A thin secondary faces a crucial depth test in California as the Miami Hurricanes lose a key rotational safety just days before the season opener.
MIAMI, Fla. – Miami Hurricanes junior safety Dylan Day was ruled out of Friday’s season opener against Stanford with an undisclosed injury, according to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s injury report update on Wednesday night.
Over the last couple of college football seasons, the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native has served primarily on special teams in 28 total games. Last year, as a sophomore, Day had more of a rotational role in the Hurricanes’ secondary as a safety. He logged 11 total tackles, five solos and six assists, a tackle for loss, a sack, and two passes broken up.
Day wasn’t listed on the initial injury report, but joins sophomores tight end Luka Gilbert and cornerback Ja’Boree Antoine as non-participants.
The Hurricanes’ secondary depth takes a couple of hits before facing the Cardinal in California. Freshman JJ Dunnigan is looking to play an expanded role right away, coming off an impressive fall camp. He’s a natural safety, but could play snaps at corner/nickelback, depending on defensive packages.
Another player that could be called upon in Antoine and Day’s absence is Isaiah Taylor, son of defensive line coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor. The graduate student primarily served on special teams last season. Taylor was still productive in 16 game appearances, logging eight total tackles, six solos and two assists, three tackles for loss, and a pass broken up.
The Hurricanes are known to cross-train players, regardless of position and unit. Sophomore Bryce Fitzgerald and junior Omar Thornton could split stints at safety and nickelback.
Freshman Cortez Redding was a three-star recruit coming from Jonesboro High School. The Hurricanes could look at the 18-year-old to gather snaps and experience at the Power Four level. Cortez played both football and basketball. He had seven interceptions, including three pick-sixes, in two high school seasons, according to MaxPreps.
The Hurricanes still have a plethora of secondary veterans available for Friday, including redshirt junior Zechariah Poyser, junior Xavier Lucas, redshirt junior Damari Brown, junior Romanas “OJ” Frederique Jr., and redshirt junior Ethan O’Connor.
Although fall camp had physicality, Mario Cristobal alluded to having a healthy balance between practicing in a game-type setting and keeping bodies as fresh as possible. It’s actually a best-case scenario that the Hurricanes only have three players currently ruled out for Friday’s season opener.
The program will start its 90th season in history and National Championship aspirations surround it. Friday’s kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. E.T. and televised on ESPN.
Anthony Aguirre covers the Miami Hurricanes, Miami Heat, and Miami Marlins for Roundtable Sports. Contact info for tips/info: [email protected] & 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
