Which Canes are in play to redshirt and who cannot. And personnel nuggets
A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Thursday:
▪ The Canes face some interesting decisions on potential redshirts.
Players who appear in four or fewer regular-season games can redshirt, and Miami has several contributors who are at or on the cusp of that number, based on information provided by the team.
In this new era of college football, the unknown is whether these players will be willing participants in their redshirt or whether they will enter the portal and seek more playing time elsewhere. It’s impossible to know, because the Canes only make available the players they want speaking to the media.
Two freshmen who have appeared in four games are tight end Luka Gibert and defensive tackle Donta Simpson Jr. If they play again in the regular season, they lose their redshirt.
The same applies with sophomore Jordan Lyle, but UM is not planning to redshirt Lyle, who missed three games with an ankle injury earlier this season.
With Akheem Mesidor sidelined against Stanford, freshman Herbert Scroggins II played 13 defensive snaps and had two quarterback pressures. He has played in three games, giving him only one more to maintain his redshirt. Coaach Mario Cristobal said he expects Mesidor to play Saturday at SMU (noon, ESPN). The ACC injury report is due to come out at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Another decision that could come down to injuries: Well-regarded backup offensive lineman SJ Alofaituli, who has appeared in three games. He’s potentially UM’s center for the future, so giving him a redshirt would be helpful.
Wide receiver Jojo Trader has appeared in only two games, per UM’s participation report. But would Trader want to return if he doesn’t play much the rest of the season? He logged a season-high 22 offensive snaps against Stanford but didn’t have a catch.
Receiver Ray-Ray Joseph played in the first three games but hasn’t made an appearance since. Another veteran receiver, Ny Carr, has appeared in just one game.
Freshman receiver Daylyn Upshaw, who is very much in UM’s plans, has appeared in two games. Freshman cornerback Jaboree Antoine, also very much in the plans, has played in three games, per UM, and freshman cornerback Chris Ewald has appeared in one game.
Running back Girard Pringle Jr., another freshman the Canes are bullish about, has appeared in three games.
Redshirts remain in play for freshmen tight ends Brock Schott (one appearance) and Gilbert (four).
UM’s most heavily recruited freshman, edge player Hayden Lowe, will redshirt because he’s missing the season with an injury sustained before he appeared in a game.
Linebacker Cole McConathy II, who appeared in nine games as a true freshman last season, hasn’t played at all this season after dealing with an injury earlier. He’s an obvious redshirt candidate.
Defensive end Malik Bryant played in the first two games and hasn’t appeared since.
Quarterback Emory Williams has appeared in three games, but that’s irrelevant because he previously redshirted.
Linebacker Kamal Bonner, who has played in three games, previously redshirted at North Carolina State.
Defensive end Booker Pickett has played in four games, but he redshirted last season when he was limited to four appearances as a freshman.
Freshmen who have played too many games to redshirt include receivers Joshua Moore and emerging star Malachi Toney, linebacker Kellen Wiley Jr. and safety Bryce Fitzgerald.
▪ Pro Football Focus graded Markel Bell as the best left tackle in college football last week.
Center James Brockermeyer’s play remains uneven; he was rated Miami’s worst run-blocking starting lineman against Stanford, and he allowed Miami’s only quarterback pressure. (Carson Beck got the ball out quickly, but it’s impressive that Miami permitted only one pressure.)
▪ Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman said he’s trying to create more playing time for defensive lineman Armondo Blount, who can play end and tackle. He had a sack against Stanford.
▪ It sounds like Lyle will play more; he has 16 carries for 57 yards in the past three games — including four for 14 against Stanford — after sustaining an ankle injury in the opener against Notre Dame, a game he started.
“He’s an awesome player, is finally hitting his groove,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said.
“Jordan looked really, really good, is on his way to being a great one,” Cristobal told WQAM. With Lyle healthy now, “we can have a legitimate rotation. That’s awesome.”
Receiver Tony Johnson played more against Stanford (27 offensive snaps) than any game this season, in part because he practiced well last week. He entered having played just 60 offensive snaps in the first six games.
“He brings playmaking ability,” Dawson said. “I thought it was important to get him on the field.”
▪ Cristobal, on freshman defensive tackle Simpson Jr.: “We see a guy that’s progressing really well… We feel very strongly he’s going to be a great player. He’s developing more core strength.”
▪ Quick hits: Receivers CJ Daniels and Keelan Marion had drops against Stanford, and Cristobal said “drops cannot happen.”...
On his coach’s show, Cristobal raved about cornerback Xavier Lucas (who had his first interception last week) playing “really physical on the perimeter” and cornerback Keionte Scott’s disruptiveness, speed and “great energy. He weighs 190, 195, that might be in full pads, and he throws his body around recklessly.”...
ESPN’s Mark Jones and Roddy Jones will call Saturday’s game at SMU, their second consecutive UM assignment.
This story was originally published October 30, 2025 at 10:12 AM.
