IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTT’SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS MONDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And you fine folks know what that means. It’s time to hop into the cockpit, strap in, start the countdown, and blast off into the stratosphere of Miami Hurricanes-related thoughts sifting around inside my brain.
1) It’s NFL Draft week. And yes, at least two Miami Hurricanes – and hopefully more – will hear their name called this weekend in Detroit. Those two are Kamren Kinchens and Leonard Taylor III. Kinchens was electric two years ago. Not quite as much last year. He also didn’t do much to help his stock at the Combine, where he posted the slowest 40-yard dash time among safeties (4.65) and was meh in other categories.
Still, his tape and his instincts should still have him on teams’ draft boards for Day Two of the draft on Friday. Could he still end up in the second round? Or has he fallen to round three? Or heaven forbid round four? Projections are pretty wide ranging, and all are possible.
Kinchens might not have the best straight-line speed, but he’s smart and has great instincts when the ball is in the air, a trait highly coveted by NFL teams. Hopefully he ends up in a good roster situation wherever that ends up being.
2) As far as Taylor, a one-time first-round projection by some before last year, he’s fallen down draft boards significantly. There’s reason for hope for someone to roll the dice on him before Day Three, as he has the burst off the snap that teams are looking for out of a one-gap tackle. However, round three might be a bit too early for most teams to assume the risk on upside for a player like Taylor. His poor Combine showing might have closed the book on hearing his name before Saturday.
3) Other names who should get called on Day Three – but who might not – are safety James Williams, OL Javion Cohen, and C Matt Lee. Lee had a pretty solid Combine, so he could be a late-round pickup for someone looking for interior line help late in the draft. Cohen could too, but his Combine performance left a lot to be desired. James Williams’ did as well, as he ran a 4.65 40 to tie his teammate Kinchens for the worst among safeties. His film isn’t particularly flattering either. However, his physical tools drip with potential for a team to properly coach him up as an inside-the-box safety at the next level.
4) The Canes got a crystal ball by On3 Sports for Oregon State transfer RB Damien Martinez. Color me excited.
NEW: On3’s @PeteNakos_ has logged a prediction for Miami to land Oregon State transfer RB Damien Martinez
Intel: https://t.co/4W3stqLbNF pic.twitter.com/cJLsuNw19s
— On3 (@On3sports) April 22, 2024
Martinez is just a bruiser who can run away from guys as well. While Miami has speed at the position with guys like Chris Johnson, Jr. and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey, the Canes clearly need someone who can pound on guys with Mark Fletcher and Ajay Allen injured. Martinez has the talent to come in, snatch the starting job with ease, and hold onto it. Hopefully that crystal ball proves true.
5) Miami baseball ended up snapping its 10-game conference losing streak with a 17-6 run-rule win over Louisville on Sunday to avoid a sweep. Miami baseball and basketball went through stretches this calendar year where they couldn’t win a game for love or money. However, Coach L has far too much goodwill to worry about his job security despite what anyone may say to the contrary. One would think that J.D. Arteaga will be given some slack in his first year, but man……this is a completely unacceptable season. Hopefully he can find some pitching in the offseason and turn this around, because this type of season cannot happen again. Not at a program like Miami.