Suspensions force 2 players to sit out

BLACKSBURG, VA. —Before taking the field Saturday at Virginia Tech, the Hurricanes knew they would be without one of their top veteran playmakers and one of their promising young quarterbacks.

Freshman quarterback Jarren Williams, who some fans hoped might play in Saturday’s game at Virginia Tech, did not travel with the team to Blacksburg and was suspended Saturday after violating an undisclosed team rule, a source confirmed to the Sun Sentinel hours before kickoff.

Also missing Saturday’s game was junior linebacker Mike Pinckney, whose suspension was formally announced by Miami just before kickoff. Pinckney, a junior, is the Hurricanes’ third-leading tackler with

61 stops, including 8.5 tackles for loss. He also has 2.5 sacks and an interception.

The linebacker took to social media during the first half of Saturday’s game to apologize for his actions. Miami described Pinckney’s suspension as also being because of a team rules violation.

“I mistakenly took a pain medication that I did not realize was against the rules,” Pinckney posted on Instagram. “I take full responsibility and I can’t wait to rejoin my teammates next week.”

After the game, Hurricanes coach Mark Richt said both players would return from their suspensions next week against Pittsburgh. He voiced his support for his veteran linebacker in particular.

“I’m 100 percent behind the honest mistake that Pinckney made,” Richt said.

Williams, whose suspension was first reported during the pregame broadcast on UM’s flagship radio station

WQAM-560, is the third Hurricanes quarterback to be suspended this season. Redshirt freshman N’Kosi Perry was shelved for Miami’s opener against LSU in the AdvoCare Classic and fellow redshirt freshman Cade Weldon was suspended for Miami’s games against Florida State, Virginia, Boston College and Duke.

With all of Miami’s struggles at the quarterback position, many fans have been clamoring to see Williams get playing time, especially because of new NCAA rules that allow players to appear in up to four games and still maintain their redshirt eligibility.

Williams made his Hurricanes debut in Miami’s

77-0 win over Savannah State and was 1 of 3 for 17 yards in that game. He also had two carries against the Tigers and rushed for a

1-yard touchdown run. He hasn’t played since and Richt has made it clear even as recently as this week that it’s not his intention to play any of Miami’s young players merely to get them on the field. His focus remains on helping Miami win games and secure bowl eligibility.

“Before the season is over, he might get in there,” he said on Tuesday of Williams. “I don’t know what you want me to say. If it’s 14-14 and it’s a battle royale to the end, I’m not going to slip him in there.”

That said, with just two regular-season games left on Miami’s schedule, Williams would have been able to play against Virginia Tech and still hold on to his redshirt. That didn’t happen.

Perry, a redshirt freshman, started Saturday.

Tight ends hurting: After losing both Michael Irvin II and Will Polendey to season-ending injuries, depth has been an issue for Miami’s tight ends group this season.

That group took another significant hit in the first half against Virginia Tech when freshman Brevin Jordan left the game with an injured ankle. He did not return after WQAM reported he was put in a walking boot.

Later in the first half, fellow freshman tight end Will Mallory was hurt too. Mallory was taken into the locker room for further evaluation on what appeared to be a left knee injury and early in the third quarter was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Richt said both will be evaluated in the coming days.

“We’ll get some MRIs, some pictures,” Richt said.