Miami Hurricanes at Virginia Cavaliers: Week 7 Information
The Miami Hurricanes are starting to get healthy as they approach their bye week after Saturday’s game at Virginia. They received devastating news earlier this week when it was announced that star Junior wide receiver Ahmmon Richards has to retire because of a neck injury.
The injury doesn’t devastate what they are trying to do too much this season as he only played in the season opener against LSU. The information on Richards been that he suffered a bone bruise on his knee in the LSU game and that’s why he has been out. Richards missed the final two games of 2017 after MCL surgery.
Getting Jaquan Johnson back last week was vital to the Miami defense. Johnson had missed the previous two and a half games with a knee injury. He returned and led Miami with ten tackles. Despite the missed time, with his performance on Saturday Johnson regained the team lead with 32 tackles this season.
Willis and wide receiver Jeff Thomas who have been Miami’s team MVPs through the first half of the season are battling injuries but expected to play on Saturday. Thomas’ knee injury occurred last week when he was dragged down by the facemask by Florida State’s kicker.
The other position to watch is quarterback. Starter N’Kosi Perry and backup Malik Rosier are healthy. They could be the only scholarship quarterbacks on Miami’s roster available on Saturday.
Third-team QB Cade Weldon received a four-game suspension that commenced with the Florida State game. Freshman Jarren Williams has been dealing with an abdominal injury and it’s not known if he will be available.
| Player | Status | Type | Comment ▼ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Willis III | Probable | Finger | Willis III has an injured finger but it is likely he will participate Saturday against Georgia Tech. |
| Jarren Williams | Questionable | Abdominal | Williams has missed the last three games with an abdominal strain and it is unclear if he will play Saturday against Virginia. |
| De’Andre Wilder | Out | Neck | Wilder is suffering from a neck injury and will miss the remainder of the 2018 season. |
| Cade Weldon | Out | Suspension | Weldon is serving a four-game suspension but is likely to be activated November 9 against Georgia Tech. |
| Jeff Thomas | Probable | Knee | Thomas has a hyperextended knee but is expected to play against Virginia on Saturday. |
| Gregory Rousseau | Out | Ankle | Rousseau had surgery to repair a fractured right ankle and there is no timetable for recovery. |
| Ahmmon Richards | Out | Neck | Richards has a neck injury and will miss the remainder of the season. |
| Brian Polendey | Out | Knee | Polendey sustained an injury to his right knee and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2018 season. |
| 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. |
| George Brown Jr. | Out | Knee | Brown Jr. is sidelined with a torn MCL and there is no timetable for return. |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 10/11/2018.
Virginia could be without several key players for Saturday’s game. It was reported on September 24 that Mack is expected to miss about six weeks with a shoulder injury. He is tied for third on the Cavaliers with three tackles for loss and also has 20 tackles this season.
Defensive end Richard Burney has eight tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble this season. His absence hurts the depth on the Virginia defensive line. Burney is out for the remainder of the season.
Safety/linebacker Malcolm Cook is ninth on the Cavaliers in tackles with 14. He is expected to play Saturday. Cook missed UVA’s loss to North Carolina State two weeks ago.
Those are the three most impactful injuries for Virginia. When healthy Virginia has a good defense. The Cavaliers are 31st in the nation in scoring defense despite allowing more than 30 points twice this season. Virginia is 22nd nationally and third in the ACC in total defense behind Miami and Clemson.
| Player | Status | Type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Mack | Out | Undisclosed | Mack will be sidelined for an indefinite length of time for undisclosed reasons. |
| Dominic Sheppard | Out | Knee | Sheppard sustained a season-ending knee injury. |
| Tyler Fannin | Out | Foot | Fannin suffered a severe foot injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. |
| Richard Burney | Out | Undisclosed | Burney is dealing with an undefined injury and will miss the remainder of the season. |
| Dylan Thompson | Questionable | Concussion | Thompson has a concussion and may not be ready to go Saturday against Miami. |
| Malcolm Cook | Probable | Knee | Cook missed the last game with a knee injury but will likely play Saturday against Miami. |
| Brenton Nelson | Probable | Undisclosed | Nelson has an unspecified injury but will likely play Saturday against Miami. |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 10/11/2018.
Saturday’s game could be a low scoring one. Both teams have an excellent defense. The injuries appear to be minimal for both teams other than Burney and Mack for Virginia. The Cavaliers should have the rest of their key players on defense healthy.
Next. Miami Hurricanes midseason review offense. dark
This is a key game for Miami and potentially a trap one as they get ready for their bye week following the game against the Cavaliers. If they can win Saturday and take a six-game winning streak into the bye week with another tough road game looming at Boston College in two weeks Miami should continue to climb up the rankings.