Florida State heads into its Week 7 matchup with No. 3 Miami already facing an uphill climb, and the first injury report doesn’t do the Seminoles any favors.
Miami avoided any notable damage from its game against Clemson, leaving both starting edge rusher and sack leader Marquise Lightfoot and starting right tackle Matthew McCoy off the initial report. That means Florida State is likely looking at the best version of the Hurricanes when the rivalry game kicks off.
The initial Miami injury report listed six players as out: WR Joshua Moore, RB CharMar Brown, DB Ja'Boree Antoine, DB Romanas Frederique Jr., OL Max Buchanan and TE Luka Gilbert.
Florida State’s report was longer and more damaging. The Seminoles ruled out RB Samuel Singleton Jr., WR Devin Carter, DB Karson Hobbs, DB Jamari Howard, LB Blake Nichelson, DB Jordan Crutchfield, LB Izayia Williams and LB Daylen Green. LB Noah LaVallee is questionable, while DL Darryll Desir, DB Zae Thomas and OL Paul Bowling are probable.
Lightfoot’s presence looms large for Miami. He left the Clemson game early after logging a sack and two tackles, but he still enters the week with 20 total tackles and five sacks, including a sack in each of his last four games. For Florida State, that matters because the offense has leaned on running back Ousmane Kromah as its most reliable piece this season, and Lightfoot has the kind of edge presence that can wreck that plan in a hurry.
McCoy matters just as much on the other side of the line. Florida State has had trouble creating steady pressure all season, and the strong showing against Virginia in Week 5 looks more like the exception than the rule. Miami, meanwhile, has given up only five total sacks this season, so the Seminoles are staring at a tough assignment even before you factor in the rest of the matchup.
If quarterback Darian Mensah is forced to work from a clean pocket all game, Florida State’s path gets even narrower. And with Lightfoot and McCoy both seemingly good to go, Miami may be walking into Week 7 at full strength.
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