Hurricanes Weekly

University of Miami Head Baseball Coach Gino Dimare talks to Joe Z about his 14 game wining streak

Quarterback

2021 ACC ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
2021 ACC OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

2021 (True Freshman*): Dazzled in first season as starting quarterback, earning ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors…Started final nine games of season and saw action in 10 games total…Took over starting duties due to injury to QB D’Eriq King three games into season and ended year by throwing for 2,931 yards…Totaled 25 passing touchdowns compared to just six interceptions and completed 62.3 percent of pass attempts (202 of 324)…Added one rushing touchdown…Earned ACC Rookie of the Week five times over course of year…Ended season with six straight games with at least 300 passing yards and at least three touchdown passes, becoming first Power-5 quarterback to record such a streak in a single season since Joe Burrow of LSU in his 2019 Heisman Trophy-winning campaign…Moved into tie for seventh place in Miami Football history in single-season touchdown passes (25) and posted sixth-best single-season completion percentage by a Miami quarterback in history at 62.3…Became third Miami player to win both ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year, joining RB Duke Johnson (2012) and QB Brad Kaaya (2014)…Made season debut and threw one pass against Alabama (Sept. 4)…Made first start of career against Central Connecticut State (Sept. 25) and finished with third-most passing yards (270) by Miami quarterback making his first start since 1999…Completed 10 of 11 passes for three touchdowns and zero interceptions against Blue Devils…Totaled two touchdowns (one rushing, one passing) in first career ACC start against Virginia (Sept. 30)…Totaled 203 passing yards on 15-of-29 passing against Cavaliers…Threw for 264 yards at North Carolina (Oct. 16), completing 20 of 45 passes with one touchdown…Threw for 325 yards with four passing touchdowns and no interceptions in win over North Carolina State (Oct. 23)…Completed 25 of 33 passes against Wolfpack…Totaled career-high 426 yards on 32-of-42 passing with three touchdowns in first road win of career at Pittsburgh (Oct. 30)…Finished with 389 passing yards and three touchdowns in win over Georgia Tech (Nov. 6)…Completed 22 of 34 passes against Yellow Jackets…Matched career mark with four touchdown passes at Florida State (Nov. 13)…Totaled 25 completions (on 47 attempts) versus Seminoles, throwing two interceptions…Completed 19 passes (19-for-33) for 357 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in win over Virginia Tech (Nov. 20)…Compiled 381 yards on 34-for-49 passing with three touchdowns in regular season finale at Duke (Nov. 27).

2020 (True Freshman): Saw action in two games during first season…Made career debut in romp of rival Florida State (Sept. 26)…Saw action in regular season finale against North Carolina (Dec. 12).

High School: A consensus four-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals and 247 Composite…Ranked No. 105 nationally in the ESPN300…Rated the No. 2 pro-style quarterback nationally and top player in Connecticut by ESPN…Listed as the No. 9 pro-style QB nationally and No. 2 player in the state by 247 Composite…Ranked No. 209 in the 247 Composite Top247…Rated the No. 8 pro-style quarterback nationally and No. 2 player in Connecticut by Rivals…Listed as the No. 199 player in the Rival Top 250…Helped lead Suffield Academy to an undefeated season and the NEPSAC Class A Championship…Finished the 2019 season with 2,260 passing yards and 21 touchdowns while completing 123 of his 200 pass attempts…Totaled over 4,600 passing yards and 39 passing touchdowns over fina ...

Don Bailey Jr. with Joe Z Preview this Saturday's (4-13-22) University of Miami Spring Football Game

Wide Reciever

2021 (True Freshman*): Saw action in all 12 games and ranked among team’s top offensive performers…Totaled 24 catches for 373 yards with two touchdowns…Ranked fourth in receiving yards and fifth in receptions…Caught three passes for 55 yards, including first touchdown of career, in season opener against Alabama (Sept. 4)…First score came on 29-yard reception…Had 18-yard reception in win over Appalachian State (Sept. 11)…Caught one pass against Michigan State (Sept. 18)…Totaled 75 receiving yards on four receptions in win over Central Connecticut State (Sept. 25)…Had career-long 45-yard catch against Virginia (Sept. 30)…Saw action against North Carolina (Oct. 16)…Played in win over NC State (Oct. 23)…Had career-high seven receptions totaling career-best 89 yards in win over Pittsburgh (Oct. 30)…Caught two passes totaling 11 yards in win over Georgia Tech (Nov. 6)…Recorded 7-yard reception at Florida State (Nov. 13)…Totaled 74 kickoff return yards, including long return of 50 yards, in win over Virginia Tech (Nov. 20)…Caught two passes totaling 30 yards, including 21-yard reception, in win over Duke in season finale (Nov. 27).

