Cristobal dishes on personnel issues, who’s impressing. And more on UM’s new SEC safety

A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Monday:

▪ Like Rueben Bain and Mark Fletcher Jr. last season, UM has several freshmen who look like they have the talent to be rotation players this fall.

That group includes, among others, tight end Elija Lofton, linebacker Cam Pruitt, safety Zaquan Patterson and receivers JoJo Trader and Ny Carr.

Coach Mario Cristobal told his team last week that “playing time doesn’t discriminate.” That’s code for: If you’re a young player who outplays a veteran in practice, you’re going to play.

Cristobal called Pruitt as “a very physically gifted guy who can flat-out get after it, understands football really well.”

Cristobal said Patterson, who is competing to start at safety, “really stands out as a young guy who just gets it. He’s doing really well.”

Lofton, who follows Brevin Jordan in the Las Vegas-to-UM Canes tight end pipeline, looks poised to challenge Riley Williams and injured Cam McCormick for the No. 2 job behind Elijah Arroyo.

Cristobal said Lofton has exceeded expectations: “He’s a big guy, 250 plus pounds, fits right in … You wish you had a bunch” of players like him. “If he was a linebacker, I think he could go over there and give everyone a run for their money,” Cristobal said.

Meanwhile, Trader looks like a serious threat for a top-four receiver job. “JoJo really stands out,” Cristobal said.

▪ Cristobal singled out a few other players in his media availability in recent days.

He said new center Zach Carpenter, the Indiana transfer, “keeps getting better and better.”

He praised Matthew McCoy, a left guard contender who’s filling in at right tackle this spring as Francis Mauioga recovers from a shoulder injury.

He said receiver Jacolby George has “had a really good spring” and Isaiah Horton “really stands out as a guy that has come along.”

He said linebacker Wesley Bissainthe is approaching 230 pounds and “I’m really excited about his progress. He’s running like he did when he was 170.”

▪ Cristobal was asked if he has a sense of whether he needs to add another veteran linebacker to supplement Francisco Mauigoa and Bissainthe and to a lesser extent, Chase Smith – or whether the handful of promising young, inexperienced players provide enough depth.

Cristobal said that must still play out during the final two weeks of spring ball.

Raul Aguirre, who is filling in for Mauigoa (shoulder) with the starters at middle linebacker, “has had a great spring,” Cristobal said. “Plays downhill, knows the system really well, has natural leadership qualities.

“[Early enrollee linebacker] Adarius Hayes has had a great spring so far. Marcellius Pulliam has flashed. Kaleb Spencer, we’re bouncing him back and forth” between linebacker and safety.

And Cristobal said Smith, whose UM career has been hampered by injuries, “has been exceptional on special teams. We’ve been moving him inside and outside. So there has been some good competition.”

▪ Cristobal, on new UM quarterback Cam Ward:

“He’s tough, he’s physical, is a relentless competitor. He’s everything you want in an offensive lineman and linebacker except he’s super talented [at quarterback], doesn’t take it for granted.

“He’s not afraid to take a stand as a leader in terms of holding himself accountable, his teammates accountable, which is critically important as a quarterback.

“He’s in a room with alphas, and that’s contagious. So far the part that really stands out is all those things, plus he’s really hungry. You get to the building whatever time, he’ll be the first one.”

▪ Horton and Trader appear the top contenders for the No. 3 receiver job behind Xavier Restrepo and George.

Horton had a 52-yard touchdown reception against Texas A&M last season but otherwise had 12 catches for 116 yards.

“I want my coaches to trust me; I’ve got to be consistent,” Horton said. “Being able to be trustworthy and quarterback friendly. The 50-50 balls, you want to come down with… I’ve improved my speed.”

Horton raved about Trader: “He’s just so natural. He looks like he’s been here before. He’s going to be a great player for us. We are going to need him tremendously. But we knew this about him [that he’s really good]. He came in with a good head on his shoulders. He’s a team player.”

▪ Savion Riley, the Vanderbilt transfer, will have every opportunity to earn a starting safety job. He said Georgia and LSU were among other schools that pursued him this offseason.

“I’m glad to be here,” he said. “It’s a special place; I wanted to be a part of the culture that’s being built here. Miami is known for top safeties.”

If Mishael Powell plays more at nickel cornerback than safety, then Riley, Patterson, Jaden Harris, Markeith Williams, Isaiah Taylor (Jason’s son) and perhaps Brian Balom could end up competing for two safety spots.

If Powell plays mostly safety, then one starting safety job and the top two backup safety jobs would be available.

“I’m versatile,” Riley said, noting he can play both safety spots. “I’m aggressive, rangy.”

He loves that defensive coordinator Lance Guidry is “hands on” with the safeties.