Porter’s progress

With UM fans regularly asking about the status of fourth-year junior defensive tackle Curtis Porter, he likely has been the most popular nonfactor on the Hurricanes this season. Now, finally, Porter is getting close enough physically for coaches to consider playing him on a limited basis either Thursday against Virginia Tech or Nov. 10 at Virginia.

Porter, who at one point in fall practice was a first-team tackle, reportedly had an appendectomy in mid-August. He didn’t return to practice until the second week of October.

In 2010, after playing in eight games the previous season as a freshman, Porter was carted off in Game 2 at Ohio State with a season-ending knee injury. Last season he had a broken bone in his finger that kept him out until the final two games.

“On the Tuesday before [FSU], he took 23 plays and just wasn’t in the type of condition that he needs to be,” coach Al Golden said Monday of Porter, listed as 6-1 and 308 pounds. “We’ve been working around the clock to try to get him in shape. We’ll see how he comes through [Monday and Tuesday] and, hopefully, he can help us in the game.”