Will Miami Hurricanes WR Coach Ron Dugans have more expanded role?
In his annual appearance at the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt was asked a mass variety of questions. Among the topics Richt was asked about was wide receivers coach Ron Dugans.
After Miami Hurricanes players Ahmmon Richards and Jaquan Johnson’s appeared at the podium, the initial question Richt was asked at this year’s ACC Kickoff involved the turnover chain.
Even with all the questions surrounding the Miami’s and any teams’ new season the turnover chain is on the mind of the media nearly seven months after the Miami Hurricanes played their last game of 2017.
Richt’s response was classic. It was vintage of the mellow Miami Hurricanes Head Coach with a dry sense of humor. Richt was asked what his response was to in the words of the questioner was his response to the turnover chain.
"“What’s been my reaction? It’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. It’s really the greatest thing since the 10-bite sandwich, actually. People ask me about that — first of all, I didn’t know about the turnover chain until the first game.”"
Richt elaborated more on the turnover chain. Canes Warning previously covered that yesterday in a post that asked the question “Has the Miami Hurricanes turnover chain gotten in opponents heads?”
Related Story: Has Miami Hurricanes turnover chain gotten into opponents heads?
Richards and Johnson also answered questions about the now (in)famous turnover chain…depending on your perspective.
After Richt discussed the turnover chain the media present for his turn on the pulpit turned to more relevant questions. They began asking him about Miami wide receivers coach and former Florida State wide receiver Ron Dugans. Richt was asked about Dugans increased role this upcoming season and his evolution as a coach.
Richt has known Dugans since they were both at Florida State in the late 1990s. Richt was the Quarterbacks Coach and Offensive Coordinator when Dugans was a player.
Dugans joined Richt’s staff when the former Georgia Coach was hired at Miami. Dugans played three years for the Cincinnati Bengals before beginning his coaching career. Richt discussed the type of player Dugans was, his leadership of the wide receivers and his future.
"“I know what kind of player he was, tough, hard-nosed, had to earn everything he got. I’ve seen a body of work before I hired him as a professional collegiate coach and really loved what I saw.Now that I’m working with him, I wouldn’t choose any wide receiver coach in America over him. He’s a guy that not only understands what it takes as a receiver to run the routes a certain way, but he will get it out of them.He will not — he’s not interested in being their friend, he’s interested in being their mentor. He’s interested in being a role model and a guy who’s going to help them grow into a man, off the field, too.All the things I’m looking for, all the ingredients I want in a coach, he has those attributes, and I think he’s well on his way to becoming a coordinator one day and a head coach if he chooses to.”"
Richt didn’t elaborate on the media’s claim that Dugans would have a more expanded role with the Miami offense this season. In his two years on Richt’s Miami staff, Dugans has been the wide receivers coach and Passing Game Coordinator.
Dugans’ biography on the official Miami website HurricaneSports title is “Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers (Coach). Other than giving him the title of Associate Coach its hard to see Dugans have a more expanded role.
Dugans will have an exceptional group of wide receivers to work with over the next few seasons. Miami returns Richards who could push to be an All-American after dealing with injuries last season.
The Hurricanes also return a deep and talented group of upperclassmen that will be joined by one of the best wide receiver groups nationally in the Class of 2018. The players to watch among the returnees are Senior Lawrence Cager, Junior Darrell Langham and Sophomore Jeff Thomas.
Four wide receivers signed with Miami’s Storm ’18 Class. Three of them are four-star receivers. Mark Pope and Brian Hightower are the players to watch. Pope received five-stars from Rivals.Com. Hightower was the star of the Spring game with four receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Next: WR Ahmmon Richards ready to lead Miami Hurricanes by example
The other two wide receivers in Miami’s Storm ’18 Class are four-star Marquez Ezzard from Georgia and three-star Dee Wiggins. Sophomore Mike Harley and Redshirt Freshman Evidence Njoku the brother of former Miami tight end David Njoku also return for the Hurricanes.