Miami’s Defense Takes a Hit Ahead of Cotton Bowl Clash with Ohio State
As the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes gear up for their high-stakes Cotton Bowl showdown against No.
2 Ohio State, they’ll be without one of their key defensive contributors. Sophomore cornerback Damari Brown has been officially ruled out due to injury, a blow to a secondary that’s already facing one of the most explosive offenses in the country.
Brown’s absence was confirmed Sunday, just days before the Hurricanes take the field in Dallas. He also missed Miami’s 10-3 win over Texas A&M in the opening round on Dec. 20 and wasn’t spotted during the open portion of Saturday’s practice. Now it’s official - the Canes will have to make do without one of their most reliable corners.
What Brown Brings - and What Miami Will Miss
Brown played in all 12 regular season games for Miami, starting five - including the final four - and steadily climbed the depth chart with his consistent play. He logged 24 tackles and a pass breakup while seeing action in 385 defensive snaps, averaging just over 32 per game. His PFF defensive grade of 75.9 ranks second among all Miami corners, trailing only All-ACC Second Team selection Keionte Scott, who posted a stellar 90.5.
At 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Brown brought a physical presence to the Hurricanes’ secondary, and his size and experience would’ve been especially valuable against Ohio State’s top weapon, freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith. Brown has history with Smith, too.
The two squared off back in high school - Brown at American Heritage and Smith at Chaminade-Madonna - in a 2022 shootout where Smith racked up 100 yards and a touchdown on just three catches. Brown held his own that night, finishing with seven tackles, three pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.
That kind of familiarity and physicality can’t be easily replaced, especially against a Buckeyes team that thrives on creating mismatches in the passing game.
Next Man Up: Miami’s Secondary Adjusts
With Brown sidelined, expect Miami to lean heavily on Keionte Scott in his usual nickel role, while the trio of Xavier Lucas, Ethan O’Connor, and OJ Frederique handles the outside corner responsibilities - just as they did against Texas A&M. That group held the Aggies to 237 passing yards, 5.9 yards per attempt, and picked off two passes, showing they’re capable of rising to the occasion.
Still, facing Ohio State is a different beast. The Buckeyes bring more firepower, more tempo, and more pressure. Brown’s absence shifts more responsibility onto a young, talented but less experienced group of corners - and they’ll need to be sharp from the opening snap.
Injury Report: More Depth Concerns for the Hurricanes
Miami will also be without wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw and defensive end Malik Bryant, both ruled out for Wednesday’s game. Reserve defensive tackle Donta Simpson is listed as doubtful, further testing the Hurricanes’ depth on both sides of the ball.
The team arrived in Dallas on Sunday evening and is scheduled to practice Monday afternoon at AT&T Stadium as they continue final preparations for their quarterfinal matchup.
What’s at Stake
At 11-2 and ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll, Miami enters the Cotton Bowl with momentum and belief, but they’ll need a complete team effort to upset a 12-1 Ohio State squad that’s ranked No. 3 and loaded with talent. The game kicks off Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The Hurricanes have shown they can win gritty, defensive battles - but without Damari Brown, the margin for error just got a little slimmer.