’Canes lose freshman Knighton for season

MIAMI GARDENS — The No. 10 Miami Hurricanes lost freshman running back Jaylan Knighton for the season with a shoulder injury but got to a much better spot overall regarding player availability ahead of Saturday’s game against No. 17 North Carolina.

The four players listed on the pregame unavailability report are a sharp contrast from the 15 out last week at Duke, the 13 at Virginia Tech on Nov. 14 and the 11 at North Carolina State on Nov. 6.

Miami had no new COVID-19 cases pop up in its second weekend since returning from a two-week hiatus to let an outbreak on the team subside. Those listed as unavailable were: Knighton, due to his shoulder injury; defensive tackle Jared Harrison-Hunte to an elbow injury; freshman offensive tackle Issiah Walker, who has yet to be cleared coming off his transfer from Florida; and junior cornerback Al Blades Jr., who is out for the season with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart.

Back available after missing the

48-0 win at Duke were LB Sam Brooks, RB Robert Burns, DT Jonathan Ford, DB Jalen Harrell, TE Larry Hodges, LB Avery Huff, DE Patrick Joyner Jr., LB Zach McCloud, FB Michael Parrott, WR Jeremiah Payton and QBs Ryan Rizk and Tyler Van Dyke.

Ford and McCloud returned to start on the Miami defense Saturday after Jordan Miller and Waynmon Steed started at defensive tackle and weakside linebacker, respectively, at Duke.

Knighton got his first career start at Duke but fumbled on the second play from scrimmage and injured his shoulder.

He finished his freshman season out of Deerfield Beach High rushing for 209 yards and a touchdown on 52 carries and catching 11 passes for 135 yards and another score.

Junior running back Cam’Ron Harris was back starting in the UM backfield Saturday. Harris started the first eight games of the

2020 season before Knighton had momentarily supplanted him.

Dynamic UNC duo

As North Carolina’s two dynamic running backs each ran for a pair of first-half touchdowns on Saturday against UM, they each surpassed 1,000 rushing yards on the season before halftime.

Entering with 937 yards, senior Michael Carter went for 120 yards in the first half. Junior Javonte Williams, who came in with 904 yards on the ground, had 106 before halftime.

Tar Heels receiver Dyami Brown also surpassed 1,000 receiving yards on the season by halftime. He came in with 932 yards through the air and went for 167 in the first half.

As a team, the TarHeels produced 420 yards of total offense — 229 rushing — as they led 34-10 at halftime.

Senior Day

With the Hurricanes’ home regular-season finale against Georgia Tech on Dec. 19 canceled, UM celebrated Senior Day on Saturday.

Those honored were quarterback D’Eriq King, defensive end Quincy Roche, receiver Michael Harley, linebacker Zach McCloud, safety Amari Carter, defensive tackle Jonathan Ford, kicker Jose Borregales, offensive tackle Jarrid Williams, receivers Marshall Few, Elias Lugo-Fagundo and Mark Byrne and kicker Turner Davidson.

Before kickoff, the seniors individually were introduced to come out onto the field for a photo with coach Manny Diaz and then a group picture.

Earlier Saturday, the Miami football Twitter account released a video of the seniors revealing their favorite moments as Hurricanes and then watching family, coaches and teammates send them a unique video message.

This season, all seniors have the opportunity to return to college football for an extra season if they so choose. The NCAA is not counting the 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic against player eligibility.