Richt: Rosier the guy, Boulware to challenge Mahoney & more

Coach Mark Richt said Wednesday on WQAM from ACC Media Kickoff on that “I’m excited - just knowing the roster that we have today and the amount of guys when we line up in camp by position, the number of guys that are talented. Some are young and not ready, but there is a great level of competition by position and then competition offense vs. defense. We’re going to get better because guys are fighting for a job and they’re going against good players every day in practice. And that’s what made Miami great years ago. That’s what we’re trying to get back to.”

Richt said that Malik Rosier “is the guy right now” as the starting QB

The backup QB?

“It’s wide open,” Richt said. “These other guys are working to become a leader, put the work in, the things you need to be a great quarterback they’re still trying to figure out in my opinion.

“I’m not saying they’re bad. We’re teaching them. … The quarterback has got to be different.”

What will the offensive line look like?

“Left tackle, Tyree St. Louis pretty good shot (as the starter),” Richt said. “Left guard Jahair Jones right now, a senior who never started. A big, strong cat, went through spring, did a good job. Right now he’s looking pretty good for that spot. Tyler Gauthier for sure is the center. He’s it. (Hayden) Mahoney is battling (Venzell) Boulware, Cleveland Reed for that right guard spot. If it was today it’d be Mahoney. Right tackle would be Navaughn (Donaldson). Could Navaungn move in if another guy matures? We’ll see.

“But our talent base, we have really talented offensive linemen. … We did a good job of recruiting, I can tell you that.”

Richt spoke about a few of his D linemen:

* Venzell Boulware: “He actually has two years left of eligibility, graduated in three years, got here second summer session. Right now we have him competing with Hayden Mahoney and Cleveland Reed at the right guard position. He’s doing well.”

* Tito Odenigbo: “Tito was a D lineman from Illinois, interior defensive lineman. He’s been here all summer and in the short time he’s been here you can see a difference just getting used to the climate, the humidity. He’s going to help us.”

* Gerald Willis: “Gerald has grown so much it’s unbelievable. Gone through some tough times - he has done everything we asked him to do and has become a leader on this team. He’s a guy that we love and respect and are so thankful he’s here right now because we need help at that position.”

Richt’s thoughts on the freshman class?

“They’re very talented, they think they’re good,” Richt said. “But they also know they have a lot to learn. A lot of them were asking me questions off to the side. You can tell they know they have a chance to do big things, but they still have to prove it. When they look around at each other, there’s a confidence that this group as they grow and mature, before they leave this place, big things are going to happen for that bunch.

“There’s going to be a lot of impact of guys playing this year.”

Richt also said he’s happy about the NCAA’s new redshirt rule that allows freshmen to play four games and still get an extra year of eligibility.

“Guys get to play four games, it’s phenomenal,” Richt said. “These guys will get on the field and play and if they’re ready to kick butt keep playing them, and if they’re not ready put them on the shelf, redshirt them.”

Richt said the team will have three scrimmages in fall camp, with the third one "a practice game against LSU."

"Those first two scrimmages, it's a high compettion phase until after that second scrimmage, then we think abut scout team, who is going to be first, second and third team," Richt said.

Richt's thoughts on the Indoor Practice Facility?

"Wait till you see it," Richt said. "We have this long field space and this short field space ... have about a 90-yard stretch of long field, then a 30-yard side field for offensive and defensive line. And above that is a mezzanine that has every single coach's office overlooking the indoor. Across the hall is our brand new meeting rooms. It's phenomenal."

WR Ahmmon Richards is back healthy competing in 7-on-7’s.

“It was very frustrating (with the injuries last year),” Richards said. “I feel that made me mentally tougher. Everyone has to go through something to get better.”

Richards says he’s excited about Game 1 vs. LSU in Dallas.

“I like playing LSU first game,” Richards said. “It’s going to show us what kind of team we are right off the bat. It’ll test us, be a good matchup, good team.”

Richards also spoke about how the newcomers can help this team: “We have a lot of young guys on both sides of the ball,” he said. “Those guys can’t be freshmen. We play on some big stages, so they have to be ready for it.”

Richards, of course, set the Canes’ freshman receiving record two years ago.

“They all want to break my record,” Richards said. “I would not mind it. That means they’re doing the right thing on the field.”

He adds that “When I’m on the field I want to be the best player. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be the best player and I have to live up to how I hold myself accountable for those expectations. I want to be the best player on the field at all times. You have to go out on the field and produce.

“I just pride myself on whenever the team needs a big play trying to make that play. … once I catch the ball I’m trying to score.”

* Who has stood out a lot to Richards this off-season?

Richards points to WR Lawrence Cager, says he “is more comfortable” and that “people will hear a lot of his name this year.”

“The plays he makes are just amazing,” Richards said.

Richard also spoke about a couple of freshmen wideouts.

“(Mark) Pope, despite all the hype coming in, he’s lived up to it,” Richards said. “We’re out there, he’s explosive, he’s fast. He’s just a different kind of player when he’s on the field.”

Of Brian Hightower, Richards said, “Hightower is getting better every day, is a workaholic. You have to expect good things from him.”

The bottom line?

Richards said “for sure” he expects this to be a better team than a year ago.

Safety Jaquan Johnson said today that “we’re ready to get after it.”

He shared his thoughts on several team topics:

Johnson’s thoughts on the freshman class?

“Definitely counting on those guys,” Johnson said. “We stress to those guys you have to be ready for your moment.”

* Johnson’s take on the safeties?

“We’re stacked back there at the safety position,” Johnson said. “We all push each other, compete every day. … We’re just competing the whole time out there.”

* Johnson earned the Turnover Chain seven times last season.

“It’s amazing - it was an excellent idea, motivated us, gave us even more motivation,” Johnson said. “To see it come out so many times, nobody would have thought that. We were just trying to get the ball.”

* Asked about the defensive tackle spot, Johnson said, “I think we’ll be fine - next man up mentality. We’re working, are looking forward to seeing what those guys are going to do in the first game.”

* That season opener vs. LSU?

"That's all we're thinking about," Johnson said.

RB Travis Homer was named a preseason candidate for the Doak Walker Award, the PcW SMU Athletic Forum announced Wednesday.The preseason honor is the second for Homer, who was named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award earlier in the week.

Homer saw action in all 13 games a season ago, but took over starting duties four games into the year and shined in his first opportunity as the team's primary running back. Homer rushed for 966 yards on 163 attempts, averaging 5.9 yards per carry and finishing with eight rushing touchdowns. The West Palm Beach, Fla., native, who was selected to the All-ACC Second Team in 2017, compiled 1,203 all-purpose yards and three 100-yard rushing games.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced on November 20.

The committee will cast a second vote beginning November 26 to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.

The recipient of the 2018 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 6 on ESPN.The award, which will name its 29th recipient in 2018, is named for SMU's three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.