Injury notes and updates
**Regarding Sheldrick Redwine’s replacement this week, neither Robert Knowles or Amari Carter have been tabbed the “starter” opposite of JaQuan Johnson yet, according to a source. Expect to see a rotation featuring both of them and potentially Michael Jackson as well. Jackson was being cross-trained throughout spring and fall in case of emergency like this.
**Navaughn Donaldson suffered a nasty ankle injury which will keep him out of Saturday’s game in all likelihood. Freshman Corey Gaynor has been told he will start this weekend, a source said. Gaynor was on the field for Miami’s game-winning drive against FSU and has a ton of people within the program excited about his future. We mentioned Gaynor all fall camp as the 6th man in the offensive line rotation, and now is his chance for even more playing time, although he has seen action in every game thus far.
**At running back, with Mark Walton gone for the year and likely his UM career, Travis Homer was the obvious next man up — but it gets interesting after that. There is a lot of confidence from players that Trayone Gray is ready for what is his first and most realistic chance to prove himself at the University of Miami. Gray has always been thought of highly from those who face him daily in practice, but the mental errors have kept coaches from fully trusting him. Now, with the door wide open, I’m expecting Gray to seize his opportunity and show his Greeentree All-American status to the fans.
Deejay Dallas’ move to running back his being heralded as a “positional switch”, but this is not necessarily a spot that he is clueless about. Much like Mike Jackson’s occasional work at safety in practice, Dallas was getting work all fall camp in the backfield. DMoney and I mentioned this as a possibility for months before his arrival because of his physical build, and he is another player that people within the team are confident will make plays when his number is called. Dallas is especially excited about the move because he’s a guy who will do whatever it takes to see the field.
As for fellow freshman Robert Burns, I would be surprised to see him get action unless another injury occurs. As a result of lingering health issues, he did not really hit the ground running at 100% when camp started, which set him back along with limited practice reps once the season began.
**If Ahmmon Richards suits up this week, it will be in a limited role because as of right now the offense is preparing to be without him. This shouldn’t be a total surprise, but Miami is continuing to play this one on the cautious side.
Recruiting notes
**One of the Miami commits who has not “publicly solidified” his pledge via social media is Gilbert Frierson, but I’m told that is on the horizon. The long-time Canes commit and blood relative of Frank Gore is planning two official visits in the near future — Florida and Georgia, before he wraps things up. UF coaches have had trouble getting in touch with him, as he has not been receptive in answering their calls, but still wants to visit Gainesville and Athens one more time each for the experience.
Miami coaches are aware he will be taking these visits and are not concerned. He will take his UM official in December with a large group of fellow commits and will be an early enrollee. On top of his regular class schedule, he has been enrolled in an online program this semester in order to accelerate his enrollment and everything is on track for him to do just that.
**Offensive tackle commit John Campbell told me this morning that he’s also on track to enroll early. I’ll be updating the status of all potential early enrollees in the coming weeks.
**Although FSU linebacker commit Patrick Joyner has been around Miami campus multiple times recently and there is some speculation that his Noles commitment is shaky, I’ve heard he is not quite ready to make a flip just yet. As I reported a few weeks ago, he remains UM’s top target at linebacker and he is heavily considering them, but there is nothing imminent in the near future. Miami believes that once the season plays its course, his tune will be different. It’s almost as if he’s making Miami sweat it out for coming in to the picture a tad later than FSU did.
**There has been message board speculation recently that Ohio State freshman wide receiver Trevon Grimes was unhappy in Columbus and was looking for a potential change of scenery after this season — with Miami being at the top of his list if he made that decision. I was tipped off about this two weeks ago, but after doing some digging, I’m told that he is not somebody UM would be interested in unless something unforeseen changes with their current crop of receivers and recruiting class. In the last couple years, Miami has turned down local prospects like Tim Irvin who once spurned Miami for other programs, only to want to transfer back home a year or two later.
Grimes was a higher caliber prospect than that, but Miami’s message in these cases has been “this is what happens when you “miss your chance to play here”. It’s obviously too early in the stages to say that it won’t happen for sure, but at this point he isn’t in their plans.
