Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey can't wait to see his offense in action. After months of preseason practice, the junior wants to see his receivers against players other than the Miami secondary.

After losing their best two receivers, Reggie Wayne and Big East Offensive Player of the Year, Santana Moss, to the NFL, the Hurricanes have restocked, and Dorsey is excited to start his junior season.

The Orinda, Calif., native is a Heisman Tropy candidate and is revered as one of the smartest quarterbacks in the country.

Miami's first-year coach, Larry Coker, said Dorsey is the best quarterback he's ever been around.

That means plenty since Coker was a 22-year assistant coach and offensive coordinator before he got the head coaching job at Miami. But Coker isn't just talking up his Heisman candidate for more publicity. Dorsey backs up all the nice things everyone says about him.

"He's literally a coach on the field," Coker said. "The team has unbelievable respect for him. Ken's probably the best I've ever been around."

Dorsey just takes all the compliments in stride.

The 6-foot-5 junior said he is lucky to have so many former Hurricane quarterbacks that he can call and get advice from.

Dorsey said Bernie Kosar and Gino Toretta are two former Miami players he regularly talks with about what he can do to better himself as a player.

Dorsey said since Kosar coaches with the Carolina Panthers and Toretta still lives in South Florida, they are easily accessible and always willing to talk to a fellow Hurricane.

"All the guys who have been through this and have been a quarterback here, there is a great tradition," Dorsey said. "It is a great honor of being a part of the quarterback mystique.

Not only does Dorsey make the offense better when he is on the field, he makes the defense work harder in practice. Because of his vision and field sense, the Miami secondary cannot relax for one play in practice or it's a touchdown.

Hurricanes free safety Ed Reed said Dorsey keeps everybody honest in practice and his presence on the field makes the Miami defensive backs better. The senior said the cornerbacks and Dorsey constantly go back and forth in practice, only making each other better for the season.

"Ken Dorsey teaches me a lot," Reed said. "If you're not doing your job, he'll get you."

Dorsey isn't going to have many fans at Saturday's contest with Penn State, but a select few Dorsey family members will be in attendance. Dorsey has some family near Pittsburgh who are making the trip to Beaver Stadium, but his biggest fan, his older brother Adam, is also expected to be cheering on the Hurricanes.

Adam Dorsey, a senior at Florida State, has traveled the country watching his brother play, even donning a Hurricanes shirt at Virginia Tech, a university, Ken Dorsey said, that doesn't appreciate Miami fans very much.

But no matter who the Hurricanes are playing, if Adam Dorsey has to fly, take a bus or even a train, he'll try and watch his brother and the Hurricanes play. Ken Dorsey definitely appreciates everything his brother does for him.

"He goes to school at FSU and that adds a little more pressure on him," Ken Dorsey said. "I'm just so glad he can go to all the games."