By Matt Porter
CORAL GABLES – All present and accounted for.
The newest Cane is No. 81, freshman receiver Darrell Langham. The Santaluces High product, the last of UM’s 2014 signees to arrive, practiced while wearing a helmet, jersey and shorts.
Darrell Langham is the last of the 2014 signees to arrive. (instagram.com/mattyports)
Darrell Langham is the last of the 2014 signees to arrive. (instagram.com/mattyports)
In limited drill work, Langham showed he knows how to control his 6-foot-4-and-change frame.
“We’ll get him caught up, just get him in condition, be careful with him in the beginning so he doesn’t pull anything or get an injury. We’ll get him caught up between today and tomorrow. We’ll have him in [shoulder pads] by Monday.”
Quarterback Ryan Williams, who is also not fully participating in practice, spent the latter part of practice throwing to Langham.
“Definitely one of our biggest receivers,” Williams said. “Big target. Easy to throw to because he’s so big. You can put it anywhere on his body. Definitely athletic, but he still looks a little raw. Obviously it was his first day out here, but he looks like he has a high ceiling.”
If he wants to play this season, Langham will have to show a lot in a short time. He’s arriving late in a wide receiver class that includes January enrollee Braxton Berrios plus summer arrivals David Njoku and Tyre Brady. Those players are fighting for a spot along with established standouts Stacy Coley, Herb Waters, Phillip Dorsett and Malcolm Lewis. As I wrote for Saturday’s paper, UM’s wide receiver corps looks like it could be the deepest in the ACC.
This is the first time in Golden’s four seasons all players who signed scholarships qualified. Among the players who missed the cut: wide receiver Derrick Griffin (2013), wide receiver Angelo Jean-Louis (2012), defensive linemen Antonio Kinard and running back Kevin Grooms (2011).
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Golden had high praise for senior defensive end Anthony Chickillo.
“The kid made a commitment back in February and he really, to be honest with you, hasn’t been the same kid, hasn’t been the same guy,” Golden said. “He’s got his spirit back, he’s got his focus back. We asked him to do a lot in his career and too much before he was ready to do it. Now he has an opportunity, his body has caught up with his experience and his technique.”
As a whole, Golden is pleased with the defensive line.
“Than a year ago, just fresher and stronger, there’s no question,” he said. “Fresher and stronger.
“We’ve got a lot to prove, so I’m pleased with the direction, but I’m going to temper it ‘til we see it in situation.”
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Freshman Kc McDermott’s quick feet are helping him stay ahead of Taylor Gadbois as the starting right tackle.
“Kc is really good with his feet for a big man, that’s what’s allowing him to compete,” Golden said. “He’s smart and he’s got great feet so I’m pleased with him.”
The five offensive linemen in orange shirts – left tackle Ereck Flowers, left guard Jon Feliciano, center Shane McDermott, right guard Danny Isidora and Kc McDermott – have remained together all camp. “That’s the five right now,” Golden said, adding that he feels good about guard/center Alex Gall, guard Hunter Wells and Gadbois.
“We have [Nos.] 6, 7, and 8, which is one group and the next group, 9, 10, and 11,” Golden said. “That’s how we’re breaking it down right now, we need 6, 7 and 8 to get in that first group, 9, 10 and 11 to jump up as well.”
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There isn’t much separation between the 1s and 2s, or 2s and 3s, Golden said.
“I would say the majority of our team is scratching and clawing right now,” Golden said. “I don’t think there’s going to be that kind of separation until after the second scrimmage and there’s a lot of guys in the mix right now. There’s a lot of jobs open.”
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No change in orange or black shirts. The offensive team leaders (orange) were the starting five offensive linemen, along with receivers Rashawn Scott and Phillip Dorsett, running back Duke Johnson, tight ends Clive Walford and Beau Sandland and walk-on fullback Ronnie Regula.
The defensive team leaders (black) were nose tackle Earl Moore, Chickillo, rush end Trent Harris, linebackers Darrion Owens, Denzel Perryman and Raphael Kirby, cornerback Antonio Crawford and safety Dallas Crawford.
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The Canes went full-tackle for the first time all camp, and with that came a few scraps.
Defensive tackles Courtel Jenkins, a true freshman, and junior Corey King exchanged punches at the end of a drill. As the defensive linemen jogged to the next drill station, defensive line coach Jethro Franklin caught up to a heated Jenkins, offered a few words of advice, and finished with, “Now put your helmet on, and take it out on these [fellows].”
During another hard-contact drill, freshman cornerback Ryan Mayes went after freshman receiver Braxton Berrios. The two were separated before punches landed
