Long wait is finally over for Patchan
Injury-plagued D-lineman making his 1st start for ’Canes as 5th-year senior
CORAL GABLES — New Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator Blake Baker is shocked anytime someone leads a conversation about fifth-year senior defensive end Scott Patchan with his past injuries.
“I never see him favor a knee, I never see him miss a rep in practice,” said Baker, who enters his first season with Miami. “All those things are always mind-boggling to me because I never see any residual effect from some of those earlier injuries.”
Patchan is set to make his first start for the Hurricanes when they take on a team with some family ties in No. 8 Florida at 7 p.m. on Saturday night in Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. He has trekked a long journey to get to this point — from working his way back from a knee injury to reinjuring the same knee in his 2016 debut against FSU and even switching to tight end in 2017.
Patchan has remained healthy for a while now. Last season, he played in 12 of UM’s 13 games and had 29 tackles and a sack. He has kept it up through the spring and fall camp and is first on the depth chart at defensive end opposite junior Jon Garvin.
“Different mentality than being the hurt guy or being the backup tight end or being just the backup in general,” Patchan said. “I’m excited.
“A lot of different things are going to go into it, as far as taking care of your body. I’ve kind of picked up on each and every one of those aspects these last few seasons, especially being hurt, learning how to take care of our body in general.”
For Patchan, that means extra time with Miami’s training staff and head athletic trainer Vinny Scavo and eating healthier.
“You talk about the things just [that] I can control, but you talk about a superstar athlete like LeBron [James],” Patchan said. “He’s putting a million dollars into his body each and every day. I mean, you really have to look at it from that aspect, but maybe on a college-level budget as far as what you can do.”
The Hurricanes’ defensive coaches have taken notice.
“I think Scott has continued to build off of what he did this spring,” Baker
said. “He’s attacking the season in a very professional manner. Doesn’t take a play off and continues to do what he’s asked to. If he’s not sure, he asks questions.”
Said defensive line coach Todd Stroud: “He’s just a mature kid, a great kid. Very reliable, very talented, has a great motor. Has really been healthy for the past calendar year. Knock on wood, that’s really what we’re counting on. He’s been phenomenal and his leadership is irreplaceable.”
This first start for Patchan will come as part of an in-house rivalry.
Patchan’s father, Matt Patchan III, was a Miami offensive lineman from 1983 to 1987, when UM-UF was an annual rivalry. Scott’s older brother, Matt Patchan IV, played for the Gators earlier this decade before transferring to Boston College following the UM redshirt senior defensive end Scott Patchan talks to reporters ahead of his first start against the Gators.
2012 season.
“We haven’t been talking much,” Scott said. “But [the] family, I think, is definitely behind me right now. That’s good to know.”
Patchan is ready to start his final college season, one he hopes culminates in a
lasting impression the program.
“I came to Miami with high goals and aspirations,” he said. “I haven’t come near meeting any of those goals. I think definitely starting is a step in the right direction.”
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