Miami Hurricanes new WR coach fits well with offensive staff

The hiring of former Arizona State offensive coordinator Rob Likens as the new wide receiver coach for the Miami Hurricanes is an excellent fit with new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee and offensive line coach Garin Justice.

New Miami Hurricanes wide receivers coach Rob Likens is the third hire in the 2020 offseason by Manny Diaz to the offensive staff. New offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, new offensive line coach Garin Justice and Likens all have experience as offensive coordinators in the past.

Likens was the passing coordinator and wide receivers coach at Arizona State under former Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham. After Herm Edwards replaced Graham, Likens was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2018. He remained in that position before being let go at the end of the 2019 season.

With Likens running the Sun Devils offense in 2018, Arizona State was the only Power Five program in the country with a 3,000-yard passer, 1,500-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver. N’Keal Harry had over 1,000 yards receiving for Arizona State in 2017 and ’18 before becoming a first-round pick with New England in 2019.

Likens joins the Miami Hurricanes football staff with a lot of talent to work with but not a lot of production. Rising senior Mike Harley is the only returning wide receiver on the Hurricanes roster who had more than 20 receptions in 2019. Harley finished last season with 38 receptions for 485 yards and three touchdowns.

The high tempo, spread offense that Lashlee runs should help the Miami receiving corps and the offensive line in protection. The Miami wide receivers should be put in a better position to succeed in 2020 by their strengths being better utilized and being able to get the ball in space more often with the potential to create plays.

The experience Likens has in the high tempo offenses is what ultimately led to him being the choice as the new wide receivers coach. University of Miami Sports Hall of Famer Lamar Thomas was interviewed for the position. Head coach Manny Diaz issued a statement about the hiring of Likens.

"“Rob has extensive experience with fast-paced, high-octane offenses and he can serve as a great teacher and motivator to the young men in our receivers room.”"

Likens joins the Miami Hurricanes staff to replace former wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield who left Coral Gables after one season to join the Penn State staff in the same position. Likens clearly has the ability to utilize all the talent available to him. Five different Sun Devils receivers topped 100 yards in a game in 2017.

Miami needs Likens to have a similar impact on the Hurricanes receiving corps in 2020. The Hurricanes needed to bring in former Buffalo transfer wide receiver K.J. Osborn for the 2019 season to lead Miami in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs. Getting more production at WR is critical for the Hurricanes in 2020.