Three days to Miami football: Veterans Mike Harley and Gilbert Frierson
Senior wide receiver Mike Harley and redshirt sophomore striker Gilbert Frierson add veteran leadership to the Miami football team in 2020.
Senior wide receiver Mike Harley and redshirt sophomore striker Gilbert Frierson are ready to step into bigger roles in 2020. Harley is entering his second season as a starter and Frierson is the projected starter at striker for the first time. Harley led returning WRs for the Miami football team in receptions and receiving yards in 2019.
Harley had 38 receptions for 485 yards and three TDs last season. As a senior, Harley will lead a mostly inexperienced receiving corps. Juniors Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins will likely become full-time starters with Harley for the first time. Pope started one game as a sophomore and Wiggins made five starts in 2019.
Harley has increased his output each season. As a sophomore in 2018, Harley had 21 receptions for 240 yards. In the new up-tempo, power spread offense, Harley will likely start in the slot and should have a career year as a senior. Rhett Lashlee led SMU to prolific numbers in 2019 and the Miami offense should improve.
Frierson has 15 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception and three pass breakups in 2019 backing up senior Romeo Finley at safety. The 6’1, 205 defensive back signed with Miami as a CB in 2018 before being converted to striker. Frierson is being pushed by sophomore Keontra Smith at striker.
As a former CB, Frierson is stronger in pass coverage than as a tackler. Smith is a former safety that has more experience playing in the box than Frierson. Frierson and Smith will likely rotate at striker. The decision on who plays will likely depend on the situation in the game. Frierson is more experienced at striker.
Next. Three days to Miami football: Jaylan Knighton and Keontra Smith. dark
After giving up a game-deciding TD against Florida in the season opener in 2019, Frierson greatly improved. Frierson was targeted 16 times in 2019 and allowed seven receptions for 80 yards with an interception. According to Pro Football Focus, not surprisingly, Frierson’s strength as a defender in 2019 was in pass coverage.