Monday Musings: Some Canes looking to stand out at the Combine

Happy Monday, everyone.

Hope your February has gone well. We might be in the throes of another awful Canes basketball season and the start of baseball, but there’s plenty still going on in the Miami sports world, so let’s get to it.

1) The NFL Combine is taking place this week, and one Cane will apparently miss his shot at improving his draft prospects.

Per NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Elijah Arroyo will miss the Combine with a knee injury he suffered at the Senior Bowl.

That’s a tough break for Arroyo, as he really made some waves last month at the Senior Bowl. The former Cane toasted defensive backs time and again on one-on-one drills in Mobile, gaining the attention of media and scouts in attendance. It was a logical extension of the massive step forward that Arroyo took in 2024 with the Canes, going from almost no production over his first three years to 35 catches for 590 yards and 7 touchdowns.

As Rapoport notes, he’ll have his Pro Day on March 24 to show off for the scouts. It still would have been great to have seen him on a much more publicized stage in Indianapolis.

2) Cam Ward may or may not throw, but his spot at or near the top of the draft is pretty settled. Conversely, Xavier Restrepo is someone who stands to gain from a big Combine though.

His tape was phenomenal this year, but a terrific showing at the Combine could solidify him as a day two pick for someone, perhaps as high as the second round. An NFL readymade slot receiver, if his agility drills are strong and he gets in the 4.5s in the 40, he should feel very good heading into the draft.

Damien Martinez wowed at times in Mobile last month as well. He’s proven he can run through players, but if he can show scouts he’s got the athleticism to match the tape and power he’s shown, he could also stand to move up in a draft that’s loaded with talented running backs.

All in all, as Cam noted previously, 10 Canes were invited to attend the Combine this week.

3) There are reports that Duke assistant Jai Lucas might be close to taking the head coaching gig for the Canes.

I’m still kind of hesitant on where I think that stands, but it’s clear that Duke’s Jon Scheyer isn’t too pleased about how it went down, at least how it got out there publicly.

Look, I hope it happens, as I like what I’ve seen from Lucas, particularly as a recruiter. He’s a young and seemingly exciting coach who seems to motivate young players and can obviously relate to them as a terrific recruiter. Sure, Duke in part sells itself as one of the top programs in the country with a lot of tradition, but you’ve still got to close the deal in the recruiting game, and Duke has.

Also, no knock-on Jim Larranaga by saying this, but I’m all for passing on an older coach with experience in favor of someone younger with little or no experience. Sometimes it takes finding that gem instead of going with something that might get you to a certain point, but history says won’t get you much farther. Of course, sometimes that older guy can get you there as Larranaga did in 2023, but I’m for the new blood approach here.

And if the reports prove to be true, that’ll be the direction the Canes go.

4) Oh yeah. Duke comes to Miami for a clash at the Watsco Center tomorrow.

Just….ugh. Not going to be pleasant to watch.

5) At least Miami baseball has kept its domination over small schools from the Northeast going during the opening weeks of this 2025 season.

They couldn’t beat Florida Atlantic midweek, falling 2-1, but hey, they’ve been knocking the ball around the Light against Hofstra and most recently Princeton, taking a four-game sweep over the weekend.

I’d say it’s hard to tell much from this series, because, well, it is. However, over the Canes’ first 8 games, they haven’t allowed more than 3 runs in a game yet, which even against lower competition is pretty good. That’s particularly important after last year’s disaster on the mound.

The real work begins this weekend against the Florida Gators in Gainesville.

Go Canes!