UM coach Al Golden said Wednesday he still feels very good about running back, despite Storm Johnson’s decision to transfer, and said “it was best for him to move on.”
Johnson’s father, Wesley, said his son is leaving because UM’s backfield is crowded and because he wants to play closer to his mother in Georgia. But asked if the decision was entirely Johnson’s, Golden said, “He wasn’t doing the things he needed to do. He can spin it or portray it any way he wants, but he wasn’t doing the things we need Miami Hurricanes to do.”
Golden declined to elaborate. Johnson was third on the depth chart behind Lamar Miller and Mike James.
Golden said UM has “a good group” at the position with Miller, James, Darion Hall, Maurice Hagens and incoming freshman Kevin Grooms from South Broward High. He said he has no plans to move defensive backs Eduardo Clements or Lee Chambers back to running back but would do it if necessary.
Though speedy Grooms also can play cornerback, Golden said, “He wanted to be a Miami Hurricane tailback. That’s all he dreamed about his whole life. So I told him we would give him the opportunity to do that. I have a real strong hunch he’s not going to let us down.”
Hagens was recruited by the former staff as a fullback, but Golden said he has skills to play tailback. He rushed for 1,300 yards (6 yards per carry) and 18 touchdowns as a senior at Tampa Bay Tech in 2009.
This and that
• Asked if he was disappointed about former Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier’s decision not to transfer to UM, Golden declined to offer specifics but said, “It was in his best interests not to come.”
Golden said he was very pleased to land another quarterback — Memphis transfer Ryan Williams — who will be eligible in 2012. “We had really good film on him against quality competition,”
he said.
• Golden feels better about defensive tackle depth after adding Darius Smith from a Pennsylvania junior college and West Boca High’s Corey King. King, whose signing was announced Wednesday, had 56 tackles, seven sacks and three forced fumbles as a senior.
• Golden said UM officially added cornerback Michael Williams, who transferred from Wake Forest, where he played in 13 games and started two. Williams, who will be eligible this season, left Wake’s team before the 2010 season after being beaten out for a starting job. He will have one season of eligibility at UM.
• Tight end Andrew Tallman will be the sixth UM player to transfer, but Golden does not expect any others. Of the six, only Johnson and to a much lesser extent, linebacker Travis Williams, were expected to be factors this season.
