The spring will feature a new look at tight end for the Hurricanes.
With Brevin Jordan departing for the NFL Draft, Will Mallory will assume the role as the team’s unquestioned top tight end for the 2021 season.
However, Mallory is recovering from a shoulder injury and has been ruled out for the spring.
Mallory’s absence opens the door for Larry Hodges and Dominic Mammarelli to showcase their abilities as they compete for the backup role and prove they can be counted on when practices begin on Monday.
“(Quarterback) D’Eriq (King) and Will are your veteran guys, guys who have done it and they’re reliable,” offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. “Sure you would like to continue to develop chemistry with those guys, but with Will being out I’m really excited to see can Larry Hodges, can Dominic Mammarelli take the next step now without Brevin (Jordan) or Will out there? What can they do? What kind of jump can they make because we’re going to need them this year. Even if Will is back and healthy we’re going to need those guys to be successful.”
Hodges caught one pass in six games last season after catching two passes, both touchdowns, in four games in 2019. He enters his third season as someone to keep an eye on.
“Larry is a special talent,” Mallory said at the end of last season. “I’m excited for him to show what he can do because I don’t think everybody has gotten a chance to see what he can do. He’s a really special kid.”
Mammarelli played in 10 games last season, his first at Miami, without a reception.
“When you got a guy like Dom coming in as a true freshman and doing what he’s doing, it’s impressive,” Mallory said. “He’s certainly a lot further along than I was.”
The Hurricanes also have freshman Elijah Arroyo for the spring after he enrolled in January. However, the former four-star recruit could be slowed in the beginning.
“He’s a guy we have high expectations for,” Lashlee said. “We think he’s going to be a really good football player and he fits what we want to do. He’s a little bit like Jake (Garcia) in that some of these high school guys that come in mid-year are coming off of maybe being dinged up here or there coming out of high school and you don’t want to throw them in there until they’re totally ready, but we’re hoping we can get some good work out of him in the spring and see what he can do.”
Another tight end is expected to join the mix in the summer.
“We still have a tight end that we signed that will be here this summer in Kahlil Brantley and even Michael Parrott—he’s not really a running back or a tight end, he’s kind of a throwback fullback and we’re even going to use him this spring and try to find a role for him because I think he can help us,” Lashlee said.
Christopher Stock has covered the Miami Hurricanes since 2003 and can be reached by e-mail at stock@insidetheu.com and on Twitter @InsideTheU.
"enter" - Google News
March 14, 2021 at 02:09AM
https://ift.tt/3lg30HD
TEs Larry Hodges, Dominic Mammarelli enter spring with opportunity - 247Sports
"enter" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2TwxTMf
https://ift.tt/3d6LMHD
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "TEs Larry Hodges, Dominic Mammarelli enter spring with opportunity - 247Sports"
Post a Comment