Where things stand with Canes’ Trader and Lyle after injuries. And tidbits
A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Wednesday:
▪ After Jojo Trader caught three passes for 61 yards and a touchdown in UM’s PopTarts Bowl loss to Iowa State, the second-year receiver from Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna looked destined to be a starting receiver at best or a top three receiver at worst.
It hasn’t worked out that way, at least not yet. After playing 99 offensive snaps as a freshman, Trader has played just nine this season and doesn’t have a reception (or a target).
Trader missed part of training camp with an injury, played those nine offensive snaps against Notre Dame, sat out three games because of an injury, then didn’t play at all on offense against FSU even though he wasn’t listed on the injury report.
Slowed by the undisclosed injury, Trader was essentially surpassed by CJ Daniels, Malachi Toney, Keelan Marion and Joshua Moore during the past several months.
UM offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson made clear this week that Trader is still on his mind.
“He’s had a very good week last week,” Dawson said. “We’ve had some very good talks. I love the kid. He’s had a very good week of practice, really good day [Monday]. I look forward to him finishing this week and making some plays.”
Trader said in late July that he was fully recovered from a wrist injury that sidelined him for the spring game. He put on 21 pounds in the past year, filling out to 184, with the hope it would make him stronger and perhaps lessen his chances of injury.
Dawson said Trader and Moore might get an opportunity in the weeks ahead.
“We do want those guys rolling in,” he said. “Those guys are going to have opportunities to make plays. I want them in the game more.”
Bottom line: Toney and Daniels have been or good — or better — than anyone could have imagined. And that has significantly reduced the need to rely on Trader.
▪ Running back Jordan Lyle, who started against Notre Dame, has played only 23 offensive snaps after missing part of the opener, and the following three games, because of an ankle injury.
But Mario Cristobal said he’s now back to 100%. “Exciting to see him fully healthy,” Cristobal said. “His took a little longer than expected, than even he expected. He’s a team guy, ready to roll. Special player.”
After averaging 7.4 yards on 54 carries as a freshman last season, Lyle averaged just 2.4 in a limited sample size this season (12 for 29). But he’s the Canes’ running back best equipped to break long runs because of his speed and explosiveness.
By contrast, Mark Fletcher Jr. is averaging 5.5 per carry (on 78 rushes) and CharMar Brown 3.9 per rush on 57 attempts.
“Sometimes we’re going to run it no matter what, but not all the time,” Dawson said. “If they are committed to doing something number-wise that doesn’t make a lot of sense, we’re going to take advantage and we have the ability to do that.”
▪ UM has hit on more players in the transfer portal than it ever has since college football opened the doors to frequent transfers a few years ago. (Cam Ward was UM’s best portal addition of the modern era, but the 2025 portal class is deeper than the Canes’ 2024 portal group.)
“Frontline guys with frontline attitudes as well,” Cristobal said of the transfers. “A lot of people were scratching their heads, ‘Why are we signing this guy, that guy?’ A lot of time went into this. It’s all about the fit. It has to fit the scheme, the culture and there has to be something they bring to the table we don’t have. We have a really good balance of high school and portal guys and feel we can do the same this year.”
▪ Asked about Rueben Bain Jr. and UM’s defensive front, Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said “we’ve talked to some coaches at Florida, and they said this front was better than the ones they’ve seen in the SEC the last three or four years.”
“It’s a good defensive front. They’re talented. They’re big. They’re strong. They’re fast. They’ve got two defensive ends that are really talented, fast and strong [Bain and Akheem Mesidor] and big guys up front fast linebackers. They’re not overly complicated. But when you’re that talented, you don’t have to be. They do a very good job. It will create a lot of challenges for us.”
▪ Quick stuff, Part 1: On his coach’s show this week, Cristobal made a point to give unsolicited praise to defensive tackle David Blay, the Louisiana Tech transfer: “He has been playing some really good football up front. Sometimes the stat line doesn’t show it. He has done a great job.”... UM tight ends Elija Lofton and Alex Bauman combined for six receptions against FSU, and Cristobal said: “Those guys are now healthy and playing at a very physical level, a higher level. You can expect their roles to get bigger and bigger.”... Cristobal said safety Zechariah Poyser, the Jacksonville State transfer, has been “awesome. He’s been physical and knocked people back on important down and distance situations.”
▪ Quick stuff, Part 2: Not only has UM seemingly upgraded at defensive coordinator with Corey Hetherman, but Cristobal mentioned what a good job he’s doing also coaching the linebackers. “What the entire linebacker crew is getting from coach Hetherman is next-level stuff,” Cristobal said...
Zagacki mentioned that UM is converting third downs at a 47% clip and holding opponents to 30% conversion on third downs. That’s among the widest gaps in the country... ESPN assigned Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek to Friday’s 7 p.m. game.
Here’s my Tuesday Canes 6-pack with draft news and personnel notes.
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 1:30 PM.
