Several Hurricanes defenders were banged up during Miami’s physical, first-round playoff victory against Texas A&M on Saturday.
But Mario Cristobal said Monday morning that he “feels good” about those players’ chances to return for the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State on Dec. 31. Cristobal did not disclose what the players’ injuries are.
“But I would say that these guys, yeah, I feel good about it,” Cristobal said on WQAM. “They were all on the plane in great spirits and moving around really well. … Brother, it’s December and it’s the playoffs, right? Who’s not hurting?”
At his Monday afternoon news conference, Cristobal said cornerback Damari Brown was likely “questionable” for the Ohio State game, and wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw suffered a “significant” foot injury in practice. Both of those players missed the win over the Aggies.
Demari Brown, it’s a little bit longer, but we’re hopeful that we’re going to get a favorable response here in a bit,” Cristobal said. “But I cannot say he’s better off than being questionable. I would leave him as questionable.”
Toure appeared to suffer the most significant injury of the group, going down hard after making a lead-saving tackle on the penultimate defensive play of the game. But Toure was seen on the sidelines moments later, celebrating freshman Bryce Fitzgerald’s game-sealing interception.
“That’s how Mo plays. Mo, since the day he got here, has been nothing but a team guy,” Cristobal said. “And his level of play, again, it was exemplified, epitomized in that one particular play. That’s what he is, and you know we feel really good about him getting healthy pretty quickly.”
Toure had eight tackles in Miami’s win. Poyser had six tackles, and Moten had one tackle.
Buckeyes star Jeremiah Smith’s take on Miami fans, UM defense
Jeremiah Smith was a superstar wide receiver at Chaminade-Madonna for years, and Cristobal wanted him in orange and green. Ultimately, Smith chose Ohio State. He broke out as the nation’s top freshman last year, and he was second in the Biletnikoff Award voting this year.
The standout receiver said he was excited to face the Hurricanes on Monday.
“I’m very excited to play the guys from back home,” Smith said. “It’s like a second home to me. I’m from there. I had a good relationship with all the coaches, a lot of players on the team I played with in high school.”
Smith was complimentary of Miami’s defense, but he said he will be happy to get chippy when the two teams take the field.
“Late hits, stuff like that? I’m not really worried about that because I’m probably going to be the one doing it, too,” Smith said. “I’m going to be a little chippy out there. I’m bringing it all this week.”
When Smith was asked if South Floridians still have hard feelings about the controversial 2002 national title game, he said UM fans still hold a grudge over it.
“You see it all over the internet, all over Twitter,” Smith said. “They’re still talking about that 20 years later. They’re still worried about it. But we’ve got something for them New Year’s Eve.”
