Miami football players whose time will increase with multiple season ending injuries
The announcements on Monday that quarterback D’Eriq King, center Corey Gaynor and cornerback Al Blades Jr. are out for the season will present opportunities for several other Miami football players to receive more playing time. With King out since last month, Tyler Van Dyke will make his third straight start at QB this weekend.
Van Dyke had a big game against FCS Central Connecticut. After a slow start against Virginia last month, Van Dyke played much better in the second half. With King out for the season, it is now Van Dyke’s team for the rest of 2021 and potentially beyond. The Miami football team will also be without third-team QB Jake Garcia.
Garcia had ankle surgery and will be out through at least next month. Behind Van Dyke is third-year redshirt freshman Peyton Matocha. Baring an injury, Van Dyke will take all the snaps for Miami at QB. Van Dyke has a tough task with Miami playing their three toughest games remaining this season in the next three weeks.
Gaynor is out with a knee injury that has been bothering him since the Alabama game according to head coach Manny Diaz. Diaz stated that the injury was more serious than originally throughout and required season-ending surgery. Diaz praised Gaynor for being a leader on the offensive line who will be missed.
started in all 12 games he played at right guard in 2019 and 10 of 11 contests he played at left guard last season. Clark signed with the Miami football program as a center and will replace Gaynor there for the rest of the 2021 season. Clark is surrounded by experience on the rest of the offensive line.
In the last game against Virginia, staring with Clark were fourth-year junior D.J. Scaife, Jr., fifth-year guard Navaughn Donaldson and tackles, third-year sophomore Zion Nelson and Jarrid Williams. Miami needs their offensive line to produce better. With the experience Miami has upfront, they should be playing better.
Blades has been a huge contributor on special teams this season but has only played 57 snaps on defense. Te’Cory Couch, D.J. Ivey and Tyrique Stevenson have been the primary CBs for Miami in 2021. With Blades out for the season, second-year freshman Marcus Clarke will likely receive most of his snaps at CB.
Miami is expected to get defensive tackles Jared Harrison-Hunte and Jordan Miller and linebacker Keontra Smith back against North Carolina on Saturday. Freshman DT Leonard Taylor will likely remain in the rotation after producing two tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and one pass breakup against Virginia.
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Waynmon Steed has been starting at LB in place of Smith who earned his first-team role during training camp in August. The injury report for Miami is evolving. The Hurricanes depth at QB and on the OL will be tested. Miami cannot afford another injury at CB which is thin, to begin with.