News and observations from Miami practice with the Canes’ opener less than two weeks away
After taking Monday off for the first day of classes, the Miami Hurricanes were back at practice Tuesday in Coral Gables, continuing training camp before they shift to game preparation later in the week.
Although several potential contributors were back on Greentree Practice Fields, Miami was missing another starter.
Running back Jaylan Knighton did not practice Tuesday, but sources expect him to play in the Hurricanes’ opener next week against the FCS Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. Two sources used the word “precautionary” when discussing Knighton’s status.
Still, a rash of injuries in the backfield is cause for some concern in South Florida. In the last two weeks, running backs TreVonte’ Citizen and Donald Chaney Jr. went down with injuries, and both will miss significant time this season. Without those two, Knighton, Henry Parrish Jr. and Thaddius Franklin Jr. are Miami’s only scholarship running backs currently on track to be available for the start of the regular season.
Last year, Knighton led the Hurricanes with 145 carries for 561 yards and eight touchdowns, starting the final six games of the year after injuries to Chaney and fellow running back Cam’Ron Harris. Parrish ran for 553 yards with the Ole Miss Rebels last year before transferring home to Miami and Franklin played sparingly as a freshman, rushing for 172 yards on 23 carries.
Isaiah Horton, Jordan Miller return
Wide receiver Isaiah Horton and defensive lineman Jordan Miller were back at practice Tuesday after missing time last week because of unspecified injuries.
Horton, a freshman, did not practice at all last week and participated in a limited capacity Tuesday, while Miller sat out at least a handful of practices last week and was a full participant Tuesday.
Wide receiver Colbie Young was also limited Tuesday.
Horton was a four-star wide receiver in the 247Sports composite rankings for the Class of 2022 and could help the Hurricanes this year because of his size. Miller, a redshirt junior, has played in 36 games for Miami and made two starts.
Tackle Zion Nelson makes appearance
Star tackle Zion Nelson said last month his offseason knee surgery would keep him out about 6-8 weeks. More than six weeks after his surgery, Nelson still did not participate the early portion of practice open to media Tuesday, although he did walk into the locker room, holding shoulder pads, at the end of the session.
The offensive lineman had surgery to get cartilage cleaned out of his left knee early in July, which put his status for the start of the season in jeopardy. With less than two weeks until the start of the year, Nelson is still working his way back.
An eight-week recovery would put Nelson back on the field on the eve of the Bethune-Cookman game.
The 6-foot-5, 316-pound junior earned preseason All-America recognition from Athlon last month and projects as an early-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He has started for the Hurricanes at left tackle since the very first game of his freshman year back in 2019, making 30 starts across the last three years.
In the meantime, the first-team offensive line continues to line up, from left to right, as John Campbell Jr., Jalen Rivers, Jakai Clark, Justice Oluwaseun and DJ Scaife Jr.
This story was originally published August 23, 2022 at 10:07 AM.
