Injuries and attrition from the Miami football team have created a flux in the Hurricanes roster for the Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech. Head coach Manny Diaz updated the media on Monday who will and will not be playing in Shreveport.
The end of the 2019 Miami football season marked a surplus of injuries for the Hurricanes. Leading rusher DeeJay Dallas suffered a season-ending fractured elbow in the loss in the penultimate game of the season against Florida International. A week later Cam’Ron Harris knocked him out of the game against Duke.
The loss to the Blue Devils created a M.A.S.H. unit on the Hurricanes sideline. Offensive linemen Navaughn Donaldson and John Campbell also suffered injuries that knocked them out against Duke. The departure of a pair of Miami defensive ends to prepare for the NFL Draft has created attrition for the Independence Bowl.
Graduate Transfer Trevon Hill was already going to depart the Miami football program at the end of the season. The 2019 season was Hill’s only season in a Hurricanes uniform. Hill decided in a Tweet sent out last week he was leaving early for the NFL Draft. The former Virginia Tech star will be joined by Jonathan Garvin.
Garvin chose to forego his final year of eligibility in 2020. After a sharp decline from 2018 through the first eight games of the season, Garvin came on strong over the final third. You have to wonder where the same production was earlier in the season and why it was missing. Garvin had 37 tackles, nine tackles for loss and five sacks.
Hill finished 2019 with 27 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks. Garvin and Hill finished in the top five for the Miami football team in TFLs and sacks. Their absence for Miami hinders the Hurricanes’ depth against Louisiana Tech. Redshirt freshman Greg Rousseau and redshirt senior Scott Patchan will start at DE.
Rousseau finished fifth on Miami with 49 tackles and led the Hurricanes with 18 TFLs and 14 sacks. With Garvin and Hill missing, freshman Jahfari Harvey will get a chance to place in the Independence Bowl and still maintain his redshirt season. Harvey has played in the first three games of the season.
In bowl game in Shreveport, Diaz wants to play guys that won't burn redshirt by playing, including Jahfari Harvey and potentially Larry Hodges.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) December 9, 2019
Manny Diaz spoke about Harvey’s future, what he expects from him against Louisiana Tech and explains saving him for the bowl game.
"“This is why we kept Jahfari Harvey with one game left. He has been a problem to block in practice. He is going to get out there and play and he is going to factor for us next season. There is definitely a springboard effect out of these two weeks and with the bowl game…We look at it as a bridge to 2020.It is a bridge to next season. That is the advantage of having these two weeks of practice and getting more reps for these young guys. It is a chance to work out next year’s team this year.There is no doubt that any young guys that have eligibility that can still have a redshirt year, we want to push those guys into the game.”"
Diaz updated reporters during a Monday teleconference for the Independence Bowl about who else will and will not play against Louisiana Tech. Donaldson, a three-year starter is out with what Diaz termed as an injury to a lower extremity. Campbell will likely start for Donaldson.
Manny Diaz on finding motivation during bowl season: "We're trying to establish a standard. ... When we begin to realize the opponent is always ourselves and the battle to be the best version of ourselves, that's a big step forward for this program."
— Christy Chirinos (@ChristyChirinos) December 9, 2019
The situation with players choosing to sit out seems fluid and could change once the Miami football team starts practice next week for the Independence Bowl. Diaz discussed the recent trend of players sitting out their bowl game to get ready for the NFL Draft. It’s a course that is likely to continue.
"“There is nobody else that has said they will…That is kind of the new normal now. We will have a better sense on that by the end of next weekend. We have had some guys that have told us they are going to play, but I don’t want to get into who is in and who is out until we get back into bowl practice. We can talk about that a week from now.”"
The Miami football team also expects to get Harris back after he suffered a lower extremity injury against Duke. Harris’ injury changed the course of the game against the Blue Devils. The sophomore had eight carries for 44 yards against Duke before leaving because of the injury. Backup Robert Burns had 18 carries for 48 yards.