Here are some encouraging developments during UM’s second spring practice. And Canes notes

The Miami Hurricanes’ receiving room is replete with young talent, and that talent made observers take notice early in Wednesday’s second practice of the spring.

Some highlights, all from the one-on-one sessions during the media viewing portion of practice:

▪ Early enrollee JoJo Trader - rated by 247 Sports as the No. 14 receiver and No. 70 overall player in this 2024 class - made two beautiful long receptions in one-on-one drills.

Jacurri Brown showed good touch on one of them, and Trader extended his arms to make the catch. On the other play, Trader easily outran Daryl Porter Jr., who is probably UM’s best cornerback.

▪ Early enrollee Ny Carr - rated by 247 Sports as the No. 21 receiver and No. 98 overall prospect in the 2024 class - dove to catch a pass from Emory Williams, beating early enrollee safety Zaquan Patterson. Carr also caught a deep pass from Cam Ward in one-on-one drills.

▪ The second-year receivers also had some good moments. Ray-Ray Joseph had two nice catches on throws from Reese Poffenbarger. Robby Washington caught a deep pass from Jacurri Brown.

There will be plenty of opportunities for Carr, Trader, Washington and Joseph (and summer enrollee Chance Robinson) to earn playing time. The No. 4, 5 and 6 receiver jobs are legitimately open, behind Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George and Isaiah Horton.

It’s certainly not out of the question that one of the young receivers could overtake Horton for the No. 3 job, and push George for No. 2.

Michael Redding III and Shemar Kirk are among others competing for those jobs. Poffenbarger and Redding connected on a long throw on Wednesday.

▪ Restrepo made the play of the day; he contorted his body to make a ridiculous touchdown catch on a nice throw from Cam Ward, beating safety transfer Mishael Powell, who was called for pass interference on the play.

Remember, all of the aforementioned plays happened in 1 on 1 drills.

▪ Random stuff: Ward had a deep connection with Elija Lofton, the early enrollee tight end who is turning heads...

Luis Cristobal opened as the first team left guard; Samson Okunlola continues to work there as well and opened Wednesday’s session with the second team at left guard..

Henry Parrish opened with the first team at running back…

Second-year Hurricane Jadais Richard, the former Vanderbilt player who is competing for a starting cornerback job, intercepted Brown but also was called for a penalty on another play and was beaten by Washington on a long play….

Practice was closed to reporters before team drills began.

THIS AND THAT

▪ UM needs at least two among six young linebackers to emerge as rotation players. Second-year player Raul Aguirre has a good chance to be one of them; he again lined up with the starters at first team middle linebacker on Wednesday, with Francisco Mauigoa missing spring ball.

And linebacker Wesley Bissainthe singled out freshman linebacker Cam Pruitt as a “guy who knows what he’s doing. He has a big future ahead of him.”

▪ Bissainthe said Poffenbarger, the Albany transfer, “can throw – I’ve seen him make a couple of unbelievable throws.”

▪ Mario Cristobal on Wednesday spent time coaching junior college transfer Markel Bell, the 6-8, 330-pound offensive tackle.

“He’s a big human being,” UM offensive tackle Jalen Rivers said. “Our biggest thing is he has to play like it, and I think he’s doing a great job right now.”

Bell was the second-team right tackle on Wednesday. Tommy Kinsler was the second-team left tackle.

▪ Rivers said new center Zach Carpenter, the Indiana transfer, is “more calm and quiet” than NFL-bound Matt Lee, who played very well for UM during his one season as the Canes’ center.

“He gets the job done, will communicate,” Rivers said of Carpenter. “That’s what we need, a leader in the center position, and he’s doing a great job of it right now filling that spot.”

▪ Rivers said of the offensive line: “Right now we are all shuffling in different spots. You’ve seen me at left guard, left tackle. Shoot I’ve played right side sometimes.

“Right now everybody asks my favorite – I’m at left tackle [as was the case last season] so that’s what I am going to prioritize right now. I’m not even saying I’ll be at left tackle [this upcoming season]. You know how coach [Alex] Mirabal is. We play at different spots. Right now I’m left tackle, and if I go to a different spot I’ll focus on that.”

Right tackle Francis Mauigoa is out for spring practice because of an injury. Matthew McCoy has been working as the first-team right tackle.

▪ With Akheem Mesidor and Nyjalik Kelly sidelined, Marshall transfer Elijah Alston is getting a lot of work.

“He’s quick, good with his hands,” Rivers said. “He is a good speed rusher. He’ll get you if you’re not on your P’s and Q’s.”

Alston and Rueben Bain were the first team defensive ends on Wednesday; Jared Harrison-Hunte and Thomas Gore were the first-team tackles.

Mesidor is expected back at some point this spring; Kelly will miss all of spring ball.

Jayden Wayne and Anthony Campbell have been the second-team defensive ends.