University of Miami offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson, a 6-8, 340-pound junior who was one of the most coveted recruits in the nation when he arrived at UM in 2010, was a no-show Sunday for the third consecutive day of fall football practice.

Reporters were told Thursday afternoon that Henderson would not be at the opening of fall camp on Friday, because he would be attending the funeral of a childhood friend back in Henderson’s home state of Minnesota. Then, on Saturday, when Henderson did not report to practice, UM coach Al Golden said he was expected back sometime that day.

Early Sunday morning, as his players were entering the field, Golden said, “Seantrel is not here yet. Hopefully we’ll get him here today. Hopefully that’s the deal.

“I haven’t even checked in on it this morning, to be honest. I’ve been so busy getting ready for practice.’’

Reporter: “Is he back in town?”

Golden: “I don’t know that.’’

Reporter: “Is this all due to the funeral? Is this all excused?”

Golden: “Correct, yeah.’’

Henderson’s UM career has been marked by controversy. He most recently was suspended the first weekend of spring practice in early March, 2012, for violating an undisclosed team policy.

Then, he showed up “significantly late” to the start of a summer session, Golden told the Miami Herald two weeks ago during a one-on-one interview at the ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro, N.C. But Golden said that day that Henderson was “absolutely not” suspended and the situation was dealt with internally.

"We’re like everybody else on the planet when it comes to Seantrel,” Golden said during that interview. "We want to maximize his ability, we want to maximize his talent and give him the skillset, the discipline, the strength, the explosion to be the type of player we know he can be.”