Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Zion Nelson (60), Jakai Clark (53) and Justice Oluwaseun (70) battle the Texas A&M Aggies protection as they defend quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (9) within the second half at Kyle Field, Bryan College Station, Texas on Saturday, September 17, 2022.
Zion Nelson is again on the shelf for the Miami Hurricanes.
The star sort out, who missed the primary sport of the season Sept. 3 as he recovered from offseason knee surgical procedure, didn’t gown for Miami’s sport towards the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Hurricanes didn’t present a motive for Nelson’s absence previous to kickoff in Miami Gardens and Nelson didn’t put on a visual brace of any type.
After lacking the primary sport of the yr, Nelson returned for the Hurricanes’ subsequent two video games towards the Southern Miss Golden Eagles on Sept. 10 and the then-No. 24 Texas A&M Aggies final Saturday, however got here off the bench, taking part in as a backup at each sort out spots and ending the Texas A&M sport at proper sort out after an damage to fellow offensive lineman DJ Scaife Jr.
With Nelson sidelined, fellow offensive lineman John Campbell Jr. will begin his fourth straight sport at left sort out. Campbell, who missed all of final season with a knee damage, received the beginning job in coaching camp after Nelson underwent surgical procedure on his left knee in July and missed a lot of the preseason.
A junior, Nelson had began virtually uninterrupted at left sort out because the first sport of his freshman yr in 2019. After beginning 32 video games throughout his first three seasons in South Florida, Nelson earned preseason All-America recognition from Athlon, The Athletic and College Football News.
Miami’s broad receiver woes
It’s the No. 25 Hurricanes final sport earlier than their solely bye weekend of the season they usually’ll return to motion with eight straight Atlantic Coast Conference matchups to complete the common season.
It means this weekend was the final probability for Miami to seek out some solutions at broad receiver earlier than the video games begin to actually matter in October.
In the final two weeks, the Hurricanes have misplaced Xavier Restrepo to a foot damage and fellow broad receiver Jacolby George to a hand damage, and each broad receivers are anticipated to overlook at the least a month.
Throw in “six or seven” drops final weekend, in accordance with offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, and the scenario shortly bought dire for Miami.
“It was obvious that room has a ways to go, and Xavier Restrepo is far and above the leader [and] alpha in that room and is missed tremendously,’’ Cristobal told WQAM Monday. “The bottom line: He’s not going to be back for awhile so guys have to step up. You gotta run the right routes, catch the football, block when you’re called upon and you gotta work hard at it.”
On Saturday, Restrepo wore a boot on his left leg, as much as his knee, and carried round crutches.
Aside from Restrepo and George, the Hurricanes have broad receivers Michael Redding III, Key’Shawn Smith, Romello Brinson, Frank Ladson, Isaiah Horton and Brashard Smith.
Redding has 105 yards and one landing off eight catches by three video games, adequate to guide Miami’s energetic receivers. Key’Shawn Smith has 91 yards and one landing off six catches by three video games. Brashard Smith has 79 yards off 9 catches. Brinson has 28 yards off three catches. Ladson has 33 yards off two catches.
Restrepo, for reference as to what Miami is lacking, had 172 yards and one landing on 11 catches in his two video games..
Tight finish Will Mallory led the crew final weekend in receiving yards with 56 on six catches and has 77 yards on the season. The Hurricanes additionally hope to work true freshman tight finish Jaleel Skinner into their passing scheme. Mallory referred to as his teammate a “stud athlete” and “physically freakish.”
A revenge sport for Stockstill
As a participant for the Florida State Seminoles, Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill went 0-2 towards Miami.
In 1980, the Hurricanes and coach Howard Schnellenberger foiled the Seminoles’ hopes of an undefeated season, after they dealt FSU and Stockstill, led by head coach Bobby Bowden, a 10-9 loss — their solely regular-season loss that yr. The Seminoles went on to play within the Orange Bowl, the place they fell 18-17 to Oklahoma.
In 1981, FSU fell to Miami, 27-19, en path to a 6-5 season with Stockstill underneath heart.
This story was initially revealed September 24, 2022 3:08 PM.
David Wilson, a Maryland native, is the Miami Herald’s utility man for sports activities protection.
