Freshman QB Jacurri Brown carves out essential position for Miami. And numerous damage updates

The Miami Hurricanes imagine Jacurri Brown is likely to be the quarterback of the long run in Coral Gables.

Now, he has additionally has an essential position within the current.

With short-yardage conditions vexing Miami within the first month-plus of the season, the Hurricanes turned to Brown for a number of third-and-short conditions Saturday, and the freshman delivered each occasions to assist Miami beat the Virginia Tech Hokies, 20-14, in Virginia.

“We’ve always had packages like that,” coach Mario Cristobal stated. “It was just the right time to use it.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound quarterback played two snaps at Lane Stadium and kept the ball both times for runs, picking up two first downs.

On the first, Brown replaced fellow quarterback Tyler Van Dyke for a third-and-2 and ran up the middle for 3 yards and a first down in Virginia Tech territory, setting up the Hurricanes for a field goal to go up 10-0 in the first quarter. On the second, he came in on third-and-1 and exploded for a 19-yard run out to near midfield, helping Miami eventually score a touchdown to go up 17-0 in the second quarter.

Brown’s second run was nearly a touchdown, as he spun out of one tackle and was caught from behind near midfield after he lost his balance. He popped up and pumped his fist, and teammates slapped him on the head when he returned to the sideline.

Miami (3-3, 1-1 Atlantic Coast) finished the game 8 of 17 on third downs — its best conversion rate since going 7 for 7 its season-opening rout of the FCS Bethune-Cookman Wildcats last month.

“We also had struggled in some of our short-yardage situations and were looking for something just a little bit different,” Cristobal stated. “You can sit there and just say, ‘Hey,’ or you could adapt, and we chose to adapt and found something that can help us.”

It’s additionally a very good alternative for Brown, who will compete for a beginning job in some unspecified time in the future — maybe as quickly as subsequent 12 months, if Van Dyke opts to enter the 2023 NFL Draft.

Although he’s at the moment behind Jake Garcia on the depth chart, Brown was a four-star prospect within the 247Sports composite rankings for the Class of 2022 and ran as quick as 4.6 seconds within the 40-yard sprint, drawing comparisons to quarterback Hendon Hooker, who’s now a Heisman Trophy contender for the No. 3 Tennessee Volunteers.

“He’s a stud, man. His story is one of a kind,” Cristobal stated. “That’s a tremendous human being and he’s an elite competitor, too. That guy gets after it relentlessly in the weight room and workouts, and whatnot and he’s got a real bright future here at Miami.”

Injury updates on Nelson, Hurricanes

By the top of their weekend in Blacksburg, the Hurricanes have been down seven starters from the earlier week as a result of accidents.

Running again Henry Parrish Jr., vast receiver Michael Redding III, offensive lineman Justice Oluwaseun, linebacker Waynmon Steed Jr. and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson weren’t in uniform, offensive lineman Jakai Clark didn’t play and tight finish Will Mallory left early, leaving Miami with holes all throughout the roster.

The Hurricanes, nonetheless, are optimistic almost all of these injured gamers will have the ability to go well with up Saturday in opposition to the Duke Blue Devils after they return to Miami Gardens.

Parrish, Redding, Mallory, Clark and Stevenson all have appeared good early this week, Cristobal stated, and there’s a very good likelihood all might play this weekend. Oluwaseun is the one one in every of these accidents anticipated to be long-term.

“His is a little more significant,” Cristobal stated, “so he’ll miss time.”

Cristobal didn’t present any particular replace on Steed. The Hurricanes additionally didn’t give any specifics on what the accidents have been, however Clark, Oluwaseun and Stevenson all left Miami’s loss to the North Carolina Tar Heels on Oct. 8 with accidents.

Star sort out Zion Nelson, in the meantime, stays sidelined after experiencing “a setback” following offseason knee surgical procedure, Cristobal stated. The junior offensive lineman missed the primary two video games of the 12 months earlier than debuting in opposition to the then-No. 24 Texas A&M Aggies final month, solely to overlook the following three video games.

Nelson was a preseason All-American, according to Athlon, College Football News and The Athletic.

The Hurricanes might get some further reinforcements this week, although: Wide receiver Jacolby George has “a chance to return here this week” after lacking the final three video games with a hand damage, Cristobal stated.

Meanwhile, vast receiver Xavier Restrepo remained no less than 2 1/2 weeks from returning, at Cristobal’s final verify, and working again Donald Chaney Jr. stays 4 weeks from getting again.

This and that

▪ Akheem Mesidor wasn’t simply the most effective defensive lineman within the ACC this weekend, in line with the convention’s weekly positional awards. He was, in line with the Walter Camp Football Foundation, the most effective defensive participant in your complete nation, earning Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week honors Sunday. The junior defensive lineman notched 3 1/2 sacks Saturday and led Miami with eight tackles.

▪ Redshirt senior punter Lou Hedley was the ACC Specialist of the Week after he averaged 44.8 yards on seven punts Saturday, pinning the Hokies inside their very own 10-yard line 4 occasions. Mesidor was the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his game-wrecking efficiency in Blacksburg, Virginia.

▪ The Hurricanes’ Oct. 29 recreation in opposition to the Virginia Cavaliers in will kick off at 12:30 p.m. at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia, the league introduced. The recreation will air on regional sports activities community, probably Bally Sports Florida or Bally Sports Sun. It shall be Miami’s third straight recreation to not air on nationwide tv.