Miami missing 11 players against N.C. State, including John Campbell and Brevin Jordan
COVID-19 continues to take its toll on the Miami Hurricanes.
The University of Miami is without 11 players Friday as it takes on the North Carolina State Wolfpack and tight end Brevin Jordan will miss his third straight game.
Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, defensive lineman Elijah Roberts, linebacker Corey Flagg Jr., and wide receivers Xavier Restrepo and Michael Redding III are also out for the second straight game for undisclosed reasons. Miami also added wide receiver Keyshawn Smith, tight end Dominic Mammarelli, and offensive linemen John Campbell Jr. and Ousman Traore to its pregame unavailability report, but did not disclose a reason for their absences in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Miami Herald learned through a source close to the situation that most of the 11 players are out with COVID-related issues — either by testing positive or by being a close contact.
Offensive lineman Issiah Walker Jr. is also once again unavailable as the Hurricanes await word from the NCAA on his eligibility status following his transfer from the Florida Gators to the Hurricanes in May. The freshman has not played yet this season.
While Miami’s policy this season is not to disclose whether a player is out because of the coronavirus, the No. 11 Hurricanes have had to contend with COVID-19 the last few weeks. Safety Brian Balom, Van Dyke, Elijah Roberts, Flagg, and Restrepo and Redding all missed the Hurricanes’ last game for undisclosed reasons, and a source told the Miami Herald their absences were because of COVID-related issues. The Hurricanes later placed additional players into isolation because they either tested positive for the coronavirus or were identified through contact tracing, a source said last weekend.
The source did not specify how many players actually tested positive and how many were just in quarantine because of contact tracing. Jordan sustained what appeared to be a shoulder injury last month in Miami’s blowout loss to the No. 1 Clemson Tigers. On Monday, coach Manny Diaz said the junior was “healthy” after sitting out nearly a month.
With Jordan out, tight end Will Mallory will likely make his third straight start. Restrepo, Redding, Smith, Campbell and Flagg have also been important contributors for Miami this season. Restrepo has been a starting punt returner and Restrepo, Redding and Smith are all listed among nine co-starters in the Hurricanes’ open wideout competition.
Bold moves early
North Carolina State struck early with some trickery, but Miami responded with aggressive plays throughout the first quarter to erase a seven-point lead in the opening period.
The Wolfpack opened the scoring with a double-pass throwback pass from North Carolina State wide receiver Thayer Thomas back to quarterback Bailey Hockman, who ran 31 yards into the end zone to give the Wolfpack the lead just 2:16 in.
The Hurricanes didn’t want to risk falling behind by 14, so they played aggressively on their first drive, going for it on fourth-and-1. Quarterback D’Eriq King kept the ball on a read option and took for a 42-yard pickup, setting up an eventual 3-yard touchdown catch by Mallory.
On Miami’s second touchdown a few minutes later, North Carolina State roughed King, giving the Hurricanes an extra 15 yards on the kickoff. Diaz saw an opportunity.
Kicker Andres Borregales sprung a surprise onside kick on the Wolfpack, firing a line drive at the front line. The ball bounced off the North Carolina State player and running back Robert Burns hopped on the loose ball to give the Miami the ball at the Wolfpack’s 35-yard line.
The Hurricanes, however, squandered the chance. First, Miami tried its own double pass and tight end Larry Hodges found King for a meager 1-yard gain. A personal foul by wide receiver Mark Pope pushed Miami back 15 yards, though, and the Hurricanes eventually punted away.
This story was originally published November 6, 2020 at 6:46 PM.