Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Seniors savor berth in bowl
CORAL GABLES – As his joyous team celebrated the 38-14 win over Virginia Tech that ended the Hurricanes’ miserable fourgame losing streak this past Saturday, Miami coach Mark Richt couldn’t help but smile.
Yes, the win had, as he described it, “stopped the bleeding.”
Yes, there was relief. Yes, the Hurricanes had finally, for the first time in a month, played well on offense, defense and special teams.
But it was his players’ reactions at having secured a postseason bowl berth that caught him by surprise, Richt conceding maybe he’d underestimated just how much that extra game meant to the Hurricanes.
Three days after that locker room celebration, some of Miami’s veterans were still reveling in the fact the season will continue and even as a growing number of college football players across the nation each season opt to sit out bowl games to preserve their health ahead of the NFL draft, several Hurricanes seniors say they intend to suit up for Miami’s bowl, even it isn’t the prestigious game they hoped it would be when the season started.
“The bowl game was always in mind. We didn’t want to be the first Miami team to miss one. … It’s looking forward to playing another one with my brothers, extending the season,” said preseason All-American safety Jaquan Johnson, who opted to return to Miami for his senior year after last season. “I haven’t heard anything about seniors skipping. I know I’m playing. [Sheldrick] Redwine’s playing, so, we’re looking forward to it.”
Added Redwine, “It’s a brotherhood here. I would never leave any of them out to dry to focus on me, singular. It’s football. It’s another chance to prove yourself.”
Johnson and Redwine aren’t the only Hurricanes seniors that have vowed to play in the postseason, with senior defensive tackle Gerald Willis saying earlier this month he was determined to participate in the Hurricanes’ bowl game, even as friends urged him to consider his NFL future.
And cornerback Michael Jackson said he’s “always” planning to play in the postseason, though he understands why some players might not.
For his part, Richt said he wasn’t surprised to hear several seniors planned to put the Hurricanes’ collective goals ahead of any individual goals and said he hadn’t spoken to his players about their postseason choices.
“I have an expectation that everybody would finish the season. That’s what I would expect everyone to do. That’s what I would want everybody to want to do,” Richt said. “I guess you guys have to ask that question, that’s part of what you guys do, ask those questions. But, I can’t predict what’s going to happen, but I believe these guys care about their team and their teammates and I think every chance they get to play, you read some of Gerald Willis’ quotes, he wants to play with his teammates. I think the rest of the guys feel that way, too.”
Bryant reportedly cancels visit: Former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant, a graduate transfer, had reportedly planned to visit Miami this week during the Hurricanes’ game against Pittsburgh, but it appears that won’t be happening now.
According to Rivals, Bryant canceled his visit to Miami and has replaced it instead with a visit to Auburn.
The Hurricanes have gotten strong play in recent weeks from redshirt freshman N’Kosi Perry, who has regained the starting job and on Monday, Richt said Perry was “in the driver’s seat” in regards to the race to see which of Miami’s young quarterbacks will start next season.
Perry, who was under center for the win against Virginia Tech, has completed 55.6 percent of his passes for 1,037 yards with 13 touchdowns and just five interceptions.
Smith likely out against
Pittsburgh: Linebacker Mike Smith is dealing with a knee injury and will likely miss Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh, though Richt said Tuesday he was hopeful the redshirt senior would be available for Miami’s bowl game.
“He’s on crutches now,” Richt said. “We don’t think he’ll play, but we’re pretty certain he’ll be ready for the bowl game.”
Smith started last week at Virginia Tech with Mike Pinckney serving a onegame suspension. Smith has 31 tackles this season, including six tackles for loss. He has also forced a fumble.