Lots of roster shuffling for Miami Hurricanes and UNC for Thursday night
Injuries, lineup changes and players returning from suspension will impact the Miami Hurricanes and North Carolina as the two get ready to play Thursday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Miami Hurricanes enter their 2018 ACC Opener with the possibility of not having either Junior wide receiver Ahmmon Richards or Senior All-American Safety Jaquan Johnson for the second game in a row. Both players are listed as questionable.
Richards has been out since suffering a bone bruise on his knee in the season opener against LSU three and a half week ago. Johnson suffered a hamstring injury in the win at Toledo two weeks ago.
Freshman Brian Hightower has started in Richards place. Senior Darrell Langham is listed as Richards backup. Both Richards and Johnson are still listed with the first team in the official depth chart released by the Miami Hurricanes Athletic Department.
Several reports had both Richards and Johnson riding stationary bikes in practice this week. Linebacker DeAndre Wilder is also listed as questionable for Thursday’s game.
There is also the matter of who will start under center for the Miami Hurricanes on Thursday night. All signs seem to point towards Redshirt Freshman N’Kosi Perry. Perry played the majority of last week’s win over FIU in relief of Malik Rosier.
Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt said we would all find out when Miami’s offense takes the field. Rosier has starter the last 17 Miami games consecutively dating back to the 2017 season opener.
Miami Hurricanes injuries
| Gregory Rousseau | Out | Ankle | Rousseau had surgery to repair a fractured right ankle and there is no timetable for recovery. |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Brown Jr. | Out | Knee | Brown Jr. is sidelined with a torn MCL and there is no timetable for return. |
| Michael Irvin II | Out | Knee | Irvin II had offseason surgery to repair a right MCL injury and is expected to be sidelined until the beginning of December. |
| Brian Polendey | Out | Knee | Polendey sustained an injury to his right knee and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2018 season. |
| Jaquan Johnson | Questionable | Hamstring | Johnson missed the last game with a hamstring injury and it is unknown if he will participate Thursday against North Carolina. |
| De’Andre Wilder | Questionable | Neck | Wilder has missed the last four games due to an ankle injury and it is unclear if he will make his season debut Thursday against North Carolina. |
| Ahmmon Richards | Questionable | Knee | Richards missed the last three games with a knee injury and it is unknown if he will suit up Thursday against North Carolina. |
| Jarren Williams | Questionable | Abdominal | Williams missed the last game with an abdominal strain and it is unknown if he will play Thursday against North Carolina. |
| Jeff Thomas | Probable | Conditioning | Thomas exited the last game due to dehydration but is expected to suit up Thursday against UNC. |
Courtesy of Sports Reference
Earlier this week Mark Richt said a few times that Thomas would play on Thursday. They expected to prepare him better for the heat and humidity of South Florida ahead of time. Thursday’s forecast at game time 86 degrees with 72 percent humidity.
The shuffling of the North Carolina lineup is centered more on the return of seven players off suspension than on injuries. The Tar Heels welcome seven players back from suspension against Miami. The two of consequence are quarterback Chazz Surratt and wide receiver Beau Corrales,
Surratt was North Carolina’s leading passer last season. Corrales set career highs with four receptions for 64 yards and two touchdowns against Miami in 2017.
Five other players are expected back against the Hurricanes. Offensive lineman Brian Anderson, Quiron Johnson and Jordon Tucker, defensive end Tyrone Hopper and linebacker Malik Robinson are not significant players but will be able to play against Miami if North Carolina needs them.
The Charlotte News and Observer summarized Anderson, Johnson, Tucker, Hopper and Robinson.
| Tomon Fox | Out | Suspension | Fox has been banned four games due to violating league rules but is likely to be available Thursday against Miami. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chazz Surratt | Out | Suspension | Surratt has been suspended for four games due to violating league rules but is expected to be reinstated Thursday against Miami. |
| Quiron Johnson | Out | Suspension | Johnson has been barred from playing in the first four games of the season due to violating league rules but is expected to participate against Miami on Thursday. |
| Brian Anderson | Out | Suspension | Anderson has been given a four-game suspension for violating league rules but is likely to be activated in time for Thursday’s game against Miami. |
| Brandon Fritts | Out | Knee | Fritts is likely to miss the entire 2018 season while he recovers from surgery to fix a torn ACL in his left knee. |
| Malik Robinson | Out | Suspension | Robinson has been slapped with a four-game suspension as he violated league rules but is expected to partake in the game on Thursday against Miami. |
| Beau Corrales | Out | Suspension | Corrales has been handed a four-game suspension for a violation of league rules but is likely to play against Miami on Thursday. |
| Malik Carney | Out | Suspension | Carney has been issued a four-game suspension due to violating league rules but is likely to make his season debut against Miami on Thursday. |
| Tyrone Hopper | Out | Suspension | Hopper received a four-game ban for violating league rules but is expected to suit up Thursday against Miami. |
| Jordan Tucker | Out | Suspension | Tucker is serving a four-game suspension as he violated league rules but is expected to line up against Miami on Thursday. |
| Jonah Melton | Questionable | Suspension | Melton was suspended for the last four games and it is unclear if he will make his season debut Thursday against Miami. |
| Rontavius Groves | Questionable | Undisclosed | Groves missed the last game for undisclosed reasons and it is unknown if he will dress for Thursday’s game against Miami. |
| Myles Dorn | Questionable | Leg | Dorn missed the last game with a leg injury and it is unclear if he will play Thursday against Miami. |
| Aaron Crawford | Questionable | Knee | Crawford has missed the last four games healing from a knee injury and it is unknown if he will make his season debut Thursday against Miami. |
UNC hopes to get two of their best defenders healthy and back in the lineup
The suspensions and the injuries to Dorn and Crawford have depleted the North Carolina defense. Dorn and Crawford ware two of the best players on the Tar Heels defense. Dorn is listed at the Tar heels starter at free safety and Crawford as one of the starting defensive tackles.
Dorn was third on the North Carolina defense last season with 71 tackles, had 2.5 tackles for loss, tied for the team lead with two interceptions and three overall turnovers with a fumble recovery, three pass breakups and a forced fumble.
North Carolina at Miami 2018 Game 5: Game Information. dark. Next
The Tar Heels front four needs Crawford back. North Carolina is last in the ACC in run defense allowing 202.7 yards per game on the ground. Crawford is 6’1 310 pounds and had 29 tackles, five tackles for loss three sacks and a fumble recovery in 2017.