King questionable for Virginia game
Miami Hurricanes starting quarterback D’Eriq King is among multiple starters who are questionable for UM’s ACC-opener versus Virginia on Thursday at Hard Rock Stadium.
King missed Miami’s win over Central Connecticut State, an FCS program, last Saturday due to a shoulder injury he sustained during the Hurricanes’ loss Michigan State the previous weekend.
The 24-year-old signal caller was on Miami’s sideline wearing an orange UM hoodie and had a headset on during the win over the Blue Devils.
“First we’re trying to see D’Eriq’s availability,” coach Manny Diaz said when asked about UM’s quarterback situation versus the Cavaliers. “I mean he’s improving and feeling better every day and was able to move around a little bit [on Monday] so we’ll see where he’s at with that.”
With King sidelined, second-year freshman quarterback Tyler Van Dyke started against Central Connecticut State while splitting reps with true freshman Jake Garcia.
Van Dyke went 10 of 11 for 270 yards and three touchdowns in his first start at the collegiate level, while Garcia went 11 of 14 for 147 yards and two touchdowns, and had a 45-yard run in his first college game.
“Based on the performance on Saturday, I don’t think either Tyler and Jake deserve not to play if called upon,” Diaz said. “I think both guys did enough to show that they can move the football team and get us in the end zone. We feel like we’re kind of where we started, we’re blessed with options of different guys that can lead us to victory.”
Starting center Corey Gaynor and guard/ tackle Justice Oluwaseun also missed Saturday’s game with undisclosed injuries, with offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee saying they were “day-to-day.”
Starting striker Amari Carter also didn’t play against the Blue Devils, but an official update on his status wasn’t given.
Jakai Clark started in place of Gaynor on Saturday, while DJ Scaife started for Oluwaseun at right guard and Gilbert Frierson started for Carter, respectively, against Central Connecticut State.
“We’ve got a bunch of guys who are that way and we’re just working them back in as we can in, talking about Justice and Corey,” Lashlee said. “Some of those guys we probably won’t know later until game time. Of course it’s a short week, too, so we don’t have as much time as normal.”
Knighton back
Second-year freshman running back Jaylan Knighton will be available to play versus Virginia after being suspended for Miami’s first four games of the season.
Cam’Ron Harris (272 rushing yards, 119 receiving yards and four touchdowns) has been UM’s starting running back through four games and has carried an even greater load in the backfield since Don Chaney sustained a season-ending knee injury in the Hurricanes’ win Appalachian State on Sept. 11.
True freshman tailback Cody Brown stepped into the backup role following Chaney’s injury. He rushed for 77 yards and scored the first two touchdowns of his college career, both in the first half, against Central Connecticut.
Fellow true freshman running back Thaddius Franklin Jr., a Chaminade-Madonna alum, had 100 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries versus the Blue Devils.
“Glad to have him back,” Lashlee said of Knighton. “That helps, gives us some depth at that position. He’s a guy who was competing for the starting job back in the spring and had a great fall camp, too, so now that he’s available, I definitely expect him to be in the mix.”
Knighton recorded 209 rushing yards and one touchdown and led all running backs with 135 receiving yards on 11 receptions during his true freshman season last year. He also added 118 kickoff return yards.
“He gives you some explosion and he’s a good football player,” Lashlee said. “Had a good freshman year last year and we were expecting big things for him this year so that will be good to have him. I was really excited how Cody Brown and Thad Franklin ran the other day. They ran downhill, they ran physical so that was encouraging too.”