PERSONNEL NEWS

Strategy And Personnel

The Sports Xchange

October 09, 2018 at 9:35 pm.

GAME BREAKDOWN

KEY MATCHUP: Virginia QB Bryce Perkins comes into the game having thrown for an average of 225 yards a game while completing 63.5 percent of his passes. His predecessor, Kurt Benkert, passed for 384 yards against the Hurricanes last year, and it wasn’t until Miami scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns that its 44-28 victory was secure. Miami has eight interceptions in six games, but the key stat may be the 20 sacks the defense has recorded. DE Joe Jackson leads that category with five, so Virginia OTs, redshirt freshman Ryan Nelson on the left and senior Marcus Applefield, a transfer from Rutgers, will have to be on their “A” game for the Cavaliers.

DRAFT SLANT

–S Jaquan Johnson celebrated his return after missing the previous two games with a leg issue and came up big against Florida State. He led the Hurricanes in tackles with 10 and also broke up a pass. Considering the success Virginia had passing against Miami last year, his return to the field is well-timed.

ROSTER REPORT:

–QB Casey Weldon will miss the next three games while serving a suspension for “violation of team rules.” The suspension, announced this week, actually was for four games but it started with last week’s game against Florida State. “We have certain things and certain standards around here and if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do or how you’re supposed to do there will be consequences,” coach Mark Richt said. “But we love Cade.”

–WR Ahmmon Richards, who has had to deal with injuries since setting freshman record with 934 receiving yards in 2016, will have to give up football because of chronic neck injury. He appeared in only one game this season, making one catch for a 9-yard gain.

–OL Navaughn Donaldson will move back to right guard after starting this season at right tackle. Donaldson started at tackle against Florida State but as moved back to guard when the Hurricanes had pass protection issues, giving up five sacks.

–RT DJ Scaife looks to make his first collegiate start when the Hurricanes visit Virginia Saturday. The 6-3, 300-pound freshman went into the game on Miami’s second series against Florida State and finished the game.

–DT Gerald Willis III is the first recipient of the Outland Trophy Defensive Player of the Month after finishing September with 28 tackles (12.5 for losses, 2.0 sacks), breaking up a pass and forcing a fumble in five games. The Outland Trophy goes to the nation’s top interior lineman as determined by members of the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John D. Outland, one of a handful of players who have been named a consensus all-American at two positions — tackle in 1898 and halfback in 1899.

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