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It’s hard to believe that it has been three years since Mark Richt sat with Shaq Quarterman in the stands at Camping World Stadium to watch a three-star linebacker from Jacksonville Raines play for a state championship by the name of Michael Pinckney. Pinckney was a Hurricane commit and a priority for Richt who was about to start his first year at Miami and needed to solidify his defense with a group of linebackers.
That was exactly what he did. Pinckney has been a staple of this Miami Hurricanes defense for three years, gathering 198 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks throughout his career so far. He also has three career interceptions, including one this year against Florida State that arguably won Miami the football game.
Wisconsin is a team that is going to run the ball a lot with star back Jonathan Taylor and Pinckney is going to play a major role in the Hurricanes effort to stop him. In last years game he had five tackles. It is safe to expect more from the junior linebacker in this matchup considering the Badgers style of play and his role in this defense.
Pinckney has not decided on his future regarding staying for his senior year or entering the 2019 NFL Draft.
In 2018, Pinckney has 69 tackles, a career high, with 9.5 tackles for loss.