Virginia will be without star tight end Jelani Woods who has 16 receptions for 247 yards and three touchdowns when they play at the Miami football team on Thursday night. The Hurricanes and Cavaliers enter the game at Hard Rock Stadium with 2-2 records. Miami defeated Central Connecticut State 69-0 on Saturday.
Virginia travels to Miami with back-to-back losses to North Carolina and Wake Forest. Woods has emerged this season for Virginia after transferring from Oklahoma State. In four games for the Cavaliers, Woods tied his career-high in receptions and has exceeded his career-best in receiving yards and TDs.
Woods did not record a reception for Oklahoma State last season in their 37-34 Cheez-It Bowl game victory against Miami. After one reception for five yards in the season opener against William and Mary, Woods exploded against Illinois. In the 42-14 victory over the Illini Woods had five receptions for 122 yards and one TD.
North Carolina was able to contain Woods. Woods had six receptions for 47 yards and a TD against the Tar Heels. Last week against Wake Forest, Woods had six receptions for 73 yards and a TD. At 6’7, 265 pounds, Woods is a matchup problem for defenses. The loss of Woods is one less weapon for the prolific Virginia offense.
D'Eriq King and Amari Carter are both on the field in sweats for early warmups. Offensive linemen aren't out there yet, so no Corey Gaynor or Justice Oluwaseun, but the freshman offensive linemen aren't dressed, which is probably a good sign about the veteran linemen in playing.
— David Wilson (@DBWilson2) September 30, 2021
Virginia leads the nation averaging 430.5 passing yards per game. Woods is sixth in the nation among TEs averaging 61.5 receiving yards per game. Grant Misch who is the second-string Virginia TE has two receptions for 12 yards this season. Woods was reportedly in a boot earlier this week.
Miami is expected to be without starting quarterback D’Eriq King even though he was on the field for warmups as reported by David Wilson of the Miami Herald. Miami will definitely be without linebacker Keontra Smith for the second straight game. Smith is expected to return at North Carolina on October 16.
Also out tonight for the Miami football team is quarterback Jake Garcia according to Wilson. If King and Garcia are out, expect second-year freshman Tyler Van Dyke to play the entire game for Miami. The injury to Garcia was not disclosed according to Wilson. Garcia and Van Dyke shared the majority of snaps at QB last week.