Miami Hurricanes WR Mark Pope faces crucial 2019 season

After a disappointing 2018 freshman season, Miami Hurricanes rising sophomore wide receiver Mark Pope is facing a crucial sophomore year in 2019. Pope’s freshman campaign came nowhere close to the fanfare he had entering Miami.

Mark Pope was one of two five-star signees in the 2018 Miami Hurricanes recruiting class as graded by Rivals.Com. Pope and running back Lorenzo Lingard, Miami’s other five-star signee in 2018 both had disappointing inaugural seasons in a Miami uniform.

Lingard’s underwhelming freshman season ended after six games because of a knee injury. Pope broke what had been rumored since last season, that his extreme lack of production as a freshman was due to his lack of knowledge of the playbook. With new offensive coordinator Dan Enos, Pope needs to learn a new playbook for 2019.

Pope has the talent to succeed as a collegiate WR The question remains if Pope will grasp Enos’ more complex offense enough to contribute in 2019. Miami’s starting WR corps is set for this fall. Jeff Thomas led the Hurricanes in receptions and receiving yards in 2018. Buffalo graduate transfer K.J. Osborn will make an immediate impact.

Pope acknowledged to the media on Wednesday that his poor freshman season was his fault. He took the blame for not knowing the playbook in 2018. Pope has become a divisive figure among the Miami Hurricanes fanbase. Some proclaim he will start in 2019, while others ask why he should be trusted.

Pope spoke to the media on Wednesday

after one of Manny Diaz’s youth football camps in Coral Gables. Showing maturity, Pope took full responsibility for his lack of playing time in 2018. He acknowledged that he did not receive more snaps because of his lack of knowledge in the playbook.

"“I knew it was on me. That was my fault. I wasn’t really in the playbook the way I was supposed to be in the playbook. I didn’t really learn the playbook how I was supposed to learn it. So I blame it on myself.”"

While many fans and a small number in the media previously blamed former head coach Mark Richt’s antiquated offense for Pope’s lack of playing time, the clarity Pope provided on Wednesday shows he learned the work ethic it takes to succeed in a Power Five conference. A lot of the maturing Pope had to do was adjusting to college.

Like many star athletes, Pope was able to use his skills to outplay high school opponents. In a Power Five program, it takes far more than that. Pope is aware of that now and ready to make a significant jump in production as a sophomore.

"“In high school, the only thing I ran was like a bomb, a post, a corner — all the deep routes. Just coming into a college playbook, just knowing I’ve got motions, I have to do this, I’ve got to do that.”"

Pope has been putting in hard work since the conclusion of spring practice in April. His commitment has been noticed by his teammates. Rising junior Mike Harley who is expected to be a leader among the wide receiver corps praised Pope after camp on Wednesday.

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"“Sticking out like a sore thumb right now is Mark Pope. He’s coming to work out. He’s excited. I see the maturity level in him. I see he’s gaining confidence and I’m there for him, being that big brother, patting him on the shoulder, telling him what to do and how to do stuff. As a group, we’re getting there.”"

Pope’s classmate Dee Wiggins who was a three-star player coming out of high school and surpassed Pope as a freshman was another Miami Hurricanes teammate who praised him.

"“Mark Pope is getting better every day. He’s trying to learn every position now. Not just one. From Y, Z, X, he’s getting better every day. He can have [a breakout] season, help the team even more.”"

If Pope, Wiggins and rising Sophomore Brian Hightower can improve as expected from their freshmen to sophomore seasons Miami will have one of the deepest wide receiving corps in college football. Hightower was exceptional during spring practice in 2018 and had his lone touchdown in the opening loss to LSU.

Wiggins received playing time his freshman season because he did the things like blocking that is expected more from the upperclassmen. If Miami can continue to receive the all-around play asked of their wide receivers the Hurricanes offense will have the prowess Enos’ teams have shown during his coaching career.