Inside Slant

The Sports Xchange

October 09, 2018 at 9:35 pm.

Receiving corps still potent despite Richards’ loss

If there is any consolation for Miami to take from the loss of wide receiver Ahmmon Richards, at least from a team standpoint, it is that the Hurricanes have developed a pretty deep and talented receiving corps during the junior’s absence.

Sophomore Jeff Thomas has emerged as Miami’s leading receiver and big-play guy as the No. 16 Hurricanes (5-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) go into Saturday night’s game at Virginia (3-2, 1-1 ACC).

But the speedster who doubles as the primary punt returner and also runs back kickoffs has only one more catch than true freshman tight end Brevin Jordan and classmate Mike Harley. Thomas has 16 receptions for 396 yards, Jordan and Harley 15 each for 174 and 173 yards respectively.

Then there is junior Lawrence Cager who has six touchdowns on his 12 receptions and senior Darrell Langham, who has a knack for coming up big in clutch situations.

“I’m very pleased with the skill set that we have” at the position, coach Mark Richt said. “The experience level is not as high as we’d like. It’s obviously young. It’s a young group.”

Thomas had three catches for 76 yards, including a 17-yarder for a touchdown from quarterback N’Kosi Perry in the 28-27 win over Florida State last week and a 32-yard play to set up Miami’s final and decisive touchdown, which came on the next play on a Jordan’s 41-yard reception.

Cager had two touchdown receptions against the Seminoles, using his 6-5 height to fullest advantage on a fade pattern in the end zone.

Yet, it’s not like Richards’ loss won’t be felt. He set a program freshman receiving record two years ago before injuries set in.

“First of all, wouldn’t it be nice to have Jeff and Ahmmon at the same time?” Richt said, somewhat wistfully. “I’m sad that didn’t happen this year. All those sweet dreams I had in the summer didn’t come into fruition.”

But there is still Thomas, whose skill set starts with his speed and quickness, Richt said.

“He’s a very smart kid, very good route runner,” Richt said. “That touchdown he caught, some guys would just run a track to a certain spot, but he set the guy up. He gave him a little inside move and got him to stutter just a bit and created some space for himself.

“N’Kosi obviously had to throw a good ball, but he gave him some grass to work with and separation. Then you see him leap and make those catches.”

Then there are the punt and kickoff returns. His 34-yard return in the fourth quarter against Florida State didn’t lead to a score, but it did keep the Hurricanes from having to start a possession deep in their own territory.

He had a 48-yarder earlier in the year and is averaging 38 yards on four returns.

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