The Miami Hurricanes could be without leading receiver, tight end Brevin Jordan when they host Pittsburgh on Saturday.
The Miami Hurricanes could be without tight end Brevin Jordan who leads the team in receiving when they host Pittsburgh on Saturday. Jordan has 18 receptions for 243 yards and three touchdowns in 2020. Pittsburgh has the sixth-best defense nationally. The Panthers are 3-2 this season.
If Jordan cannot play, junior Will Mallory will start in his place. Mallory has three receptions for 32 yards and a TD this season. Mallory would have bigger numbers in 2020 but had a 74-yard reception called back against Louisville. In the final three games of 2019 with Jordan injured Mallory had 12 receptions for 206 yards.
Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz made the announcement about Jordan during a zoom meeting with reporters on Wednesday. Everyone else is expected to be healthy and ready to play against Pittsburgh according to Diaz. Pittsburgh is 24th against the pass in 2020 allowing an average of 211.4 yards per game.
If Jordan cannot play redshirt freshman Larry Hodges and freshman Dominick Mammerelli would backup Mallory. Hodges has one reception for -2 yards in 2020. Mammrelli has yet to get his name in the box score yet. Hodges had two receptions for three yards, both of which were for TDs in 2020. Diaz elaborated on Jordan.
"“The only guy that’d be questionable is Brevin…I think everybody else has been practicing and has been good to go, so we’ll see as the week goes on about Brevin, but everybody else has been out there running around, looking good. We’ve got two really outstanding tight ends.I think Will has really made some big improvements this year in terms of his physicality and his blocking, and doing some of the things that actually the tight end position requires…His body size across the middle of the field, it gives the quarterback such confidence because it’s such a big target to throw the ball to.”"
Jordan is ranked as the 48th best TE and Mallory 60th this season according to Pro Football Focus. Mallory graded out much better as a receiver than a blocker. PFF gave Mallory an overall grade of 60.7 a receiving grade of 70.6 to rank 18th out of 62 TEs and a 54.7 rating to rank 84th out of129 TEs.
If Jordan cannot play, Mallory is poised for a big game against Pittsburgh. Jordan has been the primary target for Miami QB D’Eriq King this season. Mallory caught the one TDs from King with Miami in the red zone against Louisville. Pittsburgh at Miami kicks off at noon Saturday on the ACC Network.