The Miami football team expects to get star sophomore tight end Brevin Jordan back, will potentially be without speedy wide receiver Jeff Thomas and backup quarterback Tate Martell has taken a leave of absence.
Sophomore tight end Brevin Jordan is expected to return for the Miami football team after missing the last two games with a foot injury. Jordan leads Miami with 495 yards receiving despite missing the last two games and is third with 35 receptions. Jordan still has a chance to lead Miami in receptions and receiving yards.
Graduate transfer wide receiver K.J. Osborn leads the Hurricanes with 42 receptions and junior WR Mike Harley is second with a career-high 36 catches. Harley also has career highs with 466 yards receiving and three touchdown receptions. Osborn has 469 yards and a team-leading five TD receptions.
Earlier this week Miami head coach Manny Diaz declared junior WR Jeff Thomas questionable for the game against Duke. Thomas has an injured back and should be a game-time decision. The Miami offense will also be without leading rusher DeeJay Dallas. Dallas suffered a dislocated elbow that will sideline him for the season.
Dallas leads the Miami football team with 694 yards rushing and eight TDs on the ground this season. Cam Harris will assume the mantle as the first-team running back against the Blue Devils. Harris has 501 rushing yards and four TDs and 14 receptions for 109 yards and another TD through the air.
Harris showed he can be the leading running back. The sophomore ran for 138 yards on 18 carries against Pittsburgh with Dallas out. Redshirt sophomore Robert Burns and redshirt freshman Lorenzo Lingard will backup Harris. Burns has 10 carries for 67 yards in 2029. Lingard is awaiting his first tote of the football.
| Player | Status | Type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Williams | Out | Redshirt | Williams has elected to redshirt the remainder of the season due to academic requirements. |
| Zach McCloud | Out | Redshirt | McCloud has elected to use the 2019-20 season as a redshirt year. |
| Bubba Bolden | Out | Ankle | Bolden has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury. |
| Waynmon Steed | Out | Knee | Steed is likely to sit out the entire 2019 season after having knee surgery. |
| Tate Martell | Out | Personal | Martell is taking a leave of absence from the program, and it is unclear when he will rejoin the lineup. |
| Bradley Jennings Jr. | Out | Hip | Jennings Jr. is projected to miss the entire 2019 season after having hip surgery. |
| Lorenzo Lingard | Out | Knee | Lingard has been sidelined as he is on the mend from a torn ACL that ended his 2018 season. It is unknown when he will make his debut. |
| Avery Huff | Out | Redshirt | Huff has decided to redshirt the 2019 season due to academic requirements. |
| Deejay Dallas | Out | Elbow | Dallas will likely miss the remainder of the season after dislocating his left elbow. |
| Jeff Thomas | Questionable | Back | Thomas is dealing with a back injury, and his status is unclear for Saturday’s game against Duke. |
| Brevin Jordan | Probable | Foot | Jordan is battling a foot injury but will likely be in Saturday’s lineup versus Duke. |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 11/30/2019.
Duke is also without a few key players who are out with injuries. Junior RB Brittan Brown is likely to take a medical redshirt season after being declared out the for season after playing in three games following shoulder surgery. Brown has 1,126 career rushing yards, 5.1 yards per carry and 10 rushing TDs.
Brown has also contributed in the passing game during his Duke career with 17 receptions for 218 yards and another TD. Sophomore RB Melvin Hubbard III contributed 118 yards in 2018. Hubbard has missed the entire 2019 season because of Achilles surgery. The biggest loss for Duke has been cornerback Mark Gilbert.
| Player | Status | Type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| R.J. Oben | Out | Shoulder | Oben is recovering from surgery on his left shoulder and will miss the remainder of the 2019 season. |
| Brittain Brown | Out | Shoulder | Brown will likely miss the remainder of the season due to shoulder surgery. |
| Marvin Hubbard III | Out | Achilles | Hubbard III is sidelined while recovering from Achilles surgery, and there is no timetable for return. |
| Mark Gilbert | Out | Hip | Gilbert had offseason hip surgery and will miss an extended period. |
| Jarett Garner | Out | Knee | Garner has torn his ACL and he will be out for the remainder of the season. |
| Jacob Rimmer | Out | Shoulder | Rimmer is healing from offseason left shoulder surgery, and there is no timetable for return. |
| Jack Wohlabaugh | Out | Ankle | Wohlabaugh is sidelined while he recovers from surgery on his left ankle. There is no timetable for return. |
| Gunnar Holmberg | Out | Knee | Holmberg sustained a knee injury, and it is uncertain how long he will be out of action. |
| Robert Kraeling | Questionable | Leg | Kraeling has missed the last two games with a leg injury, and it is unclear if he will play Saturday versus Miami. |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 11/30/2019.
Gilbert was the biggest loss for Duke. The Junior who had six interceptions as a sophomore played in only two games had offseason hip surgery. The Blue Devils defense has suffered as a result. Duke is 68th in total defense, but 83rd in total defense.
The Miami football team should be able to move the ball against the Blue Devils.
Some of the Miami players like Dallas will not be back for the Hurricanes bowl game. Getting Jordan and Lingard back will help the explosiveness on the Miami offense. Jordan also helps the offensive line for the Hurricanes. Seeing what they have entering the 2020 season will give the coaching a view into next season.