UM players speak openly about more needed Cristobal changes. And Canes personnel notes

A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes as fall camp begins on Friday:

▪ It’s refreshing how open players have been about discussing two of the biggest changes in the first seven months of the Mario Cristobal era, aimed at fixing two of the biggest shortcomings during the Manny Diaz era: discipline and tackling.

With regard to discipline, Tyler Van Dyke said of violating team rules: “If you do that stuff, coach Cristobal is going to get mad and you don’t want to face that.”

One player said UM informed players that drug tests must be taken seriously and they will be administered, with consequences if they fail.

As for tackling - an area where UM was among the nation’s worst last season - defensive end Jahfari Harvey said: “There’s way more emphasis on tackling. They’re breaking it down, taking it step by step. It’s like learning how to walk again. They’re incorporating it in our fourth quarter drills. Every day, we’re trying to improve tackling.”

Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele put it this way about tackling during his media session this week: “The first thing you have to do in tackling is minimize the one-one-one tackles. When you watch missed tackles in a season on a cut-up, which I have watched for this team, you would be surprised by the percentage of the missed tackles in those situations is one guy. It is a one-on-one situation and that is a hard tackle.

“You have to minimize the times you are one-on-one. How do you do that? Through structure, teaching pursuits angles, effort, and getting more hats to the ball. It is hard to miss tackles when you have three or four people on the tackle. We improved that a lot in the spring.”

▪ Harvey shared additional insight with WQAM’s Joe Rose and Joe Zagacki.

On Steele: “We trust in coach Steele with our hearts. We will do a way better job stopping the run this year. He does a great job where you don’t have to do a lot of thinking.”

On defensive analyst and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor: “He drops a lot of knowledge on us every day. It’s great having a gold jacket in there to sharpen our tools. It’s great having him out there.”

On former UCLA player and new Canes edge player Mitchell Agude: “He is a huge dude, very athletic, freakish. Adds more maturity to the group; older guy. He works very hard. He’s going to have a big impact on this defensive line.”

On well-regarded freshmen defensive linemen Nyjalik Kelly and Cyrus Moss: “Nyjalik can bend like no other; 6-5, 6-6. Cyrus Moss will be playing JACK, like d-end or hybrid. He can play a lot of positions.”

▪ According to WQAM, UM’s coaching staff is predicting that tight end Will Mallory will top 50 receptions this season. He caught 22 and 30 the past two years.

Even though Mallory played with highly-talented Brevin Jordan, he said: “This is the most talented tight end room collectively since I’ve been here” – with Mallory, Elijah Arroyo, freshman Jaleel Skinner, Kahlil Brantley and Dominic Mammarelli.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Arroyo’s last year is two years from now [and he’s NFL bound then],” Mallory said. “That guy is a stud. Jaleel you see the natural talent. That guy is special.”

▪ UM players appreciate the renewed financial resources that have been invested in the program, including facility renovations and a better and higher-paid coaching and support staff.

“Compared to the last three years I’ve been here, it’s tremendously different,” Mallory said. “The amount of support from alumni, boosters, everyone up above. It’s been nothing but great. We’ll get to see all the changes to the facilities and campus itself.”

▪ Beyond Zion Nelson and Van Dyke (who are both considered potential first-round picks), we hear UM’s next-best draft eligible prospect is cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. One scouting service gave him a third round grade.

Some scouts like Akheem Mesidor, the defensive end/tackle transfer from West Virginia. Mesidor, Mallory, DJ Scaife and others could go on the third day.

▪ Former UM quarterback D’Eriq King, who was cut a few days into Patriots minicamp in May, is looking to latch on with the XFL, as a receiver, quarterback, returner or whatever is needed.

“I’ve talked to them quite a bit and they want him,” agent Scott Casterline said of the XFL.

▪ One player said UM players like new strength coach Aaron Feld better than predecessor David Feeley because Feld treats them with respect and like men and gives them more options for workout times. Feeley liked early morning workouts and had rigid rules, the player said. Feeley now heads up Duke’s strength and conditioning program.

UM assistant coaches this week raved about what Feld has done with numerous players on the roster.