he made sure to speak with Vaughn Telemaque.

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Miami Hurricanes' Vaughn Telemaque hopes to be catalyst for turnovers
Safety Vaughn Telemaque, who has drawn comparisons to [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] by coach Randy Shannon, is looking to help UM's defense create more turnovers -- starting with himself.
When [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] returned to the University of Miami this past spring for a visit, he made sure to speak with Vaughn Telemaque.
The six-time Pro Bowl safety and the Canes' all-time leader in interceptions had heard coach Randy Shannon mention how Telemaque had the potential to live up to [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u]'s legacy. So [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] dedicated a portion of his time to tutoring the redshirt sophomore on ways to become better at ball-hawking.
``He talked about how playing cornerback can help you learn where your vulnerable points are [in the secondary], and it can carry your safety [play] to another level,'' said Telemaque, who played a lot of cornerback for that reason in the spring.
``He said it can help you understand routes, where the quarterback is trying to fit the ball. If you can do that, then you know where you can fill the void at safety.''
Thirteen starts into his career, Telemaque still is looking for his first college interception for a UM defense that has created only one turnover in two games heading into Thursday night's game at Pittsburgh.
But as frustrating as the search for turnovers has been for the Hurricanes defense, the 6-2, 207-pound former All-American from Long Beach Poly High School assures he isn't lacking confidence. He is handling the struggles with California cool and letting them roll off his signature dreadlocks.
``I need to get some more turnovers. I need to make some big-time plays like [[link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u]] and get that going,'' said Telemaque, who as a senior at Poly made 89 tackles and nine interceptions -- including three in the state championship game.
``[But] I understand I also need to be patient and just let it come to me. Patience is a virtue. I want to try to make it happen, [but] if I'm not making it happen, the guys around me will make sure we're making it happen.''
BOUNCING BACK
Patience is nothing new for Telemaque. Three games into his freshman season, he tore his labrum after a collision with Texas A&M fullback Jorvorskie Lane that caused him to miss the final 10 games of the 2008 season.
``Once he got hurt, he was like, `Man what am I gonna do?' '' said USC defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, a close friend of Telemaque's who played with him at Poly.
``It was tough for him because he was on special teams and just getting ready to get in the rotation.''
But it didn't take Telemaque long to bounce back. After missing the season opener at Florida State, he made 11 starts in the Canes' final 12 games and finished fifth on the team with 48 tackles last season. Along the way, he delivered his share of highlight-reel hits -- including upending Georgia Tech running back Roddy Jones and a vicious blow to Duke receiver Donovan Varner.
THE NEXT STEP
Although Shannon said Telemaque has done a great job signaling teammates in the secondary and lining players up in the right spots, it's the next step -- helping create turnovers -- coaches are waiting on.
So far, sophomore Ray-Ray Armstrong's 22-yard interception return for a touchdown against Florida A&M is the only turnover UM has produced this season. Last season, the team created 21 turnovers, nine by interceptions. But only five of those picks were made by players in the Canes secondary.
When [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] patrolled UM's secondary in 2000 and 2001, interceptions were the norm. UM snagged 50 between the 2000 and 2001 seasons. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] recorded 17 of those over his final two seasons. But in his first two years with UM, [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] was more of a tackler with only two interceptions in each season.
``I appreciate [the [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] comparisons],'' Telemaque said. ``[But] I just want to go out there and play team football.
``Knowing I have No. 1 [Brandon Harris] as a corner, No. 8 [DeMarcus Van Dyke] as a corner, No. 26 [Armstrong] to my left or right -- that builds confidence, and that'll help me play to my potential.''
Receiver LaRon Byrd, Telemaque's roommate, said it is only a matter of time before the safety becomes more of the player Shannon projected him to be.
``We always talk about that,'' said Byrd, who wears Michael Irvin's No. 47 jersey. ``I'll be like, `VT, I have to have this blowout game' and he'll say,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], `Byrd, I have to have that shutdown game.' I definitely think it's going to happen for him soon. He just needs to keep working at it.''

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