Cornerback depth has been a Miami strength all season. It’ll be tested vs. Indiana
One of the Miami Hurricanes’ biggest downfalls last season was their lack of cornerback depth, and how quickly that was exposed as soon as injuries hit.
One of their greatest strengths this season was how much that cornerback depth was overhauled and how it responded to various setbacks.
It might have its biggest test yet on Monday on the biggest stage.
When the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes (13-2) play the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers (15-0) in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Hard Rock Stadium (7:30 p.m., ESPN), they will be without sophomore Xavier Lucas for the first half because of a targeting call in the Fiesta Bowl. OJ Frederique and Damari Brown are also battling injuries that have hobbled them throughout the playoff run. Frederique got hurt in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal against Ohio State, while Brown hasn’t played yet in the postseason.
How they respond and handle Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers’ passing game will be critical to Miami’s chances at winning a sixth national championship and first since the 2001 season.
“The biggest thing is every guy in the room, they get taught and they get developed,” Hurricanes cornerbacks coach Zac Etheridge said. “When they go out there, they go out there and they compete. We’ve got elite receivers. We’ve got a room of veterans and everybody’s working together. I’m excited about that, and I’m proud of every last one of them.”
The biggest question mark is Brown, who was listed as questionable for the game on the CFP’s initial availability report for the game on Friday and confirmed Saturday that his status is still “up in the air.”
Frederique, meanwhile, said he’s good to go after missing Miami’s final five regular-season games before getting hurt in the Cotton Bowl and only getting a handful of snaps in the Fiesta Bowl.
“I’ve been through a lot of adversity throughout the season,” said Frederique, who was a Freshman All-American last season, “and I feel like God gives his toughest battles to his toughest soldiers. So I’ve got to go through and push through it. So I just thank God that He had me pushed. Right now, I’m fully healthy, and I’m ready to go.”
If that’s a case, it’ll be a needed sigh of relief for UM to have Frederique at minimum available opposite Ethan O’Connor to start Monday’s game with Lucas sidelined until the second half.
The quartet of O’Connor, Lucas, Frederique and Brown at outside corner has been solid all season. Collectively, the four have allowed opponents to catch just 78 of 142 passes targeted against them (54.9%) for 1,060 yards and two touchdowns with one interception and 13 pass breakups.
With Lucas out for 30 minutes and Brown uncertain, the two are taking solace in knowing there’s minimal drop off among their foursome and that Frederique and O’Connor can handle the load.
“I know what I’m gonna get out of them,” said Lucas, who didn’t agree with the targeting call laid on him. “They put in the work throughout the week, so I have no doubt on what they’re going to do when they get on that field.”
Brown agrees, although he said it has been difficult to merely sit and watch as he recovers from a foot injury.
“I’m feeling vulnerability, like I’m letting my guys down,” Brown said. “But at the end of it all, I know the guys need me, and I’m just being supportive.”
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