GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Miami might have the opportunity to exploit the absence of LDE Houshun Gaines, who is out with a knee injury sustained in Virginia Tech’s loss to Pittsburgh last week. True freshman RT D.J. Scaife, who has played well in stretches but also had issues with penalties, likely will be facing a redshirt freshman in Tech LDE Zion DeBose, who is looking for his first sack. Gaines had a team-high 4.5 sacks when he went down
DRAFT SLANT
–DT Gerald Willis III was expected to be a major force on defense after sitting out last season, and he more than has lived up to expectations. He leads all defensive linemen in tackles and has been a consistent performer throughout the season. He faces a lot of competition from Alabama and Clemson players when it comes to attention given defensive linemen, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see his name come up early in next spring’s draft.
ROSTER REPORT:
–RB Cam’ron Davis likely will continue to see more playing time after rushing for 48 yards on just six carries last week in the loss to Georgia Tech. It was the true freshman’s fourth appearance of the season and playing another game would cost him a redshirt year, but with RB DeeJay Dallas’ fumbling issues, Davis could be needed. “He got his moment,” coach Mark Richt said, “and he proved that he belongs in that backfield.” Davis scored on a 22-yard run to get Miami to within 17-14 late in the second quarter of the 27-21 loss.
–QB Kelly Bryant, who quit at Clemson after losing his starting job to freshman Trevor Lawrence, is due to visit Miami the weekend of the regular-season finale against Pittsburgh (Nov. 24), according to news reports. Richt couldn’t address the issue specifically in his weekly news conference but did say that he had never brought in a graduate transfer with the “promise that he would start.”
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