University of Miami football coach Randy Shannon said he can't make too many changes in the defensive secondary, but it looks like one change he may make is starting freshman Brandon Harris.
After showing his talents in kickoff returns and as a nickel back, the 5-foot-10, 185-pounder from saw seven plays as a corner against North Carolina and 35 plays in all; and he thinks he'll play more Saturday vs. Florida State.
He's been sharing one corner spot with junior Chavez Grant, while seniors Bruce Johnson and Carlos Armour and sophomore DeMarcus VanDyke are on the other side.
"They've had me more at corner with the first unit,"
he said. "It's a game-time decision."
"Yeah, I would be very comfortable (playing more corner). I know both positions. I've been working mostly at corner."
Because of depth and injuries, Shannon said he doesn't have many options, adding that he can't trade for players or get them off the waiver wire.
"They're not doing what we want them to do, but we only have five corners,"
Shannon said. "Chavez and Bruce are the two oldest guys with Carlos nicked up. Van Dyke is a true sophomore and Harris is a freshman. You can't pull rabbits out of a hat. We have what we have."
Key Cane
With both teams having solid defenses, special teams could play a key role in teams putting points on the board. Both teams have great returners.
Florida State senior Michael Ray Garvin is coming off ACC's honors after a career-long 94-yard kickoff return. He has 1,195 career-return yards to rank third all-time at FSU.
Miami has freshman Travis Benjamin, who has a 17.7 average on punt returns with a long of 44. He'll also be returning kicks with Harris, who has made a 41-yard return.
"Travis Benjamin is about to have a breakout game on returns,"
Shannon said. "And this game, field position is always important."
Benjamin, whose cousin is former Miami defensive back Al Marshall, said he'd love to get the ball eight to 10 times on passes."But I got a role on special teams, and they're trying to get me the ball there more,"
he said.
Injury report
Senior RT Reggie Youngblood (leg) won't play as well as WR Thearon Collier (chest), sophomore RB Damien Berry (leg), freshman S Vaughn Telemaque (arm) and junior TB Javarris James (leg).
Etc.
Sun Sports will have a one-hour pre-game show at 2:30 p.m. Saturday before the Miami-Florida State contest. . . . Miami and Florida State have met once in the Dolphin Stadium -- the 2004 Orange Bowl. The Hurricanes won 16-14. . . . Bobby Bowden has been shut out just twice in 32 years at FSU, and both have come to Miami. The Hurricanes won 47-0 in Bowden's first season in 1976 and 31-0 to start the 1988 season. . . . FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher coached Patrick Nix, Miami's offensive coordinator, when they were at Auburn. . . . Sophomore WR Jermaine McKenzie, whose career has been marred by a neck injury from a car accident and other assorted injuries, is expected to see his first college action on Saturday.
