(My strengths are) route running, speed, getting open - that’s what you want to do… Most important is get my work done, do my thing, get to the league, do my thing.”
**After spending 4 years in the SEC, former Tennessee senior DE Deandre Johnson had his college career come full circle when he decided to transfer to the Miami Hurricanes in January, returning home to South Florida where football career originally began at Miami Southridge High.
“Last season, finishing out the season at Tennessee I had a big decision to make on whether I wanted to go pro or come back to school, got a good feeling on coming back to school,” Johnson said. “Once I hit the portal, Miami was one of the first schools to contact me and it all made sense, coming back home, a loyal fan base, a scheme that fits me. It was pretty much a no-brainer.”
In making his choice of UM, Johnson says he consulted former Miami Southridge teammates and current Hurricanes such as Dee Wiggins and Mark Pope, as well as former Canes and Miami natives Jaquan Johnson and Sheldrick Redwine.
“I had a pretty good feeling for the program, how things are run here,” Johnson said. “The U has first round picks, that’s so appealing, stuck out to me bigtime.”
Johnson has also already connected with Miami DL coach Jess Simpson, and he sees Simpson as someone that can help take his game to the next level.
"Coach Simpson is a great teacher," Johnson said. "That is the first thing I take away from him. He comes into the room with great energy and great passion. He gives it everything to coach football and I am learning a lot from him and I can’t wait to see my game progress."
As a junior in 2020, Johnson came on in his first year as a starter for the Volunteers, finishing the year with 28 tackles, 6 TFL, and 4.5 sacks.
“Last year being my first as really a full-time starter, a couple of things I felt I needed to come back and work on to improve my stock, leave college the right way, with winning,” Johnson said. “I’m just excited man, it’s a great opportunity to bring the U back to where it should be.”
