Defense Wins, But Young Backs Thrill at Scrimmage

[Insert "Storm" puns here]

By JANIE CAMPBELL

Updated 8:12 AM EDT, Fri, Mar 12, 2010

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The defense may have won last night's scrimmage, but it was the blazing debut of two Miami tailbacks that thrilled the crowd of 3,000 at Lockhart Stadium.

Storm Johnson, the Georgia Offensive Player of the Year who skipped his last semester of high school to enroll early at UM this spring, ripped off two long runs of 52 and 29 yards and scored a touchdown. Redshirt freshman Lamar Miller, a Killian grad, showed off his speed with a 44-yard touchdown race from a broken tackle and later scored in a goal-line situation. Together, the two had 168 yards on 17 carries.

Breakaway sprints? Yes, please.

"I was kind of pleased with the running backs," said head coach Randy Shannon, which, for him, roughly translates to "I am having Storm Johnson and Lamar Miller tattooed about my person."

"Now," he said, "maybe those 20- and 30-yard plays become 60-yard touchdowns."

Maybe they do. Last year's breakout back, rising senior Damien Berry, sat out the scrimmage with a hamstring injury; starter Graig Cooper may return from surgery before fall; and sophomore Mike James also scored a touchdown in the scrimmage and aims to keep his carries. It remains to be seen if Johnson and Miller can translate good spring play into solid roles, but if last night was any indication don't count them out.

Miller in particular, perhaps, will find himself some burn -- he entered Miami already faster than speedy NFL'ers Devin Hester, Adrian Peterson, and Sinorice Moss were at the same age.

"The things he does, I've never seen a running back do things like that," said sophomore defensive lineman Dyron Dye. "It's very exciting to go against him."

Notes from the scrimmage: quaterback AJ Highsmith got the most snaps of the would-be backup quarterbacks; two of his three interceptions were bobbled by receivers. Junior safety Vaughn Telemaque had two interceptions; junior defensive end Andrew Smith notched three sacks. At least two scuffles broke out in the trenches, which can only mean one thing: Miami's back, baby!

Janie Campbell is a Florida native who believes in the pro-set and ballpark hot dogs. Her work has appeared in irreverent sports sites around the internet.