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It’s a terrific Tuesday! Let’s get started with some Canes news, shall we?
Donald Chaney Jr. out for the year; Keontra Smith out 5 weeks, minimum
After Manny Diaz stated immediately post-game that the prognosis for both RB Donald Chaney Jr. and LB Keontra Smith was “not good”, the “not good” was fully detailed at Diaz’s presser today. And yeah.....it’s not good. At all.
Manny Diaz said RB Don Chaney Jr. will be out for the rest of the year. #Canes are hoping Keontra Smith will be back after the bye week, as I reported earlier today.
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) September 13, 2021
As you see in the tweet above, Chaney Jr. is out for the year. The injury was reported by Matt Zenitz of On3sports as a torn ACL.
Miami running back Donald Chaney Jr. suffered a season-ending knee injury during the team's win over Appalachian State on Saturday, a source tells @On3sports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) September 13, 2021
Former top-100 recruit who was contributing as Miami's No. 2 back behind starter Cam'Ron Harris. https://t.co/FOlIecnWGT
As far as Smith, he has a sprained MCL/PCL in his knee, and per Navarro’s report, will be out until after the bye week at a minimum. If you’re looking at a calendar, Miami’s bye week is October 9th, with the following week having one of the biggest games of the year: the road game at North Carolina on October 16th. That would be the earliest anyone should expect Smith back based upon Diaz’s comments today.
No matter how you slice it, both of these injuries are bad news for the Canes. I’ve long maintained that Chaney Jr should have started at RB, but now he’s gone for the year. And Smith had surpassed all others at WLB to become the starter and clear best player at the position. Now, Miami will turn to the backups/other options at a key defensive position that need to show VAST improvement, and fast, for Miami to not see the defense take a major step back without one of its best players.
We wish both Donald Chaney Jr. and Keontra Smith the best as they recover from their injuries.
Sartorial Selection
Plenty early this week — on a Monday whaaaaaat?!!?!! — Canes Football announced the jersey combination for this weekend’s game against Michigan State. And they’re a classic:
Fit for this week pic.twitter.com/LPTUZmxHUe
— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) September 13, 2021
Orange over White with black socks and cleats. Fire. Look good, play good, right?
More TV coverage announced
A day after Miami-MSU was assigned TV coverage on ABC at Noon, the next game, the FCS sacrificial lamb game against Central Connecticut was also assigned TV coverage for next weekend.
And Bally Sports Florida just picked up that UM-CC game https://t.co/wcbEl1n13o
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) September 13, 2021
That’ll be back-to-back early tailgates at HRS, my friends.
Where the mimosas at?
Blips on the Radar
- Candis McLean looks at the movement for the Canes in the polls
- Roman Marciante took a nice look at the X’s and O’s from Saturday’s game
- Carl Bleich detailed another strong week of Canes 2022 commits on the HS gridiron
- And Craig T. Smith offered his traditional Monday Musings
That’s it for today. Talk to you soon!