17 Days to Miami Football: Waynmon Steed hopes to break LB rotation
Waynmon Steed enters his redshirt junior season after missing 2019 with an injury hoping to break the rotation at linebacker on the Miami football team.
Waynmon Steed is hoping to break in the rotation for the Miami football team at linebacker as a redshirt junior after missing the 2019 season to recover from offseason knee surgery. After redshirting as a true freshman in 2017, Steed recorded three tackles, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery in three games in 2018.
It has been a long road for Steed during his Miami career after being the 25th ranked inside LB in the Class of 2017. Steed was stuck behind four-year starters Shaq Quarterman, Michael Pinckney and Zach McCloud in 2018. McCloud returns in 2020 after redshirting last season and will be one of the two starters at LB.
Steed suffered through injuries during his high school career. Playing for Miami Central, Steed tore his anterior cruciate ligament during senior year and missed his junior season in high school with a shoulder injury. Steed is hopefully recovered from his knee injury last year and ready to contribute at least on special teams.
Miami co-defensive coordinator Blake Baker has been impressed with the hard work Steed and fellow LB Bradley Jennings Jr. have put in to return to playing shape this season. Jennings is challenging for a starting position at middle LB. The hard work they have put in is a credit to their perseverance.
Blake Baker on LBs Waynmon Steed and Bradley Jennings, Jr.: "They have exceeded any expectations that I've had. They both looked great...They've really matured from a mentality standpoint. They know how quickly the game can be taken away from them...I'm so happy with those two."
— Christy Chirinos (@ChristyChirinos) August 16, 2020
"“They have (been able to do everything) and that’s a credit to those two young men and the training staff…They have exceeded any expectation I have had. They both have looked great. I didn’t know how they would respond from serious injuries and being out for over a year really, both of them.Those two guys are playing their tails off….They’re smart. They’ve been in the system for a long time, but they’ve really matured just from a mentality standpoint. They know how quickly the game can be taken away from them–injuries tend to do that to guys.”"
Steed had a good performance in the second scrimmage for the Miami football team on Saturday night with five tackles. After lacking depth at LB in 2019, the Hurricanes will have many more players available at the position this season. Steed should be a part of the rotation at LB.
Next. 17 Days until Miami football: Peyton Matocha. dark
The competition to start at LB is open for the first time at Miami since 2016. Jennings, sophomore Sam Brooks and redshirt freshman Avery Huff are the leading candidates to start next to McCloud. Steed and Jennings are great stories and the epitome of what a Miami football player should be.