Miami Hurricanes CB Tyrique Stevenson tries to keep team on same page
Following comments earlier in the day by Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz regarding locker room division, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson showed leadership speaking out that the team needs to stay together. There was some speculation on which Miami players could enter the transfer portal.
Offensive lineman Kai-Leon Herbert and wide receiver Jeremiah Payton have previously entered the transfer portal. Wide receivers Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins did not play in the last game against Virginia and their statuses are unknown for North Carolina on Saturday. Stevenson appears to be making an impact with Miami.
On the field, Stevenson is fifth on Miami with 20 tackles, has added one tackle for loss and is tied with CB Te’Cory Couch for the team lead with three pass breakups. Stevenson is also proving to be a team leader on and of the field. With younger Miami players getting more playing time, the veterans need to be leaders.
Stevenson had become a voice for the Miami Hurricanes football program after transferring from Georgia during the 2021 offseason. Keeping things in the locker room is the right attitude. Players discussing their issues and coming together as a team is important as Miami faces its toughest stretch in the ACC this season.
"“Keep a level head, this is a family, this is a brotherhood. If we let us [or] the outside come between us we’re ruined. Things are not going to go the way we want to if we’re all divided. We all [came] together as a team and we let everybody speak their piece so everybody understands where everybody is coming from.We all give our opinion and we all make sure that we are on the same level once we leave the locker room. It’s just football and football comes with the emotions and the anger behind some players [not] getting what they want.We just make sure that we keep all that to a minimum and remind everybody this is a family… and we need everybody.’’"
The Hurricanes travel to North Carolina on Saturday, host North Carolina State on October 23 and play at Pittsburgh on October 30. Miami is only favored to defeat the Wolfpack in the next three games by the ESPN Football Power Index. How well the Hurricanes stay together as a team will be as strong as its leadership.
Next. Miami WRs Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins could transfer. dark
A coaching staff can only do so much. The leadership of the players has to take over and set the culture. After two seasons playing for Georgia, Stevenson has seen what it takes to compete in a winning program. Diaz has spoken about the importance of players setting the culture. Stevenson is doing his best to make that happen.