Complete Spring Practice Breakdown

Miami QBs look good first day - Heather Dinich, Espn

One of the answers Miami coach Randy Shannon is looking for this spring is who will be his backup quarterback, and all of the young players got off to a good start on Tuesday, the Canes’ first day of spring practices.

A.J. Highsmith, Spencer Whipple and Stephen Morris are all competing for the spot behind injured starter Jacory Harris.

“They didn't do anything wrong,” Shannon said, according to the school’s practice notes. “You don't know until you watch tape, but they executed some of the things on offense that we needed to get done, which was good. You see the guys stepping up.”

Here’s what each of the quarterbacks had to say about their first day of spring practice, according to Miami’s practice notes:

A.J. Highsmith

"It's a good opportunity, but I'm trying to take everything the way I did before,” he said. “I'm still working hard on and off the field, just trying to get better every day."

"It's a competition, but that's what makes us good here. We have great quarterbacks. Jacory, when he goes down, we have guys that can step in. Stephen is adjusting real well. He did well today."

Spencer Whipple (found Tommy Streeter for a gain of over 40 yards)

"I'm just going out and competing -- every rep is an opportunity,” he said. “I'm excited to be in the mix of it. I'm not trying to think of the big picture. Every day you have to just go out and try to do your best on each rep; study the play book on your off time and just be ready when your number is called."

Whipple said it’s almost easier to compete in front of his father because he’s comfortable with him.

“I've known him my whole life so he knows how to talk to me, settle me down when things aren't going right and when things are going well keep my mind right. It's just great to have him around and to be able to talk to him not over the phone, face to face."

Stephen Morris

"Being at the next level is just amazing and fun. It's a lot faster than I expected. Every time I come here (for practice) I know I have to get better. I have a lot to work on. Being here is just a great opportunity for me to learn."

"It's a completely different playbook and is a lot bigger than I expected. Coach Whipple helps me out and I have great mentors like Jacory, A.J. and Spencer who helps me out all the time.”

"Coach Whipple is great at mechanics and he helps me a lot. I'm a little antsy in the pocket once in a while. I'm going to get better at my footwork and developing the reads for coverages. I'm pretty comfortable with the playbook

University of Miami has three arms in reserve - SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN, Miami Herald

One thing appears strikingly evident after the first day of University of Miami spring football practice: The backup quarterbacks aren't transferring.
With starter Jacory Harris unable to throw during the 15 practice sessions that began Tuesday and run through the March 27 spring game, reserves A.J. Highsmith, Spencer Whipple, and newcomer Stephen Morris are eagerly sharing reps in hopes of steadily improving and eventually being named the No. 2 guy.

Last year, in late August, backups Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith both shocked the program by requesting to be released before eventually transferring to separate schools. Suddenly, Highsmith became the backup by default, and Whipple -- the son of offensive coordinator Mark Whipple -- transferred to UM from Massachusetts to run the scout team.

`IT'S COMPETITION'

Highsmith probably could have been used more, given that Harris -- now recuperating from surgery on his throwing hand -- was often battered and bruised during a season in which UM allowed 35 sacks. But the son of former UM great Alonzo Highsmith only got into three games and passed six times, completing four for 53 yards and a touchdown.

``I always want to play,'' Highsmith said. ``But you know that's up to Coach. I don't press the playing time. I just go with the flow of things. Everything is even as of now. It's competition, but that's what makes us good here. Stephen is adjusting real well, Spencer is doing well and I think we all have fun out there just trying to get better.''

On Tuesday, all three backups were eager and excited to be getting the extra action. Morris, a 17-year-old who graduated early from Miami Monsignor Pace to begin college this semester, seemed humble and realistic about his role at this point. With Highsmith and Whipple way ahead in terms of knowing the playbook, Morris is intent on devouring an offense considerably more complex and diverse than in high school.

``It was monumental for me to get here early,'' said Morris, 6-2 and 185 pounds. ``It's a completely different playbook, a lot bigger than I expected. Every day I go in and ask coach Whipple, `What's for today?' And he helps me out every single time. . . . Coach Whipple is great on mechanics. I'm a little antsy in the pocket once in a while. I'm trying to get better with my footwork and developing the reads and coverages.''

Morris said his first practice experience ``was just overwhelming,'' though he was composed enough to toss two touchdowns, one of them to LaRon Byrd. ``It was great to be out there. I was a little nervous, but after that you get your first completion and you're fine.''

`ALMOST KIND OF DESTINY'
Whipple, 21 next month, also seemed pleased. The 6-2, 210-pound left-hander was a walk-on last season, but was recently awarded a scholarship. His college football career began at Pitt, continued at UMass and now will likely end in Coral Gables.

``It was almost kind of destiny because when I was growing up, I was a really big Miami fan for no particular reason,'' Whipple, a junior, said.

``I just loved them a lot when [Ken] Dorsey was playing quarterback. He was my favorite player. Then when I was at UMass and my dad came down here I just started thinking, `Maybe there's a shot I can come play down here for him.' ''

Whipple said it's not awkward having his father as the quarterbacks coach. ``My dad does a good job of being unbiased,'' he said. ``He's going to play the best player and organize the depth chart accordingly.

``Every rep is an opportunity. I'm excited to be in the mix.''

Canes focusing on creating turnovers this spring - Heather Dinich, Espn

After six weeks of weight lifting, Miami begins spring practices today, and if the defense isn’t ready to create some turnovers, the Canes better be ready to run.

A top priority for Miami this spring will be takeaways, coach Randy Shannon said, and he’s been tinkering with some ways to motivate the players after each practice if they’re not stripping the ball, recovering fumbles and snagging interceptions. Whether it’s running “gassers” at the end of practices or other competitions, Shannon said he’ll find a way to inspire his players.

“We’ve got to create turnovers,” Shannon said in a recent phone interview. “We’re not creating enough turnovers to give us field position in certain games and do certain things. That’s the one thing we’re having problems with that we’re not getting. We’ve got to do it. We can’t just sit back and say, ‘We’re going to be OK on defense.’ We’ve got to create turnovers.”

Miami gained 21 turnovers last year (12 fumble recoveries and nine interceptions), but the top-ranked teams in that category had at least 30. The Canes ranked seventh in the ACC in turnover margin, but for the second straight season they struggled to be among the top half of the nation’s interception leaders. In 2009, Miami was tied for 87th. It was an improvement, considering the Canes were last in the country in 2008 -- 119th -- with only four.

The good news, Shannon said, was that his running backs didn’t lose the ball once last year.

“It was amazing,” Shannon said. “Not one running back turned the ball over last year. Now Jacory [Harris] got stripped a couple of times, but that’s something that tells you, if your running backs aren’t turning the ball over, we’ve got to get more turnovers on defense.”

Hurricanes Football: Now With Depth - JANIE CAMPBELL, NBC

Miami started spring workouts yesterday without mangled starting quarterback Jacory Harris, but the day was just as notable for who was there as who wasn't: A.J. Highsmith, Stephen Morris, and Spencer Whipple, all happily reporting for duty at QB2-4.

After all, it was just August that saw the last of three backup QBs in six months head for lesser programs in search of a bigger role. First Robert Marve bailed in a ridiculous snit over his inability to throw interceptions at whimsy and retain his job at the same time, then Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith left 13 days before the first game after mistaking a letter of intent for a fast-food line to the first team unit.

Miami then spent a season with just Highsmith, a true freshman, on hand to relieve Jacory -- and if Highsmith hadn't only just arrived in Coral Gables, Harris might not have ended the season looking like a mummy rolled in athletic tape and scheduled for surgery.

So along with prematurely playing out next season through meaningless practice reports, Hurricanes fans have the satisfaction of knowing that someone -- any one of them -- will be that much closer to stepping in as a servicable replacement if the offensive line doesn't do its duty (again). Our money's on Highsmith, with a year of the playbook under his belt; Morris, an early enrollee from nearby Monsignor Pace, is a developable 17; Whipple, the offensive coordinator's son, has the smarts if not, perhaps, the tools -- he transferred in to run the scout team from the backup spot at Division II UMass.

It's got to be a huge relief for the 'Canes, even if at this point none of the three is the second coming of Jim Kelly. Able bodies at all spots are what the Hurricanes have been lacking most of all, something that Shannon has been working toward since taking over a program that sported punter Brian Monroe as a third-string wide receiver.

And how's it going?

"They didn't do anything wrong," Shannon said, which in our interpretive experience means, "Better than nothing."

And amen to that.

`Canes searching for backup quarterback - Shandel Richardson, Sun Sentinel

With starter Jacory Harris out for the spring, backups A.J. Highsmith, Spencer Whipple and Stephen Morris will receive the reps

CORAL GABLES — Their roles were switched following the first day of spring football practice.

Instead of being in front of the microphones and television cameras, Miami Hurricanes quarterback Jacory Harris stood in the background. He joined in the media huddle Tuesday at Greentree Practice Fields while his backups garnered the attention.

With Harris out for the spring because of offseason hand surgery, the biggest story is who will take advantage of the extended playing time and earn the No. 2 quarterback spot. The competitors, A.J. Highsmith, Spencer Whipple and Stephen Morris, enter with an even start, one hoping to emerge during the next month of practices.

UM coach Randy Shannon said Highsmith has a "slight advantage," but called it an open competition.

"We always start from scratch," Shannon said. "It's going to be a big challenge for (Highsmith). He may line up with the (starters) on the first day, but everybody has to get better. You can't stay the same."

Highsmith, a sophomore, is the most experienced of the group. He served as Harris' backup last season, his most action coming in a 48-16 victory against Florida A & M. He completed 3 of 3 passes for 38 yards and a touchdown.

"It's a good opportunity, but I'm trying to take everything the same way as I did before," said Highsmith, whose father, Alonzo, played running back at UM and in the NFL. "I'm still working hard on and off the field. I just want to get better everyday … It's not really a big deal. We're just trying to have fun out there."

Highsmith isn't the only member of the bunch with a well-known father. Whipple's dad, Mark, is the Hurricanes' offensive coordinator. He previously played at Pittsburgh and Massachusetts before transferring to UM last year so he could reunite with his father. Whipple, a redshirt junior, spent most of last season on the scout team, but is fully in the mix for a larger role.

"It's a lot faster than scout team," Whipple said. "…Every rep is just an opportunity. I'm not trying to focus on the big picture."

Morris, a freshman, is the underdog in the competition. Just a few weeks ago, he was completing his high school requirements at Miami Monsignor Pace. As an early-enrollee, he's began the process of learning the playbook and adapting to the college level. He said he's already benefited from working with Harris, who approached him about being a mentor.

"I think it was monumental for me to get here early," Morris said. "The coaches really stressed it, to understand the playbook and learn the playbook. That's whole point of spring is so coaches can go over the basics with you."

Hurricanes’ Tyler Horn center of attention this spring - Jorge Milian, PalmBeachPost.com

You’ve heard of three-star, four-star and five-star prospects.

Then there’s Tyler Horn, the Hurricanes’ junior center.
“I was a no-star kid who got a shot to play football at the University of Miami,” Horn said.

Horn, a native of Memphis, Tenn., isn’t exaggerating. Besides UM, the only schools to offer Horn a scholarship were Arkansas State, FiU and Central Arkansas, a Division I-AA school.

Fast forward three-plus years and Horn is the favorite to be UM’s starting center when the 2010 season opens on Sept. 2 against Florida A&M.

After redshirting as a freshman and barely playing the last two seasons, Horn has been given the first crack to win the starting job left vacant by the graduation of A.J. Trump. That opportunity began on Tuesday when UM opened spring practice.

“The way I see it, it’s my job, but I got to go out and take it,” said Horn, listed at 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds. “[Indianapolis Colts center] Jeff Saturday could come in and I would still feel like it’s my spot. That’s the way I’m going to look at it.”

The only spring competition for Horn comes from Shane McDermott, the Palm Beach Central grad who enrolled at UM in January. Another offensive lineman – most likely guard Brandon Washington – could be moved to center, but coach Randy Shannon made it clear he’d like to see Horn grab hold of the starting job.

“It’s about time for him,” Shannon said. “He’s been around, has been on offensive line for a while. Now it’s time for him to make that jump.”

Horn has limited playing experience. He played just a few snaps against Charleston Southern in 2008 and appeared in seven games in 2009, although he saw action almost entirely during garbage time.

“I haven’t played a lot,” Horn said. “But I’ve been here a long time and know the offense. What I have gotten is a lot of mental reps. I may not have been playing, but I know every single play and everything that’s happening. Now it’s time to go out there and get the experience on the field. That will come with time.”

Horn said he spent the past couple of months prepping for spring practice “by packing a lunch and spending the day watching film.” He likens the 15 practices this spring to a “job offer.”

“No different than if I was going to work for FedEx or anybody else,” Horn said. “I have to prove myself.”

Despite his lack of experience, Horn is convinced that’s going to happen. Asked if he visualized himself starting the 2010 opener, Horn responded: “Absolutely. No doubt in my mind.”

A few other notes:

….Shannon said that defensive tackle Marcus Forston will not participate in spring practice. Forston was redshirted last season because of a leg injury. UM previously listed Forston as “limited” this spring.

….Shannon was full of praise for running back Storm Johnson, one of six freshmen to enroll at UM in January. “Fast, a big kid that’s electrifying, very fast,” Shannon said of Johnson, a 5-foot-11, 210-pounder from Loganville, Ga. “He has some track ability in him, is very quick. He’s a big guy, [but] not a fullback. A Mike James type guy, maybe a little faster than Mike. You take those guys that can run because they give you an extra dimension in the open field. I’m kind of excited about that a little bit.”

….Spencer Whipple, one of three quarterbacks battling for the No. 2 job behind Jacory Harris, said he is now on scholarship. Whipple arrived at UM last fall as a walk-on.

….Former UM star Warren Sapp, arrested earlier this month and charged with domestic violence after allegedly choking his girlfriend, attended Tuesday night’s basketball game between the Hurricanes and Virginia at the BankUnited Center. Sapp was introduced to the crowd. Is there no shame?