Spring soccer is totally in swing in Coral Gables, as Miami appears to be like to take the subsequent step as a program after falling simply in need of their first-ever School Soccer Playoff look final 12 months.
There are many questions – and issues – about Miami’s roster after the exodus of a ton of expertise, together with generational gamers in Cam Ward, Andres Borregales, and Xavier Restrepo (and sure, I take into account the latter two to be in that class with Ward) in addition to robust contributors like Jacolby George, Elijah Arroyo, Damien Martinez, and several other others.
So, what questions must be answered this offseason? Listed below are three that instantly stick out in my thoughts:
3) Can Miami cowl Borregales’ loss adequately?
Miami must change their star kicker on two fronts: area objectives and kickoffs. They no less than have potential choices who seem able to no less than addressing them adequately. Carter Davis from FAU is a kickoff specialist and seems to have the leg to generate touchbacks at a good price. Abram Murray didn’t get too many alternatives final 12 months, however he made them.
The kicking sport is one thing we’ve not needed to fear about mainly in any respect with the Borregales brothers kicking, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a really essential factor, significantly with as many shut video games as Miami gutted out final season. These don’t go your manner, and curtains. So long as issues don’t regress to the Bubba Baxa days, I believe the Canes shall be okay, and Miami seems to have two guys no less than who can clear that bar simply. However I nonetheless have to see it on the sector to imagine it totally.
2) Can Jojo Dealer or another person among the many younger wideouts take an enormous leap ahead and appear like a real WR1?
Apart from the secondary, no space of the roster worries me greater than the vast receiver room. With George, Restrepo, Isaiah Horton, and Sam Brown all gone, somebody’s bought to take that subsequent step and safe the chance.
Miami has a ton of younger expertise who they will name on, and who will certainly be battling for this crew’s WR1 one spot. Dealer, Joshua Moore, Ray Ray Joseph, Ny Carr and others have the upside, however who’s going to translate it to the sector? LSU CJ Daniels is clearly a robust candidate to steer the group, however I believed Sam Brown was going to make an impression when he got here in final 12 months from Houston, and….effectively.
Generally it takes a while for a breakout to occur, like Arroyo had in 2024 after seasons of doing not a lot with restricted alternative. Expertise clever, I really feel like Dealer may very well be the one to take that step. However hey, I’ve thought that about gifted guys going again to Aldarius Johnson and past, so who is aware of for positive.
1) Is that this secondary on the very least mediocre now?
I imply, what the hell else am I going to place at #1? This unit wrecked the 2024 season, though the move rush disappearing for lengthy stretches and horrible LB play in protection at essential occasions ( you, Kiko) have been components in that crap cake as effectively.
The secondary SHOULD be able to take a large step ahead in 2025, with new blood main them in Zac Etheridge and Will Harris. I’m significantly so far as a few new faces, and that’s led by coveted Jacksonville State switch Zechariah Poyser. He has already been getting loads of love from Mario Cristobal throughout spring apply, and he may very well be somebody who makes a big distinction on the again finish of the protection.
However discovering somebody throughout from O.J. Frederique goes to be the important thing, and there are many candidates. I’m curious to see how these candidates look within the spring sport on April 12.
Go Canes!