Mario Cristobal gives updates on multiple injured Hurricanes ahead of Syracuse game
Mario Cristobal said the Hurricanes will be without at least a couple starters for a little bit.
Wide receiver CJ Daniels and cornerback OJ Frederique Jr. will each be out “a couple of weeks,” Cristobal said Monday as the No. 18 Hurricanes (6-2, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) host the Syracuse Orange (3-6, 1-5 ACC) on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium (3:30 p.m. ESPN). Defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr., meanwhile, is “50-50” for the Syracuse game, Cristobal said.
Additionally, running back Mark Fletcher Jr.’s status is in jeopardy for this week as well after he left the Hurricanes’ 26-20 overtime loss to SMU with injury in the fourth quarter.
Frederique, Daniels and Moten did not play against the Mustangs.
Fletcher has been Miami’s workhorse at running back this season. He leads the team in carries (125), rushing yards (636) and rushing touchdowns (nine). His nine rushing touchdowns are tied for fourth in the ACC and tied for 21st nationally.
If Fletcher is unable to go, CharMar “Marty” Brown and Jordan Lyle would be UM’s primary running backs against Syracuse. Brown, a transfer from North Dakota State, plays a similar style to Fletcher — a bruiser, physical, run-up-the-middle running back. He has 280 yards and four touchdowns on 74 carries. Lyle, who missed time after an injury in the season opener against Notre Dame, has more potential for explosive plays but has just 91 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries this season.
Frederique, a Freshman All-American a season ago, has a team-leading five pass breakups to go along with 10 tackles. However, Frederique only played 12 snaps in Miami’s win over Stanford on Oct. 26 as the Hurricanes used a rotation of Frederique, Xavier Lucas, Damari Brown and Ethan O’Connor at outside corner against the Cardinal.
With Frederique sidelined against SMU, Lucas and O’Connor started at outside corner and played 63 and 59 of Miami’s 73 defensive snaps respectively, according to Pro Football Focus. Brown was on the field for 29 snaps. Lucas allowed five catches on nine targets for 57 yards, including a long of 20 and 29 yards after the catch, and had one pass breakup. O’Connor gave up catches on all three targets that came his way for 55 yards, including a long of 29 and 26 yards after the catch. Brown was targeted twice, giving up one catch for 0 yards. Keionte Scott played all 73 snaps at nickel corner, giving up catches on three of five targets for 28 yards while also breaking up a pass, recording eight tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry.
Daniels leads the Hurricanes with six touchdown catches and is second on the team with 33 catches and 351 yards. With him sidelined, the Hurricanes will need additional players to step up to complement true freshman Malachi Toney, who leads the team with 43 catches and 562 receiving yards. In addition to Keelan Marion, who has started all seven games for Miami this season, look for Cincinnati transfer Tony Johnson, sophomore JoJo Trader and true freshman Josh Moore to get extended reps.
Trader started with Toney and Marion. The trio combined for 19 catches, 228 yards and a 36-yard touchdown from Beck to Trader in the first quarter. Toney caught a team-high nine passes and had 70 yards to bump his season totals to 52 catches and 632 yards. Trader had five catches for 81 — his first catches of the season after being a nonfactor through the first seven games. Marion caught five passes for 77 yards to up his season marks to 23 catches and 253 yards.
Moten, who has started alongside David Blay at defensive tackle, has 16 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack through seven games. Sophomore Justin Scott started in Moten’s place and played 46 snaps — the most among Miami’s interior defensive linemen. Armondo Blount also played 28 of his 32 defensive snaps at defensive tackle on Saturday, and true freshman Donta Simpson played 14 snaps against SMU.
This story was originally published November 3, 2025 at 3:11 PM.
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