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Hanging out at the Opening Miami Regional was a homecoming of sorts for Miami Hurricanes WR Lawrence Cager. As a class of 2015 guy, Cager participated in the Opening camps during the 2014 offseason, and actually earned an invite to the Opening Finals in Oregon. So, Cager was invited to the Miami Regional 2 weekends ago as an alum and, although it was a bit of a different experience watching on from the sidelines, he enjoyed being around the younger guys nonetheless.
“A couple guys (impressed me), the one kid from Aquinas, he won the receiver MVP (Marcus Rosemy),” Cager said. “A couple guys that stood out, but overall it was a very good camp.”
The 2017 season was a relief of sorts for Cager. He was coming off a torn ACL injury suffered in the 2016 off-season, missing the entire 2016 season, and after sitting out for so long, was raring to get back on the field and prove he could still play at a high level. Despite a few hiccups along the way, Cager was able to do just that.
“It went better than what everybody expected,” Cager said. “Had a little setback, got injured mid-season, but came back strong. I’m just optimistic for next season and ready to go.”
The highlight of Cager’s season? That was none other than the final game of the year, the Orange Bowl against Wisconsin. Saving his best for last, Cager hauled in 4 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown in which he changed up his route on a broken play and was all alone to make the score. So, coming off a career-best game, he hopes to use that momentum to springboard himself into 2018.
“Of course, that’s what I feel like I can do every time (play like the Wisconsin game),” Cager said. “All the coaches know that, they were just waiting for the right moment. With all the guys coming back, me coming back, Ahmmon (Richards), and Jeff (Thomas), we’re ready to go.”
Like Cager last season, in 2018, the Hurricanes will have another of their big-time WR’s trying to come back from a season-ending knee injury. Richards suffered a meniscus injury late in the season during practice before the ACC Championship against Clemson, missing both that game and the Orange Bowl, and underwent surgery to repair the damage in his knee. Cager updated his progress a bit.
“Yeah he’s feeling good, getting healthy right now, getting his leg stronger,” Cager said on Richards. “He’ll be ready for the season and we’re gonna be good.”
When asked if the Miami receiver group would be a strength this season, Cager didn’t hesitate.
“We’re the best receiving corps in the ACC,” Cager said. “At least, that’s our goal.”
The Canes had a huge 2017 in which they rose in the polls to be considered the #2 team in the nation at one point, were the talk of the college football world for weeks at a time, and even experienced a few firsts: Miami had their first 10 win season in 14 years and went to their first ACC Championship in 2017. But 2018 will be about maintaining that level of performance and building to the next step.
“We had a good season last year and I think we need to build off that,” Cager said. “Ultimately, I think we’ll end up in the college football playoff. We’re just going to take it one opponent at a time, starting with LSU.”
Speaking of LSU, even though the opener against the Tigers is 6 months away, has Cager been peaking ahead at all to what he might see against that LSU defense?
“I’ve been looking at tape (on LSU) since the season ended.”
Less than a month away now, spring practice is slowly creeping upon us, and Cager views the field at Greentree as an opportunity.
“Spring’s always a time to get better as a team, challenge each other, see what the young guys got,” said Cager.
The Canes signed 4 wide receivers in the 2018 class, and 2 are already on campus as early enrollees: Brian Hightower and Daquiris Wiggins. How have the young pass-catchers melded with the existing roster so far?
“They’re looking good,” Cager said. “It’s all love. I don’t know if other schools do it, but we try to bring in the new guys with us, not isolate them and let them figure out things on their own. So, they working hard and they’ll have to work at the same pace as we do. We’re gonna be good.”
“A couple guys (impressed me), the one kid from Aquinas, he won the receiver MVP (Marcus Rosemy),” Cager said. “A couple guys that stood out, but overall it was a very good camp.”
The 2017 season was a relief of sorts for Cager. He was coming off a torn ACL injury suffered in the 2016 off-season, missing the entire 2016 season, and after sitting out for so long, was raring to get back on the field and prove he could still play at a high level. Despite a few hiccups along the way, Cager was able to do just that.
“It went better than what everybody expected,” Cager said. “Had a little setback, got injured mid-season, but came back strong. I’m just optimistic for next season and ready to go.”
The highlight of Cager’s season? That was none other than the final game of the year, the Orange Bowl against Wisconsin. Saving his best for last, Cager hauled in 4 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown in which he changed up his route on a broken play and was all alone to make the score. So, coming off a career-best game, he hopes to use that momentum to springboard himself into 2018.
“Of course, that’s what I feel like I can do every time (play like the Wisconsin game),” Cager said. “All the coaches know that, they were just waiting for the right moment. With all the guys coming back, me coming back, Ahmmon (Richards), and Jeff (Thomas), we’re ready to go.”
Like Cager last season, in 2018, the Hurricanes will have another of their big-time WR’s trying to come back from a season-ending knee injury. Richards suffered a meniscus injury late in the season during practice before the ACC Championship against Clemson, missing both that game and the Orange Bowl, and underwent surgery to repair the damage in his knee. Cager updated his progress a bit.
“Yeah he’s feeling good, getting healthy right now, getting his leg stronger,” Cager said on Richards. “He’ll be ready for the season and we’re gonna be good.”
When asked if the Miami receiver group would be a strength this season, Cager didn’t hesitate.
“We’re the best receiving corps in the ACC,” Cager said. “At least, that’s our goal.”
The Canes had a huge 2017 in which they rose in the polls to be considered the #2 team in the nation at one point, were the talk of the college football world for weeks at a time, and even experienced a few firsts: Miami had their first 10 win season in 14 years and went to their first ACC Championship in 2017. But 2018 will be about maintaining that level of performance and building to the next step.
“We had a good season last year and I think we need to build off that,” Cager said. “Ultimately, I think we’ll end up in the college football playoff. We’re just going to take it one opponent at a time, starting with LSU.”
Speaking of LSU, even though the opener against the Tigers is 6 months away, has Cager been peaking ahead at all to what he might see against that LSU defense?
“I’ve been looking at tape (on LSU) since the season ended.”
Less than a month away now, spring practice is slowly creeping upon us, and Cager views the field at Greentree as an opportunity.
“Spring’s always a time to get better as a team, challenge each other, see what the young guys got,” said Cager.
The Canes signed 4 wide receivers in the 2018 class, and 2 are already on campus as early enrollees: Brian Hightower and Daquiris Wiggins. How have the young pass-catchers melded with the existing roster so far?
“They’re looking good,” Cager said. “It’s all love. I don’t know if other schools do it, but we try to bring in the new guys with us, not isolate them and let them figure out things on their own. So, they working hard and they’ll have to work at the same pace as we do. We’re gonna be good.”
