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Coral Gables, FL– The Miami Hurricanes continued to prep for West Virginia and the Russell Athletic Bowl. Here’s a look at the comments made, predominately by the defense, after practice today.
Kendrick Norton, So., Defensive Line
On the similarities between West Virginia’s offense and the offenses Miami faced during the regular season…
“Maybe kind of like a North Carolina with the tempo, again, they take some shots too. And they try to slowly work their way downfield.”
On facing an offense that plays up-tempo…
“You just have to be on your P’s and Q’s, making sure you are getting ready so they are not catching you off guard.”
On the losing streak in bowl games…
“We are just coming out here every day to work, and do what we can to earn the right to win. So we can go out there and play our best to end the streak.”
On how winning could set a tone heading into next season…
“It would be a great start to next year, beating a ranked opponent and having a quality win at the start of next season.”
On how much better he has gotten during his sophomore campaign…
“I feel like I have gotten a lot better, becoming more mature and learning how to play the game. Being able to come in here and do treatment and stuff, keeping your body up, so you can be able to finish the season.”
Malek Young, Fr., Defensive Back
On how he thinks his freshman year has gone…
“It was a big accomplishment just moving through the season and progressing through the season and getting better in practice every day. I’d say it was a good accomplishment.”
On how ready he feels to play after all the experience he has gotten…
“I feel a little but more confident than when I first got here. I’m feeling more confidence to come back and put in the work with my teammates and build a bond that will help us push further than just a bowl game to an ACC Championship or further.”
On the concept of players choosing to skip their team’s bowl game…
“They’re just trying to get better and not get an injury as they move to the next level, but at the same time I think they should stay to finish and bond with the team. They’ll never have that again and never be able to play another game with them. I think they should end with the team, but it’s up to them to do whatever they want to do.”
On what he feels he needs to improve on going forward…
“Sliding my feet during man coverage. I’m a little aggressive and when I’m aggressive, my feet start to slow down. I just need to move my feet more.”
Rayshawn Jenkins, R-Sr., Defensive Back
On how his final game as a Hurricane is coming up next week…
“I had some good times here and had some bad times here, but at the end of the day, I really appreciate the times I had here. I don’t take it for granted. Like you said, it’s surreal, but it had to end at some point and here it is.”
On what it would be like to get a win at the Russell Athletic Bowl…
“It will be nice. I feel like a win could really reprogram this football program. I feel like it would be good for recruits and, more importantly, our confidence going into next season.”
On what the team learned from the 2013 experience at the Russell Athletic Bowl…
“Just don’t let it overwhelm you. You’re going to be in a new city for a week and in Orlando there is a lot to do. You have downtown and Universal and a bunch of fun tourist sites. The hotel is nice. You just can’t let it overwhelm you because you’re there for a game.”
On the concept of players skipping their last game to prepare for the draft…
“That’s their situation and they know what’s best for them and their family I’m pretty sure they made their decision based off that.”
Jamal Carter, Sr., Defensive Back
On the Russell Athletic Bowl being his last game…
“This is the last one with these coaches, these players, so it is going to be bittersweet.”
On his last few practices at the Greentree Practice Fields…
“I’m going to miss it – sweating out here on this turf field, doing rolls out here in the sand pit, 5:30 work outs, I’m going to miss everything.”
On the team’s freshmen…
“They are amazing. They are like nothing I have ever seen. They came in and they weren’t even playing like freshmen, they were playing like upperclassmen. I see a bright future for these guys.”
On future of Miami safety Jaquan Johnson…
“He is going to be an animal – legendary – I already told him. He catches on to things fast, he’s a playmaker, he can adapt to everything and he can do it all. I just feel like he is going to be legendary – I always tell him that.”
On how to handle bowl preparation…
“When it’s time to have fun, you have fun and when it’s time to work, you go to work.”
