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Miami Hurricanes WR Charleston Rambo is experiencing his first spring at UM after transferring in from Oklahoma over the offseason, and he had a big second scrimmage over the weekend when he racked up 7 catches for 107 yards and a TD.
“It was about being on point with my quarterbacks, working different routes after practice, after workouts to get us better, on the same page,” Rambo said of his scrimmage performance. “Being in the scrimmage, on the same page, making all the catches, seven targets, seven catches. Making every uncatchable ball catchable, trying to get better.”
After spending his first three seasons of play at Oklahoma, Rambo admits he is still getting comfortable in OC Rhett Lashlee’s system, as well as trying to adjust to the different style of DB play at UM.
“Coming here, being here, it’s a lot different,” Rambo said. “I see a lot more man than zone. Coming here, being competitive, going against DB’s that come with that edge, I have to come with that edge… Seeing Tyrique (Stevenson) and DJ Ivey every day, they’re both 6’0”, 6’1”, both long and strong. I work different releases on both of them, get better, compete with both of them. That’s what we do every day. We’re getting each other better.”
The WR group was a sore spot for the offense overall last season; Rambo was brought in to help change that, and he sees the unit as showing improvement throughout the spring thus far.
“When I got here, there were a lot of things in the receiver room we didn’t do that we’re doing now,” Rambo said. “We had two scrimmages, got better in both of them. Just being around the guys every day, we’re feeding off each other.”
The Canes are sporting a young group of quarterbacks under center this spring, but Rambo feels they’ve worked well with the receivers and within the offense as a whole.
“With the quarterbacks we have right now, we’re making plays, the outside receivers,” Rambo said. “We have some guys here that are going to make plays, and I know guys will make plays from the backfield and on the outside.”
While Rambo works to get acclimated to Miami’s offense and QB’s, he has yet to go through full practices with the Canes’ starting QB in D’Eriq King, who is out this spring recovering from a knee injury. Still, Rambo has high expectations for King’s return.
"He’s a good quarterback, can put the ball there... just waiting for him to get through the rehab process," Rambo said of King. “He almost reminds me of Jalen Hurts."
In addition to his receiver duties, Rambo has also been taking reps at punt returner on special teams, an area where UM struggled in 2020.
“Catch the ball, make a play,” Rambo said of his mentality on punt return. “They’re looking for someone to go back there and make plays.”
**Last season, S Avantae Williams missed his entire freshman year at UM while recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in high school, but the highly-touted recruit stayed ready in waiting for his moment, and Williams was able to return to the field this spring to start making a case for playing time in 2021.
“It hurt to not be out here with the guys, but I had hard work in the offseason, so I was ready when my name was called,” Williams said. “I was in the weight room a lot, putting on weight, watching a lot of film, was able to do some drills, that’s about it.”
The Canes have a veteran contingent of players on the back end with safeties Bubba Bolden, Amari Carter, and Gurvan Hall all returning, but Williams still hopes to carve out a role in the rotation and add depth to the unit.
"I'm thankful they came back, and James (Williams) coming in, we'll help him fit in the defense so we can be more deep in the back end, all make an impact,” Williams said. “Basically, I’ve been just switching from both free and strong safety.”
While many of the Hurricanes’ DB’s are still getting know new DB coach Travaris Robinson, Williams is an exception in that he built a strong relationship with Robinson when Robinson tried to recruit him to South Carolina two years ago.
“I met him at South Carolina, have a great relationship with him,” Williams said of Robinson. “One of the best coaches I’ve ever had.”
With Williams praising Robinson for his teaching abilities, he also mentioned Chief of Staff Ed Reed as someone that has been giving him pointers as well.
“He is giving us ways to learn the defense better, play faster,” Williams said of Reed.
Ultimately, Williams is just excited to be back on the field this spring and playing the game he loves as he looks to fulfill the promise he showed coming out of DeLand in the class of 2020.
“I just love the game - anytime I can I watch film, ask extra questions, I will. I just love being physical and running around,” Williams said. “My goal is just grinding, being more fluent in the back end, getting a lot of playing time and being fast and helping on special teams.”
“It was about being on point with my quarterbacks, working different routes after practice, after workouts to get us better, on the same page,” Rambo said of his scrimmage performance. “Being in the scrimmage, on the same page, making all the catches, seven targets, seven catches. Making every uncatchable ball catchable, trying to get better.”
After spending his first three seasons of play at Oklahoma, Rambo admits he is still getting comfortable in OC Rhett Lashlee’s system, as well as trying to adjust to the different style of DB play at UM.
“Coming here, being here, it’s a lot different,” Rambo said. “I see a lot more man than zone. Coming here, being competitive, going against DB’s that come with that edge, I have to come with that edge… Seeing Tyrique (Stevenson) and DJ Ivey every day, they’re both 6’0”, 6’1”, both long and strong. I work different releases on both of them, get better, compete with both of them. That’s what we do every day. We’re getting each other better.”
The WR group was a sore spot for the offense overall last season; Rambo was brought in to help change that, and he sees the unit as showing improvement throughout the spring thus far.
“When I got here, there were a lot of things in the receiver room we didn’t do that we’re doing now,” Rambo said. “We had two scrimmages, got better in both of them. Just being around the guys every day, we’re feeding off each other.”
The Canes are sporting a young group of quarterbacks under center this spring, but Rambo feels they’ve worked well with the receivers and within the offense as a whole.
“With the quarterbacks we have right now, we’re making plays, the outside receivers,” Rambo said. “We have some guys here that are going to make plays, and I know guys will make plays from the backfield and on the outside.”
While Rambo works to get acclimated to Miami’s offense and QB’s, he has yet to go through full practices with the Canes’ starting QB in D’Eriq King, who is out this spring recovering from a knee injury. Still, Rambo has high expectations for King’s return.
"He’s a good quarterback, can put the ball there... just waiting for him to get through the rehab process," Rambo said of King. “He almost reminds me of Jalen Hurts."
In addition to his receiver duties, Rambo has also been taking reps at punt returner on special teams, an area where UM struggled in 2020.
“Catch the ball, make a play,” Rambo said of his mentality on punt return. “They’re looking for someone to go back there and make plays.”
**Last season, S Avantae Williams missed his entire freshman year at UM while recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in high school, but the highly-touted recruit stayed ready in waiting for his moment, and Williams was able to return to the field this spring to start making a case for playing time in 2021.
“It hurt to not be out here with the guys, but I had hard work in the offseason, so I was ready when my name was called,” Williams said. “I was in the weight room a lot, putting on weight, watching a lot of film, was able to do some drills, that’s about it.”
The Canes have a veteran contingent of players on the back end with safeties Bubba Bolden, Amari Carter, and Gurvan Hall all returning, but Williams still hopes to carve out a role in the rotation and add depth to the unit.
"I'm thankful they came back, and James (Williams) coming in, we'll help him fit in the defense so we can be more deep in the back end, all make an impact,” Williams said. “Basically, I’ve been just switching from both free and strong safety.”
While many of the Hurricanes’ DB’s are still getting know new DB coach Travaris Robinson, Williams is an exception in that he built a strong relationship with Robinson when Robinson tried to recruit him to South Carolina two years ago.
“I met him at South Carolina, have a great relationship with him,” Williams said of Robinson. “One of the best coaches I’ve ever had.”
With Williams praising Robinson for his teaching abilities, he also mentioned Chief of Staff Ed Reed as someone that has been giving him pointers as well.
“He is giving us ways to learn the defense better, play faster,” Williams said of Reed.
Ultimately, Williams is just excited to be back on the field this spring and playing the game he loves as he looks to fulfill the promise he showed coming out of DeLand in the class of 2020.
“I just love the game - anytime I can I watch film, ask extra questions, I will. I just love being physical and running around,” Williams said. “My goal is just grinding, being more fluent in the back end, getting a lot of playing time and being fast and helping on special teams.”
