The Miami football team enters its Independence Bowl game against Louisiana Tech on Thursday missing a half dozen key players.
Wide receiver Jeff Thomas, DEs Jonathan Garvin and Trevon Hill and linebacker Michael Pinckney all opted out of playing in the Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech on Thursday. The Miami football team will also be without RB Deejay Dallas and offensive guard Navaughn Donaldson who are out with injuries.
Garvin and Thomas have decided to forego their senior seasons in 2020 to enter the NFL Draft and to begin their preparations immediately. Hill and Pinckney are seniors who likely did not want to jeopardize their draft status with the potential of an injury. Pinckney skipping the Independence Bowl was the biggest surprise of the four.
Pinckney started 47 of the 49 games in his Miami football career over the last four seasons. Hill was a graduate transfer this season from Virginia Tech. Freshman Jahfari Harvey will likely see the most snaps as an edge rusher with the early departures of Garvin and Hill.
Harvey will still be able to use the 2019 season as a redshirt as he has yet to play in four games. Redshirt freshman Patrick Joyner who converged from DE to LB in the spring could get snaps on the edge if necessary.
Freshman Sam Brooks has been the primary backup to Pinckney and senior Shaq Quarterman who is showing a ton of loyalty by deciding to play his last game in a Hurricanes uniform. Brooks will likely start with Quarterman in the middle of the Miami defense. It will be a proverbial passing of the torch.
| Player | Status | Type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley Jennings Jr. | Out | Hip | Jennings Jr. is projected to miss the entire 2019 season after having hip surgery. |
| Jeff Thomas | Out | Back | Thomas will not play in the Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech as he will focus on preparing for the upcoming NFL Draft. |
| 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. |
| Zach McCloud | Out | Redshirt | McCloud has elected to use the 2019-20 season as a redshirt year. |
| Waynmon Steed | Out | Knee | Steed is likely to sit out the entire 2019 season after having knee surgery. |
| Cameron Williams | Out | Redshirt | Williams has elected to redshirt the remainder of the season due to academic requirements. |
| Tate Martell | Out | Personal | Martell is taking a leave of absence from the program, and it is unclear when he will rejoin the lineup. |
| Bubba Bolden | Out | Ankle | Bolden has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury. |
| Michael Pinckney | Out | Personal | Pinckney will not play against Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl as he will be preparing for the upcoming NFL Draft. |
| Brevin Jordan | Questionable | Foot | Jordan is managing a foot injury, and it is unclear if he will face Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl. |
| Lorenzo Lingard | Questionable | Knee | Lingard has a knee injury, and it is undetermined if he will be available to face Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl. |
| Cam’ron Harris | Probable | Lower Body | Harris has a lower-body injury, but he is projected to face Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl. |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 12/25/2019.
The Hurricanes will also return redshirt senior Zach McCloud in 2020. McCloud played in four games this season in order to maintain a redshirt. McCloud played his final game of the season against Pittsburgh with Pinckney our with an injury.
Sophomores Dee Wiggins and Mark Pope are the primary beneficiaries of Thomas departing early. Pope or Wiggins will likely start in place of Thomas. Wiggins has 19 receptions for 323 yards and is second with four receiving touchdowns in 2019. Pope has 15 for 243 and two TDs.
Cam Harris has received a lot of playing time in 2019 with Dallas sidelined with injuries this season. He has been better as the lead running back for the Miami football team. Harris has 545 yards rushing averaging 5.3 yards per carry with five TDs on the season. He has added 15 receptions for 109 yards and another TD.
The loss of Donaldson might be the most difficult to replace with the vast inconsistency from the Miami offensive line this season. He will likely be replaced by redshirt freshman John Campbell. Campbell has been the primary lineman to substitute in behind the starters and has started one game this season.
The game is an important one for Miami a heading into the 2020 season. The Hurricanes have won only one bowl game since 2006. Manny Diaz has stressed the importance of playing for a trophy. If the Miami football team doesn’t take the Louisiana tech seriously they could have a showing similar to their loss to FIU.