’Canes battle for kick, punt spots

CORAL GABLES — Although much of the Miami Hurricanes’ depth chart is taking shape, the kickoff- and punt-return positions still remain a competition.

Special-teams coach Todd Hartley said the race is just as open as when training camp started earlier this month. The Hurricanes are a week away from the season opener. The competition is among RB Travis Homer ,CB Malek Young, ATH Deejay Dallas and WRs Braxton Berrios, Mike Harley and Jeff Thomas.

“There’s a bunch of them,” Hartley said. “We actually have a two-returner system back there, so it’s not just one kick returner. There’s actually about six guys who could still rotate in and out.”

Hartley said he wouldn’t mind having two different players handle the roles but ideally wants one return specialist.

“If you could have one guy do both, that would awesome,” Hartley said. “But it doesn’t have to be.”

What has impressed Hartley the most during camp is the speed at the position, especially Thomas and Harley. Both are expected to be impact freshmen.

“You have a guy that, when there’s a crease, he can hit that crease with enough speed that you don’t have to block it perfectly,” Hartley said. “But the other thing you worry about sometimes with smaller guys is whether they can take a hit. You’ve got 11 people coming down full-speed. It’s really not like catching a pass.”

Next game: No. 18 Miami vs. Bethune-Cookman, Sept. 2, 12:30 p.m., ACC Regional Sports Network

Shandel Richardson be