Injuries will limit Miami football staff for figuring out depth chart this spring
Several of the position units for the Miami football team will be limited this spring by injuries as stated by Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz this week on National Signing Day.
Manny Diaz and the coaching staff for the Miami football program will be limited this spring for creating a depth chart heading into the offseason with injuries decimating several position groups for the Hurricanes. In some cases, Miami will have only half of a unit available during spring football.
Linebacker is the most glaring position group that will have to overcome injuries this spring. Four Hurricanes middle backers will be out this spring according to Diaz. Incoming freshman Tyrek Austin-Cave and rising sophomore Sam Brooks are out with shoulder injuries and freshman Corey Flagg is out with a knee injury.
After playing in 12 out of 13 games as a true freshman in 2017 rising redshirt junior LB Bradley Jennings Jr. has been plagued with injuries the last two seasons. Jennings played four games in 2018 and missed all of the 2019 season with a hip injury. Jennings will miss this spring still recovering. He could eventually get a sixth season.
Safety Bubba Bolden was one of the biggest additions through the transfer portal in 2019. Due to eligibility issues. Bolden recorded 11 tackles, a pass breakup, a forced fumble and one memorable interception against Florida State. More precisely it was the celebration after the interception that was memorable.
Bolden came down awkwardly on his ankle following a chest bump with fellow safety
. The injury cost Bolden the rest of the reason and will keep him out at least part of the spring. Diaz stated:
“if everything goes according to benchmarks bubba should be able to compete.”
The rest of the secondary should be healthy.
Several other players on both sides of the ball will miss part or all of the spring according to Diaz. The remainder of the players Diaz discussed as missing part or all of spring practice are on offense. Left guard Navaughn Donaldson with a knee injury and Brevin Jordan with and injured foot are out for the entire spring.
Running back Don Chaney Jr with an injured shoulder and wide receiver Michael Redding II with a hurt wrist are freshmen on the offensive side of the ball who will miss spring practice with injuries. Miami has plenty of depth to overcome Redding’s absence. Without Chaney, Miami is down to three scholarship RBs this spring.
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The Miami football roster will be down to rising junior Cam’Ron Harris, rising redshirt junior Robert Burns and four-star freshman Jaylan Knighton to carry the football this spring. The Hurricanes lost junior DeeJay Dallas to the draft a year early and redshirt sophomore Lorenzo Lingard who transferred to Florida.