UM's freshman Cooper plays down hype
The key for RB Graig Cooper is ignoring the hype. He already has heard it all as he enters his freshman season. But until he does something on the field, Graig Cooper would rather not believe the hoopla.
"I'm not worrying about the hype,'' Graig Cooper said. "I hate hype. I'm not even going to lie. I'm not going to say I'm not going to live up to it because I work hard.''
Graig Cooper has been the most watched newcomer since enrolling at Miami in January. After a standout career at Melrose (Tenn.) High, he spent a year at Milford Prep Academy in New York. He quickly impressed at UM, and is expected to have the biggest impact of the freshmen.
The 6-foot, 194-pound Graig Cooper has worked with the first team throughout the preseason and could push Javarris James for playing time. But Graig Cooper still refuses to get caught up in all the attention.
Graig Cooper is not alone with the cautious approach. Offensive coordinator Patrick Nix pointed out Graig Cooper has only excelled in offseason workouts, and the Hurricanes won't practice in full pads until Wednesday.
Kicking, return duties
Redshirt freshman Matt Bosher could wind up handling both the place-kicking, kickoff and punting duties. Special- teams coordinator Joe Pannunzio said Bosher and junior Darren Daly are competing at the positions, and walk-on Francesco Zampogna (kicker) and David Strimple (punter) are in the mix, too.
"Right now, there's a shot that Bosher could do all of that,'' Pannunzio said.
WRs Darnell Jenkins and Ryan Hill, DB DeMarcus Van Dyke and RBs Lee Chambers and Graig Cooper all are candidates for the kicks-return slot.
Freshmen get OK
WR Leonard Hankerson and DE Adewale Ojomo, both freshmen, received clearance to join the Hurricanes on Monday. Both missed the first three practices because of NCAA Clearinghouse issues, but the Miami sports information department confirmed they will participate in workouts today.
Injury update
LB Darryl Sharpton missed his second consecutive practice with an undisclosed injury, but Coach Randy Shannon said it was just "soreness.'' . . . Freshman DB Damien Berry, who is still recovering from an ACL injury in high school, sat out and freshman RB Shawnbrey McNeal have yet to be cleared by a doctor to participate.
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