Miami, Florida – How about those Miami Hurricanes, After turning Gainesville into Canesville next is the home opener with Florida A&M Rattlers in week 2. UM overwhelmed the Florida Gators to kick off the season and will look to keep on rolling. The Canes are hosting the Rattlers in what will likely be another high-scoring game perpetrated by Miami’s high-powered offense. HBCU Champions FAMU continues the slate of non-conference opponents and is also part of a stretch of games that allows the Hurricanes to get into a fast start for the 2024 campaign.
WEEK 2️⃣
🆚: Florida A&M
🗓️: September 7th
⏰: 6 PM ET
📍: @HardRockStadium
📺: ACCNX
🎧: @560WQAM
🎟️: https://t.co/yFAMbdrT4Q#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/cWxk1zrBhd— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) September 2, 2024
The Rattlers arrive 2-0 coming off a 22-18 win over South Carolina State University. If history is any indication, they will not go 3-0. The last time these two programs faced each other was back in 2016. The Canes opened the season with a 70-3 beat down of Florida A&M. In 2014, Miami also won 41-7. FAMU hopes to recreate the upset they pulled off on October 6, 1979, when the two teams met for the first time. Since then it’s 10 straight by Miami. Here are the six players to watch.
Miami Hurricanes
Mark Fletcher, Jr.
Folks weren’t sure if the sophomore would be healthy enough to play in the season opener. Mark Fletcher erased all doubt as he rushed for 23 yards on seven carries and scored twice. Damien Martinez will continue to get the lion’s share of the work but Fletcher will remain present every other down and in the red zone. Depending on the situation, Fletcher could see more carries as the ground game grinds down Florida A&M’s defense. Martinez is the favorite to hit 100 yards and Fletcher may accrue 50-70 yards.
Jaden Harris
Jaden Harris is your ACC Defensive Back of the Week 🙌
🔗: https://t.co/oSfjXzFwTE
#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/vHhvybTIcR— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) September 3, 2024
Harris earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week leading the Hurricanes D accumulating a career-high seven tackles and nabbing his first college career interception. The sophomore safety broke up two passes, assisting in holding the Gators to 122 passing yards. The Rattlers present a great opportunity at an encore performance where the entire defense will be feasting on an outmatched FAMU. Jaden’s presence will be felt.
Zach Carpenter
Zach Carpenter is your ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week 🙌
🔗: https://t.co/oSfjXzFwTE#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/6nwlij1Zib
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) September 3, 2024
Another Cane won an accolade for himself. Zach Carpenter generated a strong debut as Miami’s newest center helping the offensive line control the trenches. For this effort, he was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week. Carpenter stood up against Florida’s line providing avenues for the runningbacks to slip through. Against a less equipped Florida front, the Hurricanes ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Zach was part of a unit that allowed only one sack and I’ll be interested to see if they can do better versus Florida A&M.
FAMU
Daniel Richardson
‼️‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/PZMgSYbMMh
— Daniel Richardson (@doc_d12) December 20, 2023
The senior is off to a great start throwing for 568 yards and six TDs through the season’s first two games. Against SCSU Daniel Richardson completed 23 of 38 passes for 282 yards averaging roughly 7.4 yards a play producing three touchdowns. For his performance, he earned the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Offensive Player of the Week. The Florida Atlantic transfer is about to see a dramatic increase in difficulty when he squares off against UM’s defense.
Andre Powell Jr
New number same goal⏳ pic.twitter.com/a3RDDmnAtp
— Andre’ Powell, Jr. (@andrepowelljr1) June 12, 2024
Switching to a defensive back, Andre Powell leads the team with 14 tackles and has deflected one pass thus far. The redshirt junior is primed and ready to gather more against a talented Miami unit. He’s going to have his hands full once Ward has the ball. In his sophomore season, he participated in 11 games recording the same amount of tackles he’s got now including a tackle for loss and a sack.
James Gardner
Fort Pierce #Westwood 2025 SS/CB Javian Gardner (@jgardner_07)
6’ 180lbs 3.3 GPA
(Football, Track, Wrestling)@DB__God @RyanWrightRNG @larryblustein @Dwight_XOS @Coach2Bless @CoachThompson6 @CoachQuinnJSU @CoachMattB_ @TheRealCoachJB @_TMJacksonFILM: https://t.co/32SLi2luID pic.twitter.com/F8LBf19pIc
— Chris Kokell – Fort Pierce Westwood HS (@RealCoachK) May 29, 2023
Focusing on the trenches, we’ve got a senior defensive lineman named James Gardner. Hailing from Southwest Mississippi Community College, the Fort Pierce, Florida native leads the team with 1.5 sacks. He and his teammates would love nothing more than to rattle Cam’s cage. The team that wins in the trenches will control the tempo of the game.
Prediction
The Rattlers have an opportunity to pull off a great upset. Unfortunately for them, Miami is on a mission to get themselves back into the national spotlight. At a minimum, the Canes should put up 50 points. Final score: 55-6.
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