UM defenders Ford, Silvera to return for next season

“Let’s Run It Back’’ has become quite the popular phrase these days at the University of Miami.

On Wednesday night, both starting defensive tackles used it to announce their returns for the 2021 season.

First, the 6-5, 318-pound senior Jonathan Ford said he’d back for his fifth season. A few hours later, the 6-2, 305-pound junior Nesta Silvera announced he would return for his fourth season.

The NCAA is allowing all players to return next season for an extra year of eligibility, regardless of their year in school, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Think of it as a do-over of 2020, though the statistics from the ’20 season will count.

Ford, a graduate of Fort Lauderdale Dillard High, played all four years he has been at Miami. In 2020, he started nine of his 10 games, totaling 19 tackles, 1 1⁄ tack

2 les for loss and a quarterback hurry.

Silvera, a Plantation American Heritage graduate, earned All-ACC honorable mention in 2020, starting 10 of his 11 games and amassing 35 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup, a team-lead-tying 5 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

— SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN

MARLINS INTERESTED IN KLUBER?

The Marlins were among a slew of MLB teams in attendance to scout free agent starting pitcher Corey Kluber when he held a workout Wednesday in

Palm Beach Gardens.

ESPN reported that as many as 25 teams had scouts out to watch Kluber. Relievers Anthony Swarzak and Steve Cishek also held throwing sessions.

Kluber, who turns 35 in April, is a two-time Cy Young Award (2014, 2017) but has started just eight games and thrown 36 2⁄

3 innings over the last two seasons due to injuries.

First, it was a right ulna fracture in 2019 that shut him down after seven games. He rehab from the injury was shut down due to a separate abdominal injury. The Cleveland Indians traded him to the Texas Rangers prior to the 2020 season. He threw just one inning before suffering a season-ending right teres tear.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that scouts were impressed with

Kluber’s 30-pitch bullpen session. Kluber’s fastball reportedly was around 88-90 mph, couple ticks lower than usual, but a strong base to build on as he continues toward spring training.

FLYERS RIP PENGUINS TO OPEN NHL SEASON

Joel Farabee had a goal and three assists, Michael Raffl, James van Riemsdyk and Nolan Patrick also scored to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first game of the NHL season. .

ETC.

●College basketball: Jay Huff scored 18 points and Sam Hauser had 15 points and nine rebounds as host No. 18 Virginia (8-2, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) beat Notre Dame (3-8,

0-5) 80-68 for its fourth consecutive victory.

... Duane Washington Jr. scored a career-high 23 points to lead host No. 21 Ohio State (10-3, 4-3 Big Ten) to an 81-71 win over Northwestern (6-5, 3-4).