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Miami Hurricanes College Football Season Preview

By Eric Robinson

Oct 10, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) hands off to running back Joseph Yearby (2) in the second quarter of their game against the Miami Hurricanes at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) hands off to running back Joseph Yearby (2) in the second quarter of their game against the Miami Hurricanes at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 31, 2015; Durham, NC, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Stacy Coley (3) celebrates with teammate after scoring against the Duke Blue Devils in their game at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2015; Durham, NC, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Stacy Coley (3) celebrates with teammate after scoring against the Duke Blue Devils in their game at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports /

2015 Season Recap

The season kicked off with a 45-0 wiping of Bethune-Cookman in addition to defeating Florida Atlantic by a score of 44-20 and a narrow victory at home over Nebraska to start the season with a 3-0 record. However the season really kicked off from that point on.

A five point loss to Florida State in which the Canes held a 24-23 lead late in the game was a punch to the gut for the team but having to endure the wrath of the Clemson Tigers and their 58-0 win changed the program for good. Out was Golden after the Clemson debacle, in was assistant coach Larry Scott, who coached the Canes for the final six games of the season, leading the team to an 8-5 record.

The Hurricanes witnessed the opposite ends of the spectrum last season. A miracle win over Duke as a result of a multi-lateral play that stirred controversy was a gleam of hope for the team but was deterred by a lopsided loss on the road against the Tar Heels. Even with their final record, the losses to North Carolina & Clemson by a combine score of 117-21 is ugly enough to temporarily ignore the positivity of an eight win season.

Junior quarterback Brad Kaaya passed for 3,328 yards (2nd in the ACC) with 16 touchdowns and only five interceptions. The talent of Kaaya has sparked interest as a potential first rounder in the 2017 NFL Draft. Junior running back Joseph Yearby led the team in rushing with 1,002 yards while adding six rushing touchdowns.

Nov 27, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Miami Hurricanes running back Mark Walton (1) carries the ball against Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Ejuan Price (5) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Miami won 29-24. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Miami Hurricanes running back Mark Walton (1) carries the ball against Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Ejuan Price (5) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Miami won 29-24. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

He shared carries with Mark Walton, who rushed for 461 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 293 receiving yards and one touchdown. The Canes offense averaged 26.3 points per game (76th overall) but there were many times where the offense seemed to be stuck in the mud.

The brightest spot on the defense was the play of cornerback Corn Elder (41 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, 11 passes defended) plus Artie Burns (36 tackles, six interceptions) who departed for the NFL Draft and went 25th overall to the Steelers.

Linebacker Jermaine Grace led the team in tackles with 79 and defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad led the team in sacks with five. The team’s pass rushing disappeared at times during the season which makes players such as Muhammad, Chad Thomas, Trent Harris, and Demetrius Jackson all enter the approaching season with significant pressure to turn things around.

Next: Coaching Staff

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