Tight end Jordan is day to day with knee sprain
University of Miami starting sophomore tight end Brevin Jordan ,akey component of the Hurricanes’ offense, sprained his left knee Tuesday and is “day to day,” UM senior associate athletic director of communications Carter Toole said Thursday after practice.
Jordan, who hyperextended his knee earlier this week, had an MRI on Wednesday, a source said.
Additionally, running back Asa Martin, an Auburn transfer who was named the 2017 Alabama Mr. Football and Class 6A back of the year (rushed for 2,228 yards and 33 TD as senior), has a left leg injury and is out for the spring. Martin will sit out 2019 regardless, per NCAA transfer rules, which is what UM had expected all along, coach Manny Diaz told the media last week.
Martin was a freshman last season and rushed for 57 yards on 13 carries in five games. The fifth game he played (against Mississippi State) last year essentially burned his chance of redshirting for his freshman season, which Auburn officials said was a mistake on their part.
Jordan is another story, and an exceptionally good one, at that.
The 6-3, 245-pound Jordan, the top tight end in the nation when he came to the Hurricanes last year as a freshman, finished last season with 32 catches for 287 yards and four touchdowns.
As a high school senior at Bishop Gorman, Jordan had an astounding 1,111 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 63 catches.
“I trust in God I know he won’t fail me,” Jordan tweeted on Tuesday.
“I can breathe again!’’ Jordan’s mother, Beverly, posted on twitter in the wee hours overnight. “GOD IS GOOD BABY BOY.”
Fortunately, fellow rising sophomore Will Mallory, another highly touted prep tight end, is back after injuring his left knee in Blacksburg, Virginia, last November at Virginia Tech. On the Hurricanes’ final drive of the second quarter at Lane Stadium, Mallory contorted his body trying to haul in an inaccurate pass from N’Kosi Perry. A defender hit the receiver from behind and Mallory’s left knee twisted awkwardly beneath his body. He now wears a black elasticized brace over the knee, but is practicing at full strength.
Mallory, 6-5 and 230 pounds, played in 10 games last season and caught five passes for 37 yards and a touchdown.
Mallory was rated as the nation’s third-best tight end prospect by ESPN, with 21 catches for 364 yards and three touchdowns his senior season at Jacksonville Providence. He had 46 catches for 900 yards and 12 touchdowns his junior high school season.
Michael Irvin and Brian Polendey both underwent knee surgery last season and were out. Irvin is back and practicing fully.
Fifth-year senior safety Robert Knowles still has not returned to practice after getting injured in both of the first two spring practices.
Offensive right tackle John Campbell was on an exercise bike Thursday. George Brown, an LSU transfer, was at right tackle. Senior linebacker/ striker Zach McCloud (hand/wrist) hasn’t been able to practice and take contact.
Defensive coordinator Blake Baker said 6-5, 300-pound junior defensive tackle Jon Ford has been impressive this spring.
Baker said striker Romeo Finley has been practicing at safety in thirddown packages.
Jarren Williams took first-team snaps in team drills Thursday, but offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Dan Enos said that all the quarterbacks are alternating at first team. … Tate Martell looked more accurate Thursday during media viewing.