Young defenders stating cases for more playing time Rousseau has surgery

CORAL GABLES — After signing one of the nation’s top-10 recruiting classes last year, the Miami Hurricanes expected several of their youngest players would have the potential to work their way onto the field quickly.

And after two games — including one against a top-25 LSU team in prime tine on one of college football’s biggest stages — Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz says several more freshmen have stated their cases for playing time.

Among them? A pair of former Broward County standouts in cornerback Al Blades Jr., who played at St. Thomas Aquinas, and defensive tackle Nesta Silvera, a former standout at American Heritage.

After his first two games at Miami, Blades has already earned the right to be a special teams captain this week when the 21st-ranked Hurricanes travel to Toledo for their first true road game of the season. Silvera, meanwhile, who worked into the defensive line rotation last week against Savannah State and also blocked a punt against the Tigers, played well enough to draw praise from not only Diaz, but starting defensive tackle Gerald Willis.

“He’s going to remember that for his college career. I’m really happy for him,” Willis said of Silvera. “He just has the dog in him. He’s like a pit bull. He should keep it going.”

But Blades and Silvera weren’t the only ones Diaz said on Wednesday could get extensive time against Toledo (1-0). Safety Gurvan Hall has bounced back from a knee injury he suffered during spring football to play well and could be asked, along with Blades and cornerback DJ Ivey, to try to contain Toledo’s talented trio of receivers Diontae Johnson, Jon’Vea Johnson and Cody Thompson, all of whom have earned allconference honors and caught at least 10 TDs.

Defensive end Greg Rousseau, who Miami announced earlier this week would miss time after fracturing his right ankle in Saturday’s win over Savannah State, had surgery on Wednesday morning, according to Hurricanes coach Mark Richt.

Miami has not given a timetable for Rousseau’s potential return this season, but its defensive line did get a boost this week after Demetrius Jackson, who hurt his knee in the opener and did not play against Savannah State, returned to practice Tuesday.

“Having an older guy who’s been in that experience, who’s seen those types of environments, he’ll know what to do,” Diaz said of the importance of Jackson’s return.

Richards still not practicing

Receiver Ahmmon Richards, who has been out since suffering a bone bruise in the opener, was still not participating in drills during the viewing portion of Wednesday’s practice.

Instead, the former Wellington standout was doing conditioning work with members of Miami’s athletic training staff. Richt has said the receiver’s status is best described as “day-to-day.”

Another vote of confidence

Hurricanes punter Zach Feagles has struggled through the early portion of the season, shanking his first three punts against LSU and hitting a 33-yarder against Savannah State.

Wednesday, he got another vote of confidence from special teams coordinator Todd Hartley.

“The kid is working his butt off. I told you last time that I believe he’s going to get there, and I do believe he’s going to get there,” Hartley said.