Three more UM starters ruled out for Georgia Tech
As if losing nationally touted running back Mark Walton to a season-ending ankle injury wasn’t enough, the Miami Hurricanes announced Thursday what insiders suspected early this week: Three other starters have been ruled out with injuries for the Georgia Tech game on Saturday.
Starting junior safety Sheldrick Redwine, starting freshman guard Navaughn Donaldson and starting redshirt senior cornerback Dee Delaney, all of whom were injured at the Florida State game last Saturday, are sidelined.
Sophomore receiver Ahmmon Richards, who reaggravated a hamstring injury, is listed as questionable.
No. 11 UM (4-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) will host Georgia Tech (3-1, 2-0) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC) at Hard Rock Stadium.
UM coach Mark Richt would not confirm that Redwine might have a concussion. Miami listed him as having an “upper extremity’’ injury.
The 6-6, 350-pound Donaldson wore a large black boot on his right foot and leg this week, and Richt mentioned in passing that he had an ankle sprain.
Delaney, a two-time All-American transfer out of The Citadel, had a brace over his right knee this week and pedaled using only his left leg on a conditioning bike during practice.
The three who have been ruled out have started all four games this season.
Delaney has 21 tackles and got his first UM interception at FSU.
Redwine has 12 tackles, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
Donaldson could be replaced by freshman Corey Gaynor, redshirt junior Jahair Jones or redshirt sophomore Hayden Mahoney, with cornerbacks Trajan Bandy, Jhavonte Dean and Michael Jackson; and safeties Robert Knowles, Romeo Finley and Amari Carter getting more in the mix as well.
“It’s something that we talked about all offseason to get everybody to understand: next-man-up mentality, because it coudl happen at any time throughout the season,’’ left tackle Kc McDermott said earlier this week. “I’m banged up. We have guys that are banged up. That’s exactly the way football is. It’s a tough, physical sport...We have depth this year. We have guys that are ready to step up and take places of other guys if need be.’’
This story was originally published October 12, 2017 at 2:37 PM with the headline "Three more UM starters ruled out for Georgia Tech."