He’s quite a catch
A little of this and a little of that:
….Happiest person on the UM campus on Thursday was Jim Morris. The Hurricanes’ baseball coach was beaming after getting word that catcher Yasmani Grandal and pitcher Chris Hernandez will attend UM after foregoing the chance to turn pro. Grandal, ranked the nation’s 19th-best high school prospect by Baseball America, was a 27th-round pick by the Boston Red Sox while Hernanadez was taken in the 14th round by Detroit. Morris said that Grandal is an "immediate impact guy." Added Morris: "To be honest, I’m shocked that I’m sitting talking about the fact he’s coming to school."
….Javarris James rushed for 802 yards last season, the second most by a UM freshman behind only Clinton Portis (838 yards in 1999). But James isn’t guaranteed the starting job. UM running backs coach Tommie Robinson said that James and true freshman Graig Cooper "are battling for that No. 1 spot." Robinson is a mellow dude, but he gets excited talking about the flashy Graig Cooper, who spent last season tearing it up in prep school. "He’s never played a Division I game, but the kid has a lot of tools," Robinson said. "I’ve been very, very pleased with Graig Cooper."
….True freshman Shawnbrey McNeal has been very impressive even though Wednesday’s scrimmage and Thursday’s practice accounted for his first work of fall camp. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound speedster may find a role as a kick returner. McNeal won back-to-back state Class 3A titles in the 100 meters while a student at Dallas (Tx.) Madison High School. Robinson said he thinks McNeal may be UM’s fastest player. "He can fly," Robinson said Thursday. "He has incredible speed and quickness. He’s shown some signs of why we signed him. He was the fastest kid in Texas and that’s pretty good."
….Javarris James tells me he’s cut his body fat from seven percent to five percent. Is that possible?
….Thrilled to hear that old friend Jarrett Payton — who now runs for the Montreal Alouettes — was named the Canadian Football League’s Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 160 yards on 20 carries during last week’s 30-18 victory against the Calgary Stampeders. If you know Payton, it’s very easy to root for him.
….UM prez Donna Shalala told a group of us hacks before Thursday’s practice that City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz was making a “heroic” effort to keep UM in the Orange Bowl. If the OB needs Diaz to play hero, it’s in big trouble.
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