No. 4 Miami got a promising first look at its injury situation before heading to Clemson, and the biggest name on the report is a familiar one: cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. is now listed as questionable after previously being out.
That lines up with what Mario Cristobal said earlier in the week, and the coach didn’t sound like a man shutting the door on a return. “Getting closer, not all the way there yet,” Cristobal said about Lucas during his Monday presser.
“Hopefully good news later this week. There's been a lot of progress, works his butt off, but not all the way there.
Hopefully by late tomorrow, Wednesday, early, we'll know. It’s a possibility.”
Miami could use the help on the back end. Ethan O'Connor has been elite to start the season, being graded as the highest-rated cornerback in the country.
If Lucas is able to get back on the field, it gives the Hurricanes another layer in coverage and helps move pieces back where they belong. It also opens up more turnover possibilities across the defense.
There was more good news for the Hurricanes beyond Lucas. Damari Brown is not listed on the injury report, and that adds another option if Miami gets the full group back in the secondary.
The defensive picture gets even better if the Hurricanes continue to bring bodies back at the other spots too. Mark Fletcher Jr., Armondo Blount, and Ahmad Moten Sr. are all key players who are expected to be back, according to Cristobal.
“Armando was a little banged up, but he's good to go," Cristobal said. "Damari, I think he's good to go.
Feel really good about that one. Kellen Wiley was supposed to play a little bit banged up, but just has to continue to grow and develop and make the choices and decisions necessary to be a contributor for the University of Miami."
With Corey Hetherman’s defense getting more options and more room to rotate, the timing matters. Miami has been dealing with injuries all season, and even in the win over Central Michigan, several starters were held out for safety while others stepped up.
Now the Hurricanes are entering ACC play with a chance to get healthier, and that’s especially useful with bad weather expected in Clemson. More available bodies could end up making a real difference in Death Valley.
In Other News...
Why Darian Mensah Could Give Miami A Clemson Problem Again
Darian Mensahs breakout night against Clemson in 2025 is the kind of performance Miami fans notice immediately, because it showed how a quarterback can stress a defense in more than one way. As Dukes starter, Mensah threw for 361 yards and four touchdowns in a 46-45 win, and the deeper look from Pro Football Focus points to a passer who got the ball out quickly, attacked down the field and still found enough high-end throws to keep Clemson off balance.
The matchup also offered a blueprint for how a skilled quarterback can work against Clemsons coverage looks and pass rush tendencies, even when the Tigers make adjustments the next season. Mensahs game was not clean across the board, especially when pressure arrived, but the combination of timing, depth of target and explosive plays is the part Miami will care about most. If the Hurricanes are studying how Clemson can be stressed again, this is the sort of film that makes the conversation worth having. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Enters Clemson With One Huge Question Around Its Offense
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What makes this trip especially intriguing is that both teams enter with conference standing on the line, and Miamis offense will be pressed to show it can travel and hold up against a defense that has clearly improved. Clemson is 3-1 and playing better on that side of the ball than it did in Week 1, so the Hurricanes may need more than just their usual explosiveness to leave with a statement win. The questions around Miamis health and offensive rhythm make this feel like the kind of game that can reveal a lot in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Stadium Debate Ignores One Risk Hurricanes Fans Should Take Seriously
Miamis football home remains a familiar target for critics, but the Hurricanes have kept recruiting at a high level even without an on-campus stadium. The issue keeps coming up because the program still plays at Hard Rock Stadium rather than right next to campus, which has long fed the argument that Miami is missing a key piece of the traditional college football experience.
For all the noise around bringing the team closer to home, the real question is whether the move would be worth the financial strain. A new stadium near campus could easily push past $1 billion, and the athletic department would be taking on serious risk in a market already crowded with other venues. The recruiting debate is loud, but the financial debate may be the one Miami fans should be watching most closely. [Read more 🡒]