Manny Diaz expects more consistency from WRs or lose their jobs
Miami Hurricanes wide receivers Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins were often plagued by drops last season. Pope and Wiggins have the ability to make big plays but need more consistency this season according to head coach Manny Diaz during an appearance on the Joe Rose Show on WQAM on Sunday.
Pope was third on Miami last season with 33 receptions for 403 yards and added two touchdowns. Wiggins was fourth with 31 for 358 and three TDs. Miami will have far more depth and experience at WR this season. The Hurricanes added Oklahoma transfer WR Charleston Rambo who is expected to start.
Rambo has been sensational this spring and has likely secured one of the starting WR spots with senior Mike Harley who will be the first team slot receiver. Pope and Wiggins will compete to be the other first-team WR. If Pope and Wiggins cannot raise their level of play there are WRs behind they challenging to play.
Freshmen Xavier Restrepo and Keyshawn Smith had outstanding springs and appear to be ready to contribute this season. Restrepo has been compared to former Miami slot receiver Braxton Berrios who led Miami in receptions, receiving yards and TDs in 2017. Smith had two TDs in the spring game on Sunday
"“You want that to be, pardon the pun, in their hands…Ideally for our program to get to the way we want to get it to you’ve got to have the level of consistency to be able to compete. If not, someone is going to take your job. That’s building the depth.That’s what we didn’t have a year ago, because, to use the wide receiver room as an example, all the backups were all basically true freshman because, guess what, they all missed spring and summer and weren’t able to function at that level.”Courtesy Miami Herald"
Miami also returns redshirt freshman Jeremiah Payton and freshmen Michael Redding III and Daz Worsham at WR. Incoming freshmen Romello Brinson, Jacolby George and Breshard Smith will arrive later this summer. If Pope and Wiggins continue to drop passes there are eight WRs behind them challenging for snaps.
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The depth Miami has will provide Manny Diaz and his staff the ability to get the most out of their WRs in 2021. Miami wants to play fast on offense. Diaz and his staff have spoken during the offseason that the Hurricanes will ideally have eight or nine WRs ready to compete for snaps in 2021.