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Offseason Additions: Jose Borregales (Tranferred from FIU)
Offseason Departures: Jack Spicer (Graduation), Bubba Baxa (Transferred to Houston)
Heading into 2019, Miami’s kicking game was relatively stable after Bubba Baxa had a solid freshman year and he was projected to take the next step as a sophomore, while it was their punting game was considered a disaster with an unproven JUCO recruit taking over. However, Louis Hedley ended up being a revelation for the Canes in 2019, taking a punting game that had finished last in the ACC in yards per punt for two straight seasons (38.7 ypp in 2017, 38.3 ypp in 2018) and moving the needle up to 6th in the conference (43.9 ypp in 2019); the Australian is back for more as a redshirt junior in 2020.
Instead, it was Baxa and the kicking game that struggled mightily, finishing the year 12-20 on FG attempts (60%) and directly leading to losses in some cases. Things bottomed out in the OT loss to Georgia Tech where Baxa and Turner Davidson missed chip-shot FG’s of 34, 27, and 25-yards in regulation. Eventually, Miami’s third kicker in Camden Price was able to stabilize things a bit in the second half of the season, as he connected on 6 of 7 (86%) FG attempts, with a long of 32-yards, and was perfect on 18 XP’s. Still, Miami did not trust him outside of the 30-39 yard range and went for it on fourth down every time if the FG distance was 40 yards and out.
Baxa is gone, and while the redshirt sophomore and former walk-on Price returns on scholarship this year, the kicking job in 2020 will go to FIU senior transfer Jose Borregales, who hit on multiple 50+ yard field goals to help FIU upset the Hurricanes last season. A Lou Groza Award finalist for the nation’s top kicker in 2018, Borregales is 50-66 (76%) on FG’s in his 3-year career, including a 131-134 (98%) mark on extra points. Borregales is also known for his strong leg from deep, connecting on 13-16 (81%) from 40-49 yards out, and 4-6 (67%) from 50+ yards out in his career. His arrival is expected to instantly improve Miami’s kicking woes in 2020.
Although Miami did not take a kick or punt back to the house last season, overall, the return game was a net positive for UM, especially in the punt return game, as KJ Osborn finished 4th in the country with 15.9 yards per return. However, with Osborn, DeeJay Dallas, and Jeff Thomas gone, all of Miami’s main contributors in this area have left the program. The Canes were giving multiple players opportunities to prove themselves at returner in spring, as Keyshawn Smith, Cam’Ron Harris, Mark Pope, Jaylan Knighton, and Xavier Restrepo all got looks. It’s anyone’s guess as to who emerges from that group and takes hold of the returner positions.
Sophomore Clay James had a strong first season in the long snapper role with no noticeable hiccups, and he is all set to handle those duties once again in 2020.
Bottom Line
While Miami was able to get the punting game back on track, the kicking game went completely off the rails and very obviously cost Miami a few games in 2019. The good news is things can’t get much worse in that area, and Miami is expecting a quick turnaround with the addition of Borregales. If Borregales is as advertised, UM will be able to pick up some of the easy points that evaded them last season, which by itself could directly lead to a better record for UM in 2020. You can set it and forget it with Hedley, who shined last season as a fan favorite, and the only question is if he can make the jump from good to great in 2020. The return game has done well for Miami in recent years, and UM has plenty of explosive options to choose from to continue that success this year. Who emerges from that group to get return looks will be an interesting storyline in camp.
Offseason Departures: Jack Spicer (Graduation), Bubba Baxa (Transferred to Houston)
Heading into 2019, Miami’s kicking game was relatively stable after Bubba Baxa had a solid freshman year and he was projected to take the next step as a sophomore, while it was their punting game was considered a disaster with an unproven JUCO recruit taking over. However, Louis Hedley ended up being a revelation for the Canes in 2019, taking a punting game that had finished last in the ACC in yards per punt for two straight seasons (38.7 ypp in 2017, 38.3 ypp in 2018) and moving the needle up to 6th in the conference (43.9 ypp in 2019); the Australian is back for more as a redshirt junior in 2020.
Instead, it was Baxa and the kicking game that struggled mightily, finishing the year 12-20 on FG attempts (60%) and directly leading to losses in some cases. Things bottomed out in the OT loss to Georgia Tech where Baxa and Turner Davidson missed chip-shot FG’s of 34, 27, and 25-yards in regulation. Eventually, Miami’s third kicker in Camden Price was able to stabilize things a bit in the second half of the season, as he connected on 6 of 7 (86%) FG attempts, with a long of 32-yards, and was perfect on 18 XP’s. Still, Miami did not trust him outside of the 30-39 yard range and went for it on fourth down every time if the FG distance was 40 yards and out.
Baxa is gone, and while the redshirt sophomore and former walk-on Price returns on scholarship this year, the kicking job in 2020 will go to FIU senior transfer Jose Borregales, who hit on multiple 50+ yard field goals to help FIU upset the Hurricanes last season. A Lou Groza Award finalist for the nation’s top kicker in 2018, Borregales is 50-66 (76%) on FG’s in his 3-year career, including a 131-134 (98%) mark on extra points. Borregales is also known for his strong leg from deep, connecting on 13-16 (81%) from 40-49 yards out, and 4-6 (67%) from 50+ yards out in his career. His arrival is expected to instantly improve Miami’s kicking woes in 2020.
Although Miami did not take a kick or punt back to the house last season, overall, the return game was a net positive for UM, especially in the punt return game, as KJ Osborn finished 4th in the country with 15.9 yards per return. However, with Osborn, DeeJay Dallas, and Jeff Thomas gone, all of Miami’s main contributors in this area have left the program. The Canes were giving multiple players opportunities to prove themselves at returner in spring, as Keyshawn Smith, Cam’Ron Harris, Mark Pope, Jaylan Knighton, and Xavier Restrepo all got looks. It’s anyone’s guess as to who emerges from that group and takes hold of the returner positions.
Sophomore Clay James had a strong first season in the long snapper role with no noticeable hiccups, and he is all set to handle those duties once again in 2020.
Bottom Line
While Miami was able to get the punting game back on track, the kicking game went completely off the rails and very obviously cost Miami a few games in 2019. The good news is things can’t get much worse in that area, and Miami is expecting a quick turnaround with the addition of Borregales. If Borregales is as advertised, UM will be able to pick up some of the easy points that evaded them last season, which by itself could directly lead to a better record for UM in 2020. You can set it and forget it with Hedley, who shined last season as a fan favorite, and the only question is if he can make the jump from good to great in 2020. The return game has done well for Miami in recent years, and UM has plenty of explosive options to choose from to continue that success this year. Who emerges from that group to get return looks will be an interesting storyline in camp.
