Miami Hurricanes linebacker Jamie Gordinier is out for the season for the second straight year. Multiple reports said that Gordinier injured his right knee in practice yesterday.
Gordinier missed the 2016 season after tearing his ACL in his left knee during the Hurricanes season-opening win over Florida A&M. Miami Hurricanes Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz considered Gordinier to be one of his key reserves for the 2017 season. He also would likely have helped out on special teams.
Miami has plenty of depth at linebacker to be able to absorb the loss of Gordinier for the season. Charles Perry, Darrion Owens and Mike Smith will backup the returning Sophomore trio of Shaq Quarterman, Michael Pinckney and Zach McCloud. Pinckney and Quarterman earned Freshman All-America status last season.
Miami also has Freshman linebackers DeAndre Wilder, Bradley Jennings and Waynmon Steed that have the possibility of contributing as well. Steed is an inside linebacker. Jennings and Wilder are competing for playing time outside.
Gordinier gave Miami excellent size and versatility. He is 6’4 235 pounds. Diaz had him training at the mike and will linebacker spots. According to the Miami Herald, he will have surgery at the UHealth Sports Medicine Institute at The Lennar Foundation Medical Center next week.
In his third year on campus after redshirting as a Freshman, Gordinier has only played in one game. Gordinier should be a candidate for a sixth season of eligibility to finish his final three should he chose to do so.
"AthleticScholarships.Net lists the requirements for an athlete to qualify for a medical redshirt.Medical Hardship RequirementsTo be eligible for a medical hardship waiver, a student-athlete has to meet the following criteria:"
- The student-athlete must suffer the injury during one of their four seasons of college competition or during the senior year of high school.
- The injury must be incapacitating. That means it must be a season-ending injury.
- The injury must occur prior to the start of the second half of the season.
- The student-athlete must not have competed in more than 30% of the season or three contests, whichever is greater.
Gordinier is likely to have a tough time earning playing time when he comes back from the injury in 2018. All of the linebackers on the depth chart will be eligible to return in 2018.
It’s a heartbreaking injury. Gordinier was performing well in training camp before suffering the season ending injury for the second straight season. Diaz discussed how the Redshirt Sophomore was coming along.
"“The neat thing about Jamie is he feels really confident in his leg…moving and cutting, doesn’t show any hesitation. So I think that, for his confidence, will be really good…he’s got to run at somebody where it makes a loud noise and feel really good about that and then eventually, we’ll work our way to scrimmage next Saturday. But it helps us having him back. He’s a guy that’s very intelligent, answers all the questions in the meeting room and can play multiple positions for us.”"
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Hopefully with hard work during rehab Gordinier can work his way back to the roster for the 2018 season. If he can still contribute during his collegiate career he will become a feel good story. Anyone that follows Miami certainly has to root for Gordinier.