Eye on the U: The early buzz on Miami’s new linemen. And a still-too-early look at Draft

The Miami Hurricanes are back at it on Greentree Practice Fields this week and some of their newest players are starting to make some good impressions, especially at a handful of critical positions for Miami.

On a new episode of the Eye on the U, David Wilson and Susan Miller Degnan, the Hurricanes beat writer for the Miami Herald, break down what they’ve learned from the first two weeks of spring practice in Coral Gables and what some new additions mean for the Hurricanes in trying to rebuild a few critical position groups.

At wide receiver, freshmen Joshisa Trader and Ny Carr keep making plays, and are setting themselves up to compete for serious playing time this year, but newcomers might be even more in the trenches. This week was a good chance to get a look at some of the new linemen, including offensive lineman Zach Carpenter and defensive lineman Marley Cook.

Cook, a transfer from Middle Tennessee, turned heads with a huge weight-room performance on the squat rack, and he’s making an early case to grab one of the starting spots vacated by former defensive linemen Leonard Taylor III and Branson Deen. Carpenter, a transfer from Indiana, could hardly be more different personality-wise from former offensive lineman Matt Lee, but his veteran presence will give Miami a similar boost at center.

The news wasn’t all good for the Hurricanes this week, though: Running back Henry Parrish Jr. is back on the transfer portal, dealing Miami another blow in the backfield, which could always use as much depth as possible, especially with running back Mark Fletcher Jr. hurt.

Finally, Wilson and Degnan look back at pro day, and ahead to the 2024 NFL Draft. No former Hurricane’s stock is soaring right now, but can Taylor stop the skid at some point during the pre-Draft process?