Miami will be without starting cornerback O.J. Frederique and wide receiver C.J. Daniels for a couple of weeks, according to head coach Mario Cristobal on Monday. Defensive tackle Ahmad Moten has a 50-50 shot to play this week and the timetable for running back Mark Fletcher Jr. to return is still to be determined.
Daniels, Moten and Frederique did not play in the 26-20 overtime loss at SMU on Saturday. Fletcher had 16 carries for 84 yards and two receptions for 14 yards at SMU before suffering an injury late in the game.
With Daniels out, JoJo Trader led Miami with 81 yards, tied for second with five receptions and had one of the two TDs. Trader will likely continue to start with Keelan Marion and Malachi Toney while Daniels is out.
If Fletcher cannot play against Syracuse on Saturday, CharMar Brown and Jordan Lyle project to receive the majority of the carries. Brown had four carries for 18 yards in overtime to get Miami to the SMU seven yard line. Carson Beck threw an interception on the next play.
Mario Cristobal said Mark Fletcher Jr. is injured but still TBD on the timetable.
— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) November 3, 2025
CB OJ Frederique will be out for a couple weeks
WR CJ Daniels will be out for a couple weeks.
Ahmad Moten is a "50-50" shot.
Fletcher was the workhorse for Miami on Saturday against SMU. Brown finished with nine carries for 37 versus SMU. Lyle had seven carries for 23 yards against SMU. Fletcher leads Miami with 125 carries for 636 yards and nine TDs in 2025. Brown is second with 74 carries for 280 yards and four TDs.
With Moten out, David Blay and Justin Scott received the majority of the DT snaps for Miami. Donta Simpson substituted in behind Blay and Scott at DT against SMU. Edge rushers Rueben Bain, Armondo Blount and Akheem Mesidor can all play DT.
Ethan O'Connor started in place of Frederique against SMU. Keionte Scott, Xavier Lucas and O'Connor received the majority of CB snaps for Miami with Frederique out. Damari Brown substituted in as part of the rotation at CB against SMU.
The initial Student-Athlete Availability Reporting Update for the Syracuse at Miami will be released on Thursday at 8 PM Eastern Standard Time. Miami and Syracuse are both required to release which players are out, doubtful, questionable, or probable on the Thursday and Friday updates for the game on Saturday.