Miami football notebook: what we learned at the Miami football spring showcase

JACK SCHMELZINGER SPORTS EDITOR

When Silas Walters woke up on Saturday morning, he never expected what was about to happen to him.

“I just thought he was pulling me up for the coin toss,” Walters said.

Miami University football’s spring showcase took place last Saturday at the Dauch Indoor Sports Center which is east of Yager Stadium. Before kickoff, Miami conducted a coin toss to see who would get the ball first in the scrimmage, which was open to the public.

“We’re gonna have a coin flip to decide who goes first,” Martin said. “Si is gonna call it. You got two choices now. If you win the flip, you either get to pick offense or defense, or whether you want to be on scholarship at Miami.”

There was no time for a toss. Michael Dowell, who was lined up opposite Walters for the flip, got to him first, and soon after, Walters was mobbed by the whole team. Gabbert is the guy

When asked to list a depth chart at quarterback at this point of the 2023 schedule, Martin was quick to name Gabbert his number one guy, followed by last year’s backup Aveon Smith and then Colorado transfer Maddox Kopp.

“Obviously Maddox just got here in January,” Martin said. “… He’s got a high ceiling. Aveon also, which we’d expect with all his game experience last year, is a totally different AV this fall. Took a giant step forward throwing, commanding our offense.”

Chuck Martin said his staff has put more on Gabbert’s plate this season, especially when it comes to postsnap reads.

“That’s been my job since day one,” Gabbert said. “It’s gonna be my fifth year; I’m gonna be 23. I have a lot of games under my belt; I’ve won a lot of games. I like having more on my plate. It gives me more chances to do more stuff and it helps take more pressure off the other guys.”

Last season Gabbert dealt with two injuries and only started four games. First, he sustained a clavicle injury in the final minutes of the first game of the year against Kentucky on Sept. 3, 2022. That one required surgery. He returned to play on Oct. 22, 2022, but sustained an ankle injury three weeks later against Ohio University.

“Brett will put up really really ridiculous numbers for us next year,”

Martin said. “That’s the goal: play good around Brett … I feel as good about our quarterback situation as I’ve ever felt in 31 years of coaching.”

Defense is coming along Miami only allowed 22.6 points per game last season, good for best in the MAC. According to senior defensive back Michael Dowell, this year could be even better for the RedHawk defense.

“We’re in a better position than we were last year,” Dowell said. Miami’s defense expects to return nine starters from its MAC-best unit last season. Dowell isn’t the only person who’s optimistic about the unit.

“We’re trying to fill some holes,” Matt Salopek, a redshirt junior linebacker and one of the team’s leaders, said. “We’re in a good spot right now, and we’re gonna come back in the fall and see who steps up to fill those remaining spots. But we feel really good as a whole right now.”

Many players, one spot: the offensive line Miami lost two offensive linemen to power five programs this offseason. Last year’s starting center Rusty Feth transferred to Iowa, and the starting left guard Caleb Shaffer is now at Oklahoma.

But Sam Vaughan, who was slated to be the starting left tackle last year but got hurt in game one, will be back, along with the other three starters from 2022.

“I’m just really excited to put my helmet back on and get back out there,” Vaughan said. “It hasn’t always been easy these last nine months, but I just can’t wait to get back out on the field. I’m blessed to have that opportunity in my future.”

The right side of the line, tackle Reid Holskey and guard Kolby Borders, are returning, as well as last year’s eventual left tackle Will Jados. Martin said he’s still not sure whether Jados or Vaughan will play left tackle, but he expects them both to be starters. That leaves one spot on the line open. Vaughan listed six players who he believed could be in the mix for that spot. Martin echoed his sentiment. “We have a lot of [offensive linemen] who want to play,” Martin said. “We have a lot of guys who had great springs. We’re in a good position.”

Skill positions are murky

For receivers, Martin said that sophomores Reginald Virgil and Javon Tracy had great springs. 6-4 senior Miles Marshall is the only returning receiver who caught a pass last season, and he’s expected to be the number one option.

Miami also brought in two transfers this offseason, senior Joe Wilkins from Notre Dame, and junior Gage Larvadain from Southeastern Louisiana (D1 FCS).

“If you say, ‘Hey, which group had the biggest jump this offseason?’” Martin said. “The receiver group, no doubt.”

As for the running backs, last year, Miami had five non-quarterbacks rush the ball 10 or more times. Three of them are back. Rashad Amos transferred from South Carolina this offseason, and Miami fans are buzzing about his speed and shiftiness. Miami’s first game of 2023 is on Friday, Sept. 1, against the other Miami, the University of Miami, in Coral Gables, Florida. Kick time and television details of the battle of the Miamis have not yet been announced, but it’s one of the most anticipated matchups of Week 1.

This is an abridged version. To read the full story visit miamistudent.net

@jackschmelznger schmelj2@miamioh.edu