Miami Hurricane Football: News, Injuries and Updates

Although it's the offseason, there is plenty of news coming out of colleges across the country.

There are a lot of incoming freshmen about to start classes, injuries, recruiting updates and preseason awards being handed out.

Miami has had a busy summer trying to fill in roster spots across the board as well as trying to figure out who is going to step up at quarterback.

Here is a list of updates from Coral Gables so far since the spring game.

End of Spring Depth Chart

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Jacory Harris #12 of the Miami Hurricanes calls the play at the line against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on September 11, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

After a somewhat successful spring game (it would have been much better if Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris didn't throw two interceptions a piece), Al Golden posted his end of spring depth chart.

Keep in mind that some of the players were listed as starters due to injuries and lack of playing time, such as offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson.

Here is a link to the starters on offense, defense and special teams.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2d07WW/hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041811aab.html

Injuries

Miami sat a lot of starters during the spring game this year due to injuries.

In fact it was so bad that after Travis Benjamin got hurt in the game, the coaching staff had to have the wide receivers wear red jerseys, meaning they weren't allowed to get tackled.

Just some of the big names that were missing from the spring game and spring practice were Seantrel Henderson, Asante Cleveland and LaRon Byrd, to name a few.

There really hasn't been any real updates on their injuries so far this year.

To my knowledge, there are no real serious injuries that would stop any players from playing in 2011.

Joel Figueroa Granted Sixth Year Eligibility

You can never have enough depth on an offensive line, especially when you have to protect two shaky quarterbacks.

Miami heard good news in May, with the NCAA granting Joel Figueroa a sixth year due to medical hardship last year.

Figueroa started two games last year before being sidelined for the rest of the season due to an undisclosed injury.

Figueroa is listed as a back up heading into fall practice and was moved from guard to right tackle in 2010.

Russell Maryland in College Football Hall of Fame

Russell Maryland came to Miami in 1987 as an unknown.

Not many people recruited Maryland, but the Hurricanes gave him the chance and he dominated.

Maryland really excelled in 1990, winning the Outland Trophy, given to the best lineman, with 96 tackles and 10-1/2 sacks.

Maryland was such a force, he was the number one drafted pick in the 1991 NFL draft, going to the Dallas Cowboys.

Maryland was one of 14 players to be honored into the class of 2011 NCAA College Football Hall of Fame, joining five other Miami Hurricanes.

Six Pack of Freshmen

Miami had a handful of freshmen that enrolled this spring in Miami and were able to get their feet wet on the football field.

Thomas Finnie was the big name, as he was listed as a starter for some of the early depth charts that Golden displayed throughout the spring session.

Now, six more Hurricanes have officially started the first summer session on May 18.

Here is the list:

- Ryan Williams, QB (transfer from Memphis, not eligible for 2011)

- Michael Williams, DB

- Phillip Dorsett, WR

- Gionni Paul, LB

- Rashawn Scott, WR

- Darius Smith, DT

More Hurricanes are expected to join the school and team on June 29, when the second summer session begins.

Five Players Transferred Out

As everyone knows by now, Storm Johnson (third string running back) left the Miami Hurricanes due to lack of playing time and wanting to be closer to his family.

Even though Miami has a loaded backfield already, it still hurts the offense, as Johnson was a terrific runner and Miami is going to be a run first football team this year.

Johnson wasn't the only person to transfer, as linebackers Travis Williams and Kevin Nelson left as well.

This left a glaring hole in a questionable linebacker position already.

Wait, there's more, as defensive backs Jamal Reid and Devont'a Davis are no longer with the club, either.

That is five players that have left this season already, but none, besides Johnson, that really were huge prospects.

Either way, depth will play a key at the linebacker and defensive back positions.

Three Players Transferred In

Although Miami had five players leave the program within the last month, Miami got word in May that Ryan Williams, quarterback at Memphis, was transferring to the Hurricanes.

Great news considering Tate Forcier joined, then left, the Hurricanes this spring.

Head coach Al Golden said he wants four more quarterbacks for the 2012 season.

Williams wasn't the only player to transfer to Miami, as they also landed defensive tackles Darius Smith and Corey King.

Both players are eligible to play this year. Williams, on the other hand, has to sit out until the 2012 season.

2012 Recruiting Update

The 2011 season has yet to start, but Miami is already landing solid verbal commits for the 2012 season.

Now granted, just because these players are a verbal commit really doesn't mean anything but the fact that the Hurricanes are number one on their list.

Many players will get hurt or change their minds at the last minute, so it is hard to truly decipher what will happen in their senior season.

Here is a list of the verbal commits for the 2012 season, according to scout.com.

Four Star Players:

- Raphael Kirby, OLB

- Angelo Jean-Louis, WR

- Trent Taylor, DE

- Duke Johnson, RB

- Keith Brown, OLB

Three Star Players:

- Preston Dewey, QB

- Jontavious Carter, WR

- Gray Crow, QB

- A.J. Leggett, CB

Not Rated Players:

- Larry Hope, CB

- Ereck Flowers, OT

Preseason Award Lists

There are plenty of preseason award lists out there, from the Playboy All-American team to Phil Steele's All-American team.

Seantrel Henderson, just a sophomore, was honored on the 26-team roster as a Playboy All-American.

Phil Steele's Preseason All-American Team honored Brandon Washington, Sean Spence, Marcus Forston and Ray Ray Armstrong.

Steele's All-ACC First Team was also loaded with Hurricanes: Lamar Miller, Washingotn, Spence, Forston and Armstrong.

Steele's Second Team consisted of Travis Benjamin, Henderson and Vaughn Telemaque.

Finishing off the Steele's preseason third team were Tyler Horn and Olivier Vernon.

Hurricanes Ranked 19th in Athlons Preseason Poll

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 18: Sean Spence #31 of the Miami Hurricanes stands on the field during the game against the Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium on October 18, 2008 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Even after Miami ended their season at 7-6, not having a starting quarterback and with a whole new coaching staff, Miami was still given a preseason ranking of 19 by Athlon Magazine.

Athlon is really excited about the hiring of Al Golden.

“Miami fans should be excited with the hire of Al Golden,” Athlon Sports managing editor Mitch Light told the Hurricanes’ official web site. “He will do a quality job with the Hurricanes’ talented roster, although a brutal schedule may keep that elusive Coastal title out of Coral Gables for another year.”

Athlon voted Miami to take second in the Coastal Division and named Brandon Washington and Ray Ray Armstrong as preseason All-American picks.

Read the full article below.

http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/top-25/miami-hurricanes