Miami linebackers ‘coming at you full speed.’ UM made inroads at once weakest position

Folks such as University of Miami legends Ray Lewis and Dan Morgan might have cringed the past few years at the collective competitive strength of the UM linebackers.

But this season finally appears to be the one that might turn grimaces upside down. The Canes’ linebackers are deeper, more experienced and fighting for starting spots. On Saturday morning, Hurricanes fans will get to see them in action at the CanesFest scrimmage at Hard Rock Stadium.

“I’m extremely excited,’’ a muscular 6-2, 228-pound fourth-year junior Louisville transfer K.J. Cloyd said this week in his first interview with the Miami media. “That will be my first time stepping foot in the Hard Rock. I heard that’s where we’re going to make our place. We want it to be the hardest game that anybody comes to when they come to face us at Hard Rock.,’’

Cloyd, 22, had 39 tackles and a fumble recovery in 28 games during three seasons at Louisville. He said he’s “super happy” he transferred, and considers his time at Louisville “a learning experience.”

“Oh, he’s a good player,’’ assured coach Mario Cristobal of Cloyd. “He is physical, fast, very natural at the position.”

Cloyd is battling with Wesley Bissainthe for the weak-side spot, but said linebackers coach Derek Nicholson is nonetheless training players at various positions “to keep us hungry.” At this point, Washington State transfer Kiko Mauigoa, a 6-3, 230-pound junior, is the favorite to start in the middle, which could possibly shift veteran starter Corey Flagg Jr. to the outside. Flagg, a fourth-year junior from Houston, last season ranked third on UM with 56 tackles in 11 games (nine starts) and tied for the team lead with 10 1/2 tackles for loss.

Bissainthe, a 6-2, 215-pound sophomore out of Miami Central, said the game “has slowed down a lot” for him after starting the last three games of 2022. “I’m more consistent with everything.” He said new coordinator Lance Guidry’s defense is “way better” because “it’s more complex and can hit your from all different directions.”

“We’re coming at you full speed.’’

Flagg, who spent the offseason training with and becoming close to Mauigoa, savors the idea of a more aggressive defense with plenty of movement up front.

“I can’t wait to display it,’’ Flagg said. “A lot of blitzes. Coach is very aggressive and I love that. It brings energy. ...It’s exciting.’’

Both Bissainthe and Mauigoa also raved about Keontra Smith, known as “K4,’’ a fifth-year redshirt junior out of Chaminade-Madonna. “He’s been balling, man,’’ Bissainthe said. “He’s going to do some big things this year.’’

Said Mauigoa: “K4 has been performing very well — tremendous. Got very good footwork and will be used to cover and play the run.’’

Youth movement

The Canes’ youngest linebackers have also been turning heads the past week. Raul “Popo” Auguirre, a physical 6-2, 233 pounds out of Fayetteville, Georgia’s Whitewhater High, was mentioned more than once this week as making his mark in practice. Also looking good in the media’s limited viewing time has been 6-2, 225-pound freshman Malik Bryant (Orlando Jones). Then there’s 6-3, 220-pound freshman Bobby Washington from Miami Palmetto, and 6-3, 230-pound newcomer Marcellius Pulliam from Tyrone, Georgia’s Sandy Creek High.

“The neat thing is the young guys are not far behind,’’ Cristobal said. “Those guys are 235, 240 pounds. They’re runners and strikers. They’ve got great power and balance and body control. They’re instinctive. And we’ve thrown them in with the ones and the twos as well. You’re seeing a position that maybe last year we didn’t have much depth there, and all of a sudden it’s one of the positions that has a chance to be one of our strongest.’’

Cloyd said the new defense will keep competitors wondering.

“You’re not going to know what to expect,’’ he said. “We can bring pressure. We can drop in the zone.

“You just gotta strap in and get ready for the ride.’’

Transfer portal

Miami offensive lineman Laurance Seymore withdrew his name from the NCAA transfer portal, multiple recruiting sites reported Thursday. Seymore’s entry into the portal was reported this past Saturday.

Seymore, a 6-2, 315-pound third-year sophomore out of Miami Central High, started three of his six games last season and played in two games as a freshman in 2021. On3.com had him ranked as the 12th-best interior offensive lineman and 195th-best overall prospect in the 2021 recruiting.

Thorpe Award

UM junior first-team All-American safety Kam Kinchens was named on Thursday to the Thorpe Award preseason watch list. The award honors the nation’s top defensive back at season’s end.

Kinchesn led Miami last season with 59 tackles, starting all 12 games and finishing with six interceptions -- third most in the nation.

Miami hire

Miami announced Wednesday the hiring of Rachelle Paul as Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator. Paul served the past four years as Director of Athletics at Saint Peter’s University.

“Rachelle is a proven leader and seasoned administrator who will help drive our vision for success as an athletic department,” Vice President/Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich said.

Saint Peter’s enjoyed impressive success during Paul’s tenure, most notably when the men’s basketball team became the first No. 15 seed in NCAA Tournament history to advance to the Elite Eight in 2022. Later that year, Paul was named the NCAA Division I Nike Executive of the Year by Women Leaders in College Sports.

Peacocks men’s basketball advanced to at least the semifinals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament in all four of her years at the helm, while the women’s basketball team made the 2021 MAAC Tournament final, its first appearance in 20 years..