Miami Hurricanes RB Cam Harris will have heavier load with Don Chaney Jr torn ACL
Expect Miami Hurricanes first-team running back Cam’Ron Harris to acquire a heavier load of carries as first reported by Brad Crawford of 247 Sports that second-team RB Don Chaney Jr. is lost for the season with a torn ACL. Chaney left in the first half of Miami’s 25-23 win against Appalachian State on Saturday.
Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz confirmed the diagnosis during his weekly press conference on Monday afternoon. Diaz also stated that the hope is that linebacker Keontra Smith who was also injured on Saturday will return after the bye week in October. The Hurricanes are off the weekend of October 9.
Miami will return on October 16 for a key game at North Carolina. Chaney and Smith have been key contributors for Miami in their first two games. Chaney has 11 carries for 44 yards and a touchdown in 2021. Harris has been the primary ball carrier for Miami with 30 carries for 128 yards and one TD.
Harris carried the load for Miami in the second half with all 11 of the carries by RBs for 79 yards. Quarterback D’Eriq King assumed a large part of the responsibilities in the running game with 19 carries for 79 yards against Appalachian State. Expect more of the same from two of the senior leaders for Miami.
Manny Diaz confirms RB Don Chaney Jr. will miss the remainder of the 2021 season, hopes to get LB Keontra Smith back "after the bye week".
— Cal Friedman (@friedman_cal) September 13, 2021
Miami will be without second-year freshman Jaylan Knighton for the next two games. Knighton was suspended for the first four games of the season due to an undisclosed off-the-field incident. With Knighton not eligible to return until the Virginia game in two weeks, freshmen Cody Brown and Thad Franklin will backup Harris.
Neither Brown nor Franklin has a carry this season. Knighton will have a huge opportunity behind Harris when he returns against the Cavaliers on September 30. During the offseason offensive coordinator, Rhett Lashlee stated he wanted a bell cow at RB. It appears Harris will now be forced to carry the load at RB.
Miami expectations without Chaney and Smith. dark. Next
Michigan State has been run on through its first two games. The Spartans are allowing 142 rushing yards per game which rank 75th nationally. Michigan State allows 3.42 yards per carry which are 55th in FBS. Harris and King should have room to run against Michigan State. Miami average 4.1 YPC against Appalachian State.