Michael Pinckney skipping Miami football bowl game contradicts Blake Baker

The decision by senior linebacker Michael Pinckney to skip the Independence Bowl with his Miami football teammates contradicts an earlier statement by defensive coordinator Blake Baker.

Senior linebacker Michael Pinckney announcing his decision to skip the Independence Bowl with his Miami football teammates contradicts an earlier statement by Hurricanes defensive coordinator Blake Baker earlier this month. Pinckney is the fourth Miami player to announce he is sitting out to get ready for the NFL Draft.

Pinckney joins teammates graduate transfer Trevon Hill and juniors Jeff Thomas and Jonathan Garvin who have decided to skip Miami’s Independence Bowl game against Louisiana Tech on Thursday to prepare for the NFL Draft. Players who are sitting out their bowl games to get ready for the draft is becoming an increasing phenomenon.

Pinckney released a statement on Twitter this week explaining his decision to not play in the Independence Bowl. Pinckney also missed the Miami football game against Pittsburgh earlier this season with a knee injury. The senior LB returned the following week against Florida State and did not miss another game this season.

Pinckney started 47 out of the 49 games he played with the Miami football program in four seasons. Quarterman and Pinckney migrated south from Jacksonville to matriculate at the U. Pinckney leaves Miami with 267 tackles, 42 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, three interceptions, eight pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

The decision by Pinckney to end his Miami career a game early leaves the Hurricanes woefully thin at LB for the Independence Bowl. Quarterman is expected to play. Freshman Sam Brooks is likely to start in place of Pinckney. Walk-on Ryan Ragone and redshirt freshman Patrick Joyner will also be available.

Miami defensive coordinator Blake Baker stated that Quarterman and Pinckney that knowing them he expected the core of the Miami defense over the last four seasons were expected to play against Louisiana Tech. Baker spoke to his seniors following the Hurricane season-ending loss at Duke.

"“I know Shaq (Quarterman), Pinckney, and I each had a conversation after our last game and these guys are getting so much different information so we just worked through it all and we all agreed this was the best thing for them.Knowing those two, they want to play. They have so much pride in this university, so much pride in their teammates, and they’re getting a lot of outside noise, but I think at the end of the day they were going to play in this the entire time.”"

The early departure will give Brooks a chance to shine a game early. When Pinckney missed the game against Pittsburgh Miami had the choice to play Zach McCloud and still maintain his redshirt. That was McCloud’s fourth game of the season. McCloud has reached the limit of games plays to redshirt this season.

Brooks, Ragnone and possibly Joyner will have a chance to have a pseudo audition ahead of the incoming freshmen LBs and freshman Avery Huff who is an academic redshirt. Strikers, senior Romeo Finley and sophomore Gilbert Frierson could see increased snaps with Pinckney out.