Spring ends but Miami Hurricanes football keeps churning. Here’s what’s next

Spring has officially ended on the football field.

Now comes the long offseason leading to the University of Miami’s home opener on Friday, Sept. 1 against Miami of Ohio. Players must continue to stay in shape, strengthen their bodies, master their new playbooks and practice on their own time. Cristobal said coaches have been teaching the players “to run their own practices so their player-led practices are very effective and productive come the summer time.”

Hurricanes fans got their first glimpse of the new-look Hurricanes on Friday night at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, where they witnessed the freshmen and transfers they’ve been hearing about, and veterans they hope have upped their games to improve last season’s 5-7 record.

“I wish we had a couple more weeks of practice,’’ Cristobal said, “because we need to. This team has a lot of young guys in a lot of critical spots. And they’re getting better. It’s like, ‘Man, one more week.’ you wish you had more.”

Now what?

Transfer portal

The NCAA transfer portal opened Saturday and runs through April 30.

Former UM tight end Kahlil Brantley, who did not participate in spring ball, officially entered the portal on Saturday.

The portal is the clearinghouse for players who declare they intend to transfer, and allows players to immediately take advantage of the NCAA’s one-time transfer rule — meaning they wouldn’t have to sit out a season before playing with a new program. The key is for athletes to get their names in the portal, because once they notify their schools, they can transfer at any time, including beyond the April 30 date. Keep in mind that schools do not have to take back players once they enter their name in the portal, but can do so if the coach is fine with it.

Graduate transfers, however, can enter the portal year-round.

Miami had 20 players enter the portal the last time it opened and added eight transfers. This time around it should be quieter, though we’ll see soon enough. The Canes are seeking to add depth to their receiving corps, as well as defensive line (tackle) and defensive backs. Cristobal said UM would explore adding a quarterback, as only three are on scholarship; as well as a running back (five on scholarship).

“It’s definitely important,’’ Van Dyke said of the portal. “You see your strengths and weaknesses in the spring and try to fill those spots when needed — not even if it’s weak, but depth wise. Getting some guys in here will definitely help us.’’

Summer plans

As Cristobal noted, players will arrange practice sessions among themselves, aided by leaders such as Van Dyke and safety Kamren Kinchens.

Van Dyke said he and his teammates wll be “throwing, catching, in the weight room and getting conditioned -- stronger and faster. Just having a great summer with each other, really connecting.’’

The quarterback said he’ll go home when he has a “week or two” off “and maybe go somewhere else to train. You’re still working at home,’’ he said. “It’s not like you’re just sitting on the couch.’’

Kinchens said he’ll make sure his “body is fully healthy.’’

“Make sure I’m mentally good,’’ Kinchens said. “Make sure I’m getting more into the playbook so I can understand everything... Take my game to the next level. Just making sure we don’t take a step back and regress, even though we took all this progress throughout spring.’’

Kinchens said the players will get together often. “We could be out here walking through something or going upstairs and watching extra film or see our mistakes and go through the whole spring again and kind of redo the install by ourselves as a DB group or whichever group.’’

Other arrivals

The majority of remaining freshmen will begin arriving in time for the spring/summer semester after they graduate high school.

They include four-star running backs Mark Fletcher of Plantation American Heritage and Christopher Johnson of Fort Lauderdale Dillard; four-star cornerback Robert Stafford of Melbourne Eau Gallie; four-star linebacker Raul Aguirre of Fayetteville, Georgia, Whitewater; three-star offensive tackle Frankie Tinilau of Miami LaSalle (via Australia); four-star cornerback Damari Brown of Plantation American Heitage; three-star linebacker Marcellius Pullman of Tyrone, Georgia, Sandy Creek High; three/four-star offensive lineman Tommy Kinsler of Ocala Trinity Catholic; and three/four-star defensive lineman Joshua Horton.

Cristobal was asked about this year’s spring progress compared to last year’s and he stressed the importance of “habits formed’’ and importance of creating the right culture.

“The coaches go on the road in the coming weeks and they’re going to be gone for awhile, so they have to be great leaders, they have to force the issue of culture,’’ he said. “They have to make sure it’s implemented in everything we do on a daily basis, that our workouts look like we’re there, that our player-led practices look as if it’s coaches running it. We have to continue to take steps as a program. This was a really-good step with new coordinators in the building, with new coaches and a lot of new players. We have to continue taking steps.

“Critically important.”

Here are some basics from the game for those who missed it. Note that unofficial statistics are from the first half, because that’s the half that had full tackling. As always, the defense cannot hit or tackle the quarterbacks.

Quarterbacks

Starter Tyler Van Dyke, who missed most of the last half of 2022 with an injured right shoulder, looked sharp in completing 13-of-19 passes in the first half for 184 yards and a beautifully executed 15-yard touchdown to receiver Jacolby George.

Second-team quarterback Jacurri Brown started the scrimmage with four incomplete passes and finished 5-of-11 for 55 yards.

True freshman early-enrollee quarterback Emory Williams impressed in his UM debut and lone drive in the first half. Williams completed all four passes in that drive for 42 yards — and threw a second-half 79-yard touchdown pass to speedy freshman Nathaniel Ray Ray Joseph, who motored down the field near the end of the scrimmage.

Williams’ second pass in his first-half drive was a 32-yard completion to Isaiah Horton.

Offensive standouts

Slot starter Xavier Restrepo had three catches for 69 yards in the first half, including a 23-yard shovel pass. He also made an excellent catch on a deep ball at the sideline that officials called out of bounds.

Jacolby George had two catches for 46 yards and the touchdown. Colbie Young had three catches for 38 yards. Horton had two catches for 41 yards; and freshman Robby Washington and Joseph each had two catches for 21 yards.

Defensive standouts

Freshman early-enrollee Rueben Bain had an exceptional game, recording three sacks.

Washington State transfer linebacker Francisco Mauigoa was constantly around the ball. He had four tackles and one tackle for loss. Defensive end Chantz Williams added a sack and played well. Cornerback Daryl Porter had 2 1/2 tackles and two pass breakups, linebacker Rocky Shelton had four tackles and a tackle for loss and defensive tackle Jacob Lichtenstein had a sack.

Recruiting news

Chance Robinson, a 6-2, 190-pound four-star receiver from St. Thomas Aquinas, committed to the Hurricanes during the UM spring game. Robinson is the No. 22 wide receiver and No. 135 overall prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings for the 2024 recruiting class, and is coming off a junior season with 29 catches for 540 yards, 13 touchdowns and a Class 3M championship.

Herald sports writer David Wilson contributed to this report.