2020 (True Freshman): Saw action in nine games in debut season…Made career debut in season opener against UAB (Sept. 10)…Played in road win at Louisville (Sept. 19)…Had 8-yard punt return in win over Florida State (Sept. 26)…Saw action at top-ranked Clemson (Oct. 10)…Played in win over Pittsburgh (Oct. 17)…Saw action in win at Viginia Tech (Nov. 14)…Caught first pass of career on 12-yard reception in win at Duke (Dec. 5)…Saw action in regular season finale against North Carolina (Dec. 12)…Played in 2020 Cheez-It Bowl against Oklahoma State (Dec. 29).

High School: Rated a four-star prospect by Rivals and a three-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN…Ranked the No. 49 athlete in the country by 247 Composite…Rated the No. 54 wide receiver and No. 54 player in Florida by Rivals…Listed as the No. 101 athlete nationally by ESPN…Helped lead Deerfield Beach to the semifinals in the Florida Class 8A state playoffs…Finished the 2019 season with 18 catches for 294 yards and six receiving touchdowns…A versatile player, he scored 48 touchdowns, had eight interceptions, over 200 tackles, over 500 passing yards, over 3,000 receiving yards and over 2,500 rushing yards in high school career…Chose Miami over offers from Georgia, Boston College, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Mississippi State, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Oregon, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, Texas, Vanderbilt, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard and Princeton, among others.

Offensive Lineman

Before Miami: Spent first four seasons of career at UNLV…Made 21 starts over career with Runnin Rebels…Started all six games at right tackle in 2020…Started 11 of 12 games as redshirt sophomore in 2019 – five at right tackle, five at left tackle and one at left guard…Started four games as redshirt freshman in 2018, including three at left tackle…Redshirted 2017 season.

High School: A 2017 graduate of Foster HS … A two-year letterwinner under coach Shaun McDowell … Rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals and 247Sports … Lined up on OL and DL as a prepster … Paved the way for the Falcons’ 14-1 record, bi-district championship and state semifinals appearance as a senior … Earned first team all-district honors as a senior … Also threw discus on the track team.

Offensive Coordinator 

Josh Gattis is in his first season as a member of the Miami Hurricanes Football coaching staff, where he serves as offensive coordinator.

Gattis, the reigning Broyles Award winner as the nation’s top assistant coach, spent the previous three seasons (2019-21) at Michigan as offensive coordinator. He helped guide the Wolverines to their first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff in 2021, leading an offense that ranked among the nation’s top-performing units.

“I’m fired up to add Josh Gattis to our staff as offensive coordinator,” head coach Mario Cristobal said upon his hiring. “Josh has championship experience and has achieved the highest honor as an assistant coach. He is a phenomenal human being, has exceptional acumen in player development and is a tremendous recruiter. His offenses are explosive and well-balanced, and his passion, ambition and energy will separate him as a difference maker for our offense and for our program.”

“It’s a tremendous honor to be here. I grew up in ACC land, and I’ve always had the utmost respect for this program,” Gattis said upon his hiring. “When you look at the history, the tradition and the legacy of this place, Miami is one of the most storied programs in all of college football. When the opportunity came up to be a part of this program, it was one that I just couldn’t turn down. We’ve got an unbelievable staff and I’m really, really excited about Coach Cristobal’s vision.”

In addition to winning the nation’s top assistant honor a season ago, Gattis has mentored a Biletnikoff Award winner, multiple All-Americans and all-conference players. He has been a part of four conference championship-winning teams and has coached in multiple College Football Playoff games.

The Wolverines were stellar on offense a season ago, ranking No. 16 in scoring offense, No. 25 in total offense, No. 15 in rushing offense, No. 16 in third down conversion and No. 24 in red zone offense. Michigan won the B1G title in dominating fashion, routing Iowa 42-3 before earning a bid to the CFP for the first time in program history.

In 2020, Gattis’ unit averaged 28.3 points and 381.8 yards per game. The Wolverines gained over 350 yards of offense in four of six contests and went over 450 yards of offense three times. Running back Hassan Haskins averaged more than six yards per carry (No. 24 in NCAA), while four players averaged 10-plus yards or better per reception – including receivers Ronnie Bell (15.4 yards per catch) and Cornelius Johnson (15.9).

In his first season, Gattis led the Wolverines offense to a 5,000-yard season (5,220 yards), averaging more than 400 yards of offense per game. The Wolverines averaged 31.7 points and 401.5 yards per contest buoyed by a stretch which saw Michigan out-gain and out-score four league opponents and Notre Dame by a combined +1,101 yards and +114 points. Thirteen different Wolverines were named All-Big Ten on offense under Gattis.

Gattis coached wide receivers Nico Collins (37 catches, 729 yards, seven touchdowns) and Bell (48 catches, 758 yards, one touchdown) to career-best seasons along with quarterback Shea Patterson. Collins’ 19.7 yard-per-catch average led the Big Ten Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (six touchdowns) was also a big end zone factor, and five pass-catchers registered at least 25 receptions each. Patterson became the third Michigan quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in a season (3,061), throwing for the third-most yards (384) and the second-most touchdowns (five) in a single game during the course of the year. Michigan had two rushers over 600 yards in Zach Charbonnet (726 yards, 11 TDs) and Haskins (637 yards, 4 TDs), and Charbonnet’s 11 rushing scores were a freshman record at Michigan.

Prior to his arrival i ...

Offensive Lineman

2020 (Sophomore): Saw action in all 11 games and made 10 starts…Made season debut in opener against UAB (Sept. 10)…Made first start of season and 13th of career in opener in win at top-20 Louisville (Sept. 19), helping pave way for 485-yard performance with start at left guard…Started at left guard in romp of rival Florida State (Sept. 26) in which Miami gained 517 yards, including 200 rushing yards…Started at left guard at top-ranked Clemson (Oct. 17)…Made start at left guard in back-to-back home wins over Pittsburgh (Oct. 17) and Virginia (Oct. 24)…Helped lead offense to 620-yard performance in start at left guard in come-from-behind win at NC State (Nov. 6)…Started at left guard in 524-yard performance for offense in win at Duke (Dec. 5)…Started at left guard in regular season finale against North Carolina (Dec. 12)…Helped lead offense to 512-yard output in 2020 Cheez-It Bowl against Oklahoma State (Dec. 29) with start at left guard.

2019 (True Freshman): Started all 12 games in which he participated, emerging as top option on offensive line…Started final 12 games of season at right guard…Made first start of career at North Carolina (Sept. 7), making career debut at right guard…Started at right guard in home wins over Bethune-Cookman (Sept. 14) and Central Michigan (Sept. 21)…Started at right guard against Virginia Tech (Oct. 5)…Made start at right guard in win over Virginia (Oct. 11)…Started at right guard against Georgia Tech (Oct. 19)…Helped Miami win back-to-back road games with starts at right guard at Pittsburgh (Oct. 26) and at Florida State (Nov. 2)…Started at right guard in win over Louisville (Nov. 9), helping lead offense to 449-yard performance including 197 rushing yards…Made start at right guard in games versus FIU (Nov. 23) and in regular season finale at Duke (Nov. 30)…Started at right guard in Walk-On’s Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech (Dec. 26).

High School: Consensus three-star prospect by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247Sports.com…Ranked No. 10 center in country by ESPN.com…Listed as No. 14 center in country by 247Sports.com…Rated No. 101 player in Georgia by Rivals.com…Helped Grayson reach regional finals in 2018 Class AAAAAAA playoffs…Chose Miami over offers from Auburn, Illinois, Syracuse, West Virginia, Arizona, Boston College, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Oregon State, Rutgers, Southern Miss, Temple and Tulane, among others.

Quarterbacks Coach / Passing Game Coordinator

Frank Ponce is in his first season as a member of the Miami Hurricanes Football coaching staff, where he serves as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.

Ponce arrives in Coral Gables after spending the 2021 season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Appalachian State. Ponce, a Miami native with deep roots in south Florida, previously worked under head coach Mario Cristobal from 2007-12.

“I am fired up to welcome Coach Ponce back home to Miami,” Cristobal said upon Ponce’s hiring. “Coach Ponce has a reputation as an elite offensive coach whose groups rank among the nation’s best. He is a tremendous recruiter and talent developer, and his units have always been defined by their toughness, their balance and their explosiveness. I know he will continue to build on that track record at home with the Hurricanes.”

In Ponce’s second stint at App State in 2021, Mountaineers Chase Brice set a single-season program record for passing yards (3,337) and the Mountaineers extended their FBS-leading streak of consecutive years with a 1,000-yard rusher to 10 while averaging 34.5 points per game. The offense helped App State post a 10-win regular season and win the Sun Belt’s East Division title.

“I’m truly excited just being a part of this organization and this University, especially with Coach Cristobal,” Ponce said upon his hiring. “I’ve worked with him before. I know what his vision is and everyone wants to be part of a championship program and he’s going to bring that to the city of Miami.

“I’m excited. My family is here. I am from Miami and I grew up rooting for the Hurricanes. And now I am here wearing ‘The U’ on my chest. And I can’t tell you how excited and happy I am to be here back in the city of Miami, but most importantly, with University of Miami football.”

Ponce was App State’s co-offensive coordinator (passing game) and quarterbacks coach for six seasons from 2013-18. In 2019, Ponce joined the Louisville Cardinals’ staff where he served as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for two seasons before returning to App State.

After helping lead App State to a 48-16 record and three consecutive Sun Belt championships during his five FBS seasons in Boone, Ponce oversaw the 2019 development of Louisville quarterback and new full-time starter Malik Cunningham, who set the school record with a passing efficiency rating of 194.45 — a number that would have ranked No. 2 nationally with one more pass attempt.

Cunningham threw for 4,682 yards with 42 touchdowns, rushed for 1,091 yards with 13 touchdowns and completed 63.6 percent of his throws in his two seasons with Ponce, becoming the only Louisville quarterback to ever have four touchdown passes of at least 75 yards.

Three-year App State starter Zac Thomas was a relatively unknown commodity replacing record-breaking quarterback Taylor Lamb back in 2018, and Ponce helped Thomas make an immediate splash as a first-year starter who developed into the Sun Belt’s Offensive Player of the Year with 2,039 passing yards, 504 rushing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, 10 rushing touchdowns and just six interceptions during an 11-2 season.

Ponce excelled as a high school coach in his home state from 1992-2006 before joining Cristobal’s staff at FIU as the wide receivers coach from 2007-12. Ponce left FIU in 2013 to become the Mountaineers’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Under Ponce’s mentorship, Lamb finished his App State career as the school and Sun Belt record holder with 90 touchdown passes. The only FBS quarterbacks in 2017 with career totals of at least 9,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards were Lamb, Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett and Lo ...

Isaiah Holmes Track Star

2021 Outdoor:  Finished fourth at the Florida Relays in the high jump with a mark of 2.15m… Set a Miami program record on his home track with a mark of 2.21m at the Hurricane Alumni Invitational… Won the bronze medal at the ACC Outdoor Championships in the high jump with a mark of 2.15m… Advanced to the NCAA East Prelims and finished eighth with a mark of 2.19m to advance to his first ever NCAA Championships… Finished 19th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the high jump with a mark of 2.10m… Competed at the USA Olympic Trials and finished tied for 17th with his mark of 2.14m.

2021 Indoor: Finished eighth at the ACC Indoor Championships with a mark of 2.02m.

Prior to UM: Was an eight-time Pac-12/Mountain Pacific Sports Federation conference scorer, a two-time Pac-12/MPSF conference champion in the high jump and long jump… As a four-time NCAA West Preliminary qualifier, he is also one UCLA’s all-time top-10 list in both events… Was named the 2017 Pac-12 Field Athlete and Freshman of the Year… Won the high jump, was runner-up in the long jump and finished fifth in the triple jump at the Pac-12 Championships… Reached the 2019 NCAA West Regionals in both the high jump and long jump… Concluded his career as a Bruin with personal best marks in the long jump at 7.90m, a mark of 2.20m in the high jump, 15.43m in the triple jump and a third-place finish at the MPSF Championships with 5,517 points, which ranked as the fifth-best score in UCLA.

Personal: Son of Shawn and Cheryl Holmes… Five siblings, including a brother, Justin, who played wide receiver at San Jose State.

Post Game Interview with University of Miami Associate Head Coach Chris Caputo after the Canes lose in the sweet 16