Richards’ career over because of neck injury

MIAMI GARDENS — As the Hurricanes celebrated a stunning comeback win over rival Florida State, it seems they will also have to move forward without one of their top players. Receiver Ahmmon Richards has suffered a careerending neck injury, according to a report from the Miami Herald. Multiple school officials from Miami would not comment on the report, but the receiver himself took to social media late Saturday and seemed to indicate he’d been in a victorious Hurricanes locker room for the “last time” with “mixed emotions.” Richards, a former Wellington High standout, also posted a message thanking fans for their support, writing, “From the HEART, I appreciate all of my fans.” The receiver, a former Freshman All-American, suffered what Hurricanes coach Mark Richt had described as a bone bruise in his knee in Miami’s 33-17 season-opening loss to LSU. While he has not been seen practicing with the Hurricanes since, he has been seen working on the field — at times — with members of the Hurricanes’ athletic training staff. Richt had, until recently, described the receiver’s status as “day-to-day,” though this week, he indicated it would be a “while” before Richards would be available to play again. Now, it appears as if that won’t happen. After a dazzling freshman year in which he finished with 934 receiving yards to break Michael Irvin’s freshman receiving record, Richards’ career at Miami has been marred by injuries. Last year, he was plagued by hamstring, ankle and knee issues and appeared in just eight of Miami’s 13 games. He still finished as the Hurricanes’ third-leading receiver with 24 catches for 439 yards. Before the year started, the receiver said he had spent a good chunk of the offseason learning how to better take care of his body so that he could handle the rigors of a full season of college football. “I don’t think I’ve been hurt that much in my entire life,” Richards said in June. “It was hard, just mentally trying to go to rehab every day, try to get better and play at a high level. It was hard, but I had to fight through it. … To know what I went through last year, all the injuries and being hurt almost every day, I think it made me tougher. I don’t think there’s an injury I can’t deal with it. I’ve been through it all.” Richards is the second Hurricane to deal with a career-ending injury in the last year, cornerback Malek Young also seeing his playing career end after Miami’s loss to the Orange Bowl last December.

Miami greats return: As is typically the custom when the Hurricanes host their biggest rival, several former Miami greats were at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday. Former UM safety Ed Reed, who last month was selected as Miami’s representative for the 2018 ACC Class of Legends, received a loud ovation when he was recognized between the first and second quarters. Also in attendance, according to Miami, were Jim Burt, Warren Sapp, Pat O’Donnell, Deon Bush, Bennie Blades, Ray Lewis, Michael Irvin, Edgerrin James and Clinton Portis. Recent Hurricane alums Trent Harris and Braxton Berrios, both of whom played in this game last year, were also onhand.

Willis honored: Ahead of Saturday’s game, Hurricanes defensive tackle Gerald Willis was recognized as the Outland Trophy Defen- sive Player of the Month for September. Willis, who returned to the Hurricanes this season after taking a leave of absence last year, has started all six games for the Hurricanes and entered Saturday’s game tied for third in the nation with an average of 2.1 tackles for loss per game. He also had, before facing FSU, 23 tackles, a team-best 10.5 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and a pass breakup.

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN/SUN SENTINEL It seems as if Ahmmon Richards’ career is over, according to a report from the Miami Herald. Richards tweeted he was grateful for support from fans and that he’d been in the locker room for the “last time” with “mixed emotions.”