Miami flirts with a shutout, Ladson on award watch and more notes from Canes’ win at VT
Frank Ladson Jr. officially became a nominee for the national Comeback Player of the Year Award this week and the wide receiver built his case Saturday with his best performance yet as a Miami Hurricane.
Ladson caught five passes for 58 yards and a touchdown in Miami’s 20-14 win against the Virginia Tech Hokies, and his touchdown in the opening three minutes set the tone for the Hurricanes in Blacksburg, Virginia.
“Frank played a good game,” quarterback Tyler Van Dyke said.
A junior, Ladson transferred to Miami in January after spending his first three years of college with the Clemson Tigers, struggling to carve out a consistent role, partly because of a series of sports hernia injuries. He made the Comeback Player of the Year watch list Wednesday.
He was, however, an elite recruit out of Homestead South Dade in the Class of 2019 and the return home to South Florida has been rejuvenating for the 6-foot-3, 205-pound wideout. He’s now up to 21 catches and 215 yards this year — just three catches and 66 yards off the career highs he set as a sophomore in 2020.
As the Hurricanes have struggled to find reliable receivers for Van Dyke this year, Ladson is emerging as one of the quarterback’s favorite targets, along with fellow wide receiver Colbie Young, who’s even bigger at 6-5 and 215 pounds.
“The receivers should get a lot of credit for this one,” Van Dyke said. “They got open for me a lot.”
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Miami’s defense nearly makes history
Miami (3-3, 1-1 Atlantic Coast) got 12:10 away from handing Virginia Tech its first shutout loss since 1995.
Instead, the Hurricanes just had to settle for one of their better defensive performances of the season — even if they made it a bit too close for comfort in the fourth quarter.
The Hokies (2-5, 1-3) didn’t score until they threw a 15-yard touchdown on third-and-goal with 12:10 remaining. They added another touchdown with 3:20 left after converting a fourth down in the red zone.
Virginia Tech hasn’t been shut out in 353 games — the third longest streak in the country.
“We just dominated,” defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor said.
Mesidor spearheaded the defensive effort with 3 1/2 of Miami’s six sacks — a new career high. The Hurricanes only let the Hokies into their territory once until the fourth quarter and Miami sacked Virginia Tech quarterback Grant Weels on two of their three first-half snaps in Hurricanes territory.
Miami also recovered a fumble in the opening minutes, setting up Ladson for the early touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead at Lane Stadium.
Miami-Virginia Tech injury updates
Tight end Will Mallory left the Hurricanes’ win in the first half with an unspecified injury, but coach Mario Cristobal said he doesn’t think it’s too serious.
The senior left the game after making a 20-yard catch on the third play of the second quarter and taking a hit to the head. Hokies defensive back Nasir Peoples was ejected for targeting on the play.
Mallory’s injury left Miami without seven starters for the second half. Running back Henry Parrish Jr., wide receiver Michael Redding III, offensive lineman Justice Oluwaseun, linebacker Waynmon Steed Jr. and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson all did not dress, and offensive lineman Jakai Clark did not play after getting hurt last week, although he did dress.
Zion Nelson also did not play. The star tackle has missed 4 of 5 games so far this season — albeit without a start — after having knee surgery in July. The junior had a “setback” after debuting against the then-No. 24 Texas A&M Aggies last month, Cristobal said.
Cristobal said the players who missed this game should be “on track” to play next week.
In place of the injured players, the Hurricanes started Jaylan Knighton at running back, Young at wide receiver, Jonathan Denis at center, Logan Sagapolu at right guard, Keontra Smith at linebacker and Daryl Porter Jr. at cornerback.
This story was originally published October 15, 2022 at 5:33 PM.
