Al Golden: UM tailback Gus Edwards should have surgery

Hurricanes coach Al Golden said Monday he learned of running back Gus Edwards’ season-ending status Saturday night, and that “it’s in the best interest of Gus to have the surgery and get healed up.’’

Golden, who didn’t divulge Edwards’ exact injury — he said previously he had a bruise on the top of his left foot — spoke in depth on 560 WQAM radio Monday, the Hurricanes’ day off, in the morning and then again at night as part of the Hurricane Hotline weekly show.

“The good news is we’ve been working with [Mark] Walton, [Joe] Yearby and [Trayone] Gray with the first unit the whole camp,” Golden told Joe Rose in the morning. “What I didn’t know was the severity of Gus’ deal. We could have done some things differently last week in terms of practice if we had known that.’’

Golden said Edwards is “going to have to work through” healing “over the next four, five months, and these other guys have a great opportunity.”

The depth chart lists Yearby “or” Walton at first team, and Golden said he’ll “name a starter by Saturday,” when UM meets Bethune Cookman at home in the 6 p.m. season opener.

GRANT-IN-AID SIGNEE

Four-star linebacker Zach McCloud, 6-2 and 220 pounds, signed a grant-in-aid agreement with UM on Monday. McCloud, a senior from Lake Worth, plays at Santaluces High and is rated as the No. 13 outside linebacker in the country in ESPN’s Top 300 rankings.

LOTS OF FRESHMEN

Golden said he plans to play 13 true and nine redshirt freshman Saturday. … He said kicker Mike Badgley kicked a 55-yard field goal into the wind in game simulation on Saturday, and jokingly called him “a lunatic” because he thinks he can make any field goal any time from any distance.

This story was originally published August 31, 2015 at 9:10 PM with the headline "Al Golden: UM tailback Gus Edwards should have surgery."