Miami football passing game impressive in spring game

The quarterbacks for the Miami football team were impressive in the spring game on Friday night at DRV PNK Stadium. Starter Tyler Van Dyke had two touchdown passes and true freshman Emory Williams was accurate and added a 79-yard score to classmate Nathaniel “Ray-Ray” Joseph.

The second half featured a running clock and no tackling. The Williams to Joseph touchdown pass was in the second half. Jacurri Brown still has work to do on his accuracy after completing five passes in 11 attempts for 55 yards in the first half. Van Dyke was 13 of 18 for 184 yards and a TD in the first half.

Williams could push Brown to be the backup QB in August training camp. Brown had a few nice runs showing the athleticism he showed as a freshman in 2022. Williams completed all four of his pass attempts in the first half for 42 yards and added the 79-yard TD pass to Joseph in the second half.

Defensive lineman Rueben Bain continued to show his ability to get to the passer with three sacks. Cyrus Moss added one as well. Cornerback Darryl Porter Jr. was impressive in coverage on Colbie Young. Jacolby George, Xavier Restrepo and Young were impressive as the projected top three WRs for Miami.

Isaiah Horton and Joseph showed their ability and should be expected to compete for snaps this fall. Miami is stacked in the slot with Joseph, Restrepo and Brashard Smith. Francisco Mauigoa added a key tackle for loss versus running back Henry Parrish in the first half when the White team settled for an Andre Borregales field goal.

Borregales was impressive late with a 51-yard field goal. Parrish struggled at times with seven carries for 26 yards. Miami will have a much deeper RB corps in August training camp. Tre’Vonte Citizen will return from injury and four-star freshmen RBs Mark Fletcher and Christoper Johnson will arrive later this summer.

Fletcher and Johnson are two of nine 2023 signees who were not early enrollees. The Miami football program could lose more transfers when the spring portal window opens on Saturday. Expect Miami to be active this spring to add depth. A run-stopping defensive tackle and outside WR will be priorities and potentially depth at RB.