Lofton mystery revealed. More feats for Bain, Mesidor. And Canes chatter
A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Wednesday, heading into Saturday’s showdown at FSU (7:30 p.m., ABC):
▪ One of the early season mysteries has been Elija Lofton’s absence from the starting lineup and his modest production (eight catches, 79 yards).
Mario Cristobal offered something of an explanation on his coach’s show this week, suggesting that the highly regarded second-year tight end hasn’t been fully healthy.
“He wasn’t full speed [against UF] and made a couple of plays,” Cristobal told WQAM’s Joe Zagacki and Don Bailey Jr. “It is great to see him get healthy.”
Alex Bauman, the Tulane transfer, has started the past three games and has played 164 offensive snaps, compared with 131 for Lofton. They’re listed as co-starters on the depth chart distributed to reporters.
“Bauman is physical, tough, great hands,” Cristobal said. “We missed him on a couple opportunities” against UF.
The hope remains that this could be a breakout year for Lofton, who was expected to become a key cog in UM’s offense following the departure of Elijah Arroyo, who was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks.
The Canes have been winning even with their tight ends having limited involvement in the passing game. Bauman has two receptions for 12 yards and no touchdowns after catching 20 for 212 and seven touchdowns at Tulane last season.
“More than the passing game — they are doing a really good job of blocking,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said of the tight ends. “There are opportunities [in the passing game] we are missing slightly. As we go through the season those things will start connecting.”
▪ This week will be the first time during the Cristobal era that UM is required to give an injury report. (It wasn’t required for the Canes’ four nonconference games to open the season.)
Here’s what the new Atlantic Coast Conference policy says:
“Before each conference game, a team will disclose any student-athlete whose availability for the upcoming game is in question. A student-athlete can be listed on the Availability Report if their status is uncertain for any reason (e.g., injury or illness, academic or other eligibility issue, personal or family matter, etc.); however, only the status and not the specific reason will be publicly reported.
“This policy is intended to help protect student-athletes and staff members from outside entities seeking to obtain inside information about availability and participation, including but not limited to injuries. It will also reinforce to athletes and staff the sensitivity of such information.
“In football, a report will be submitted two days before each Conference game (e.g., Thursday before a Saturday game) with an update on the day before the game and on game day. In basketball and baseball, reports will be submitted the day before each Conference game and on game day.
“For each report submitted before game day, student-athletes will be designated as Available, Probable, Questionable, or Out for the upcoming game. Game Day Reports will be submitted two hours before each game. For this report, student-athletes will be designated as Available, Game Time Decision, or Out.
“Failure to follow the availability reporting policy will be subject to review and potential penalties under the Conference’s sportsmanship procedures.”
The ACC says all availability reports will be available to the public and media on the ACC’s website — www.theACC.com.
For UM, it will be interesting to see the injury designations for running back Jordan Lyle and receiver JoJo Trader, who have been sidelined since playing in the opener. UM has suggested both will play against FSU.
“Those two guys, we all know what they are capable of,” Dawson said. “Now it’s very important when they get opportunities in games it shows. It will. Those guys have done a great job. … We are excited about getting those guys back.”
▪ Lyle started the opener against Notre Dame and had five carries for 11 yards before sustaining an injury.
But UM has done fine without him. Mark Fletcher Jr. (388 yards on 5.9 per carry and five touchdowns) and ChaMar “Marty” Brown (206 yards om 4.2 per carry and four touchdowns) have been excellent.
Lyle “adds another great running back who can go in and get the job done, Fletcher said. “We all compete with each other, push each other to the best. I’m just happy to have No. 2 back.”
▪ Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor are tied for 13th in the country with 19 quarterback pressures. Pro Football Focus ranks Bain first and Bain fifth among all FBS edge players.
Bain, who has 22 tackles and two sacks, “has been a dominant player,” defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman said. “What he did this offseason, how he took care of his body, way he works, gets extra reps in practice, how he attacks every day, that’s what shows up on the field.
“I think having him on the edge has helped him play fast in this defense.” Mesidor has 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
“They have done such a great job the last couple of years and this offseason getting their bodies, minds right, and it’s showing up,” Cristobal said.
“And they are not satisfied, lots to get better at. But we do feel we are blessed with the best duo in the country. They’ve done everything we’ve asked, played inside, outside – they are team players.”
▪ Cristobal and Heatherman both praised the defensive tackles this week. UM is permitting just 2.61 yards per rush, which is 12th in the country.
Cristobal said Ahmad Moten, David Blay Jr. and Justin Scott “have done a really good job of not only holding the point but penetrating and creating negative plays for opponent offenses.”
Hetherman said: “Moten continues to play faster every single week. Scott got that forced fumble against Notre Dame. Blay knocked the line of scrimmage back and is doing his job really well.”
▪ Quick stuff: Linebacker Mohamed Toure, the Rutgers transfer, is second on UM in tackles (18, including one sack) and Cristobal said he “has been a phenomenal addition.”...
FSU leads the nation in total offense by a lot, at 600 yards per game. Next closest is Texas Tech at 573 yards per game.The Seminoles are averaging 53 points, 336 yards rushing and 8.9 yards per play…
ABC assigned lead team Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit to Saturday’s game.
This story was originally published October 1, 2025 at 11:35 AM.
