Hurricanes Face Injury Concerns Before Title Game; Miami Adds Two Kickers via Transfer Portal.

The No. 10 Miami Hurricanes will be shorthanded when they face No. 1 Indiana in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. According to the College Football Playoff’s first official availability report released Friday evening, Miami tight end Elija Lofton has been ruled out for the championship game. In addition, cornerback Xavier Lucas will miss the first half after being ejected for targeting late in Miami’s Fiesta Bowl victory over Ole Miss. Another key defensive contributor, cornerback Damari Brown, is listed as questionable. Brown has not played in any of Miami’s three playoff games, which included wins over Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Ole Miss. Lofton’s absence is notable after he was carted off the field in the second quarter of the Fiesta Bowl, having played only 12 of 91 offensive snaps. Tight end Alex Bauman handled the bulk of the workload in his place, logging 82 snaps. Lofton finishes the season fourth on the team in receptions with 23 catches for 218 yards. Cornerback O.J. Frederique Jr. does not appear on the availability report. Frederique missed the final five games of the regular season but returned during the playoff run, playing extensively against Ohio State before suffering another injury. He saw limited action against Ole Miss but is expected to be available.

Miami’s secondary rotation throughout the season has included Lucas, Brown, Frederique, and Ethan O’Connor. With Lucas sidelined for the opening half, Ja’Boree Antoine saw expanded playing time in the semifinal as depth became a concern. Additional injury designations for Miami include defensive lineman Cole McConathy II as questionable, while linebacker Malik Bryant, wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw, and defensive lineman Donta Simpson are ruled out. Indiana enters the championship game with its own availability issues. Kicker Brendn Franke is questionable, while seven Hoosiers have been ruled out, including multiple defensive linemen and defensive backs, as well as running back Lee Beebe Jr.

Miami Strengthens Special Teams Through Transfer Portal

For the second straight offseason, Miami has secured two experienced kickers from the transfer portal. Jack Olsen, formerly of Northwestern, and Jake Weinberg, previously at Florida State, both committed to the Hