Clemson cornerback Chris Chancellor has looked forward to playing Miami and playing in his hometown since his freshman year.

He has been reminding teammates he will need their Miami tickets since last year and told friends and family dozens of times to clear out their schedule for Saturday's 3:30 p.m. ACC showdown at Land Shark Stadium against the No. 8 Hurricanes (5-1).

It was going to be a happy return home for the senior and Thorpe Award candidate until what happened at the University of Connecticut this past weekend. Now, Chancellor is not only coming home to see his family and former coach, but also to bury and honor one of his closest friends, former Miami Edison High teammate Jasper Howard, who was stabbed to death early Sunday during a skirmish after a dance on the UConn campus in Storrs, Conn.

``It's going to be very emotional coming back to Miami -- he's going to be on my mind,'' said Chancellor, who got permission from Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and teammate Jacoby Ford to wear Howard's No. 6 Saturday.

``It's going to be very joyful to celebrate the life of Jazz.''

Chancellor won't be the only non-UConn players honoring Howard this weekend.

UM quarterback Jacory Harris, who went to rival Miami Northwestern, says he will put Jazz Howard's name on his eye-black stickers Saturday. Boston College cornerback DeLeon Gause, who played at Miami Central, will also wear No. 6 in honor of Howard against Notre Dame. And West Virginia players will wear a sticker with the No. 6 on their helmets.

Corey Bell, Miami's director of football operations who coached Chancellor and Howard at Edison, said the tragedy has touched many football players who grew up in Miami and knew Howard.

``I didn't play on any teams with Jazz, but we grew up playing against each other,'' Harris said. ``I knew him throughout the years. I know his girlfriend, his friends. All of us are from the same circle of people. [UM offensive lineman] Brandon Washington took it hardest. He played at Edison with him, and they were good friends. He was a good person. It was kind of crazy to find out that morning he was killed.''

THEY TALKED OFTEN

Chancellor said he and Howard spoke frequently on Facebook and would text words of encouragement to each other before big games.

``We would talk about handling business and taking care of our families,'' Chancellor said. ``The last time we talked he was saying how other teams weren't throwing the ball his way. So, I told him to get his tackles up, cause fumbles. He had his best game doing that last Saturday.

``It's just crazy to think he's gone.''

Chancellor, who graduated from Edison in 2005 (a year earlier than Howard), was a track and football star at Edison like Howard.

He has become one of the best cover corners in college football, has nine career interceptions and is projected to be a fifth- or sixth-round NFL Draft choice in April.

Like Chancellor, Bell believed Howard was headed to the NFL, too. Bell, who spent 10 years at Edison, his alma mater, turning the football program around, has two former players currently in the NFL -- practice squad defensive tackle Mark Dial and Colts running back Chad Simpson.

``The one thing they both did at Edison was listen,'' Bell said of Chancellor and Howard. ``They understood the big picture. All I would tell them was how football and getting an education was much bigger than me, much bigger than them, how being able to put yourself in position to have a family and take care of a family was all they needed to think about. There was never a doubt in my mind they'd both make it.''

A FATHER IS GONE

Chancellor, who has a 1-year-old son, Christian Chancellor Jr., said it pains him to think of what Howard's family is going through, especially knowing he was going to be a father soon.

``Every time I look at my son, he brings a smile to my face,'' Chancellor said. ``Everybody calls him a cutie pie. And he is. I can't imagine what it would be like to leave his life. Now, his child won't know who their father is. For it to happen in Connecticut, out of Miami, you don't expect it. We left the violence behind.''

Chancellor has received permission from Clemson to stay in town after the game to attend Howard's funeral Monday along with the entire UConn football team.

``All I can do is keep working hard,'' said Chancellor, who already has his degree in sports management. ``Jazz wanted to go to the NFL, and I'm going to make sure I live out that dream for the both of us.''