The Miami Hurricanes found success in their wide receiver play when they opened up competition in the week leading up to their win over Virginia.
With two weeks between that victory and a Friday night game at N.C. State, UM decided it will continue to leave its options open regarding its three starting wideouts, even as senior Michael Harley had a career night of 10 receptions for 170 yards and a touchdown against the Cavaliers.
When Miami released an updated depth chart ahead for N.C. State week on Monday, there were no updates. It still showed nine receivers with a shot at the three spots.
Hurricanes offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee liked what it brought out of his wideouts and believes it's something the team may continue to do.
"Competition is always going to make us better," Lashlee said. "We're kind of learning that's how our guys tick even more so than normal. That's going to be who we want to be because, when guys are uncomfortable in a good way, it makes you bring your best every day. It doesn't allow you to relax. I think that's good, so yeah, we'll continue that, really, all across the board."
Harley's standout performance saw him take the team lead in receptions (27) and receiving yards (344) over junior tight end Brevin Jordan, who missed the past two games with a shoulder/neck injury. Mark Pope has 19 receptions for 236 yards and fellow junior Dee Wiggins has posted 12 catches for 154 yards on the season.
The three upperclassmen in Harley, Pope and Wiggins remained the starters and received most of the playing time against Virginia, despite the reopened competition.
Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Payton and true freshmen Keyshawn Smith and Michael Redding III have seen most of the action behind them. Fellow freshman Xavier Restrepo has contributed on punt returns, but he and Redding were two of the six that were surprisingly unavailable against Virginia, a game which also saw former walk-on Marshall Few see snaps in the slot.
"In terms of the young guys, I thought they were starting to do some really good things," Lashlee said. "We were without some of the guys the last game, but we still have a lot of confidence that those guys will continue to make strides throughout the season."
UM coach Manny Diaz and wide receivers coach Rob Likens have lauded Smith's speed as a skill that could factor into a potential increase in playing time.
