Miami football Day four training camp updates: last day until full pads

The Miami football team wore shoulder pads for the second consecutive day as they prepare to wear to full pads on Wednesday. The Hurricanes cannot practice in full pads until their fifth practice as mandated by the NCAA.

Not a lot of news came out of the fourth day of Miami football training camp. According to the Palm Beach Post’s Anthony Chiang, the Hurricanes only practiced for only an hour and ten minutes on Tuesday morning. That came after two-hour practices during each of the first three days of training camp.

Wednesday marks the Miami football team’s fifth day of training camp. The pads will be on.

Redshirt Freshman wide receiver Evidence Njoku was back working in position drills on Tuesday. Njoku worked off to the side with trainers on Monday. The brother of former Miami tight end David Njoku is coming off of a torn ACL suffered in October 2017.

There have not been any changes in the depth chart since the conclusion of Spring Practice. Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz told reporters on Tuesday that Freshmen are not made starters at the beginning of training camp.

None of the Miami Freshmen are expected to begin the season as starters. Four Miami football players became True Freshmen All-Americans over the last two seasons.

Wide receiver Ahmmon Richards and linebackers Shaq Quarterman and Michael Pinckney were named to the team in 2016. Navaughn Donaldson earned a spot on the 2017 team at right guard. Donaldson will be playing right tackle this season. He will likely move to left tackle in 2019.

The depth chart at running back also has the veterans ahead of the Freshmen. Lorenzo Lingard who is expected to challenge starter Travis Homer and backup DeeJay Dallas for carries this season was listed as the third-string running back. Chaing reported there is likely to be a rotation as the third-string running back.

Like the men they will be blocking for, the fullback rotation is currently being led by a more experienced player. Trayone Gray made the move from running back to fullback this Spring. Although the position is new to him, Gray is listed as the starter at fullback.

He is backed up by Freshman Realus George. George was the nation’s top high school fullback in the Class 2018. Miami Head Coach Mark Richt has said that 2017 was his first in 30 years as a coach that his team did not have a true fullback on the roster.

The defensive line has been one of the few spots on the Miami football team with a mild surprise in the depth chart. Sophomore Jonathan Garvin is currently listed as a starter at defensive end with Junior Joe Jackson.

Senior Demetrius Jackson who missed spring practice and the final four games of 2017 with a torn MCL is listed as Garvin’s backup at left defensive end. As expected Gerald Willis and Pat Bethel are currently first on the depth chart at defensive tackle.

Demetrius Jackson isn’t the only Miami football player working his way back from injury. Richards has not worn a brace through at least the first three days of camp. Chaing reported on Monday that that could change once the full pads go on on Wednesday.

The first of three training camp scrimmages is on Saturday. With Wednesday the first practice of training camp in full pads it could get quite competitive. Most of the Miami starting spots seem to be set. The battle to impress the coaching staff is always there.

Almost every position has room to move up the chart. That includes quarterback. Some of the other positions to watch are wide receiver, tight end and defensive tackle. The next three and a half weeks should make training camp interesting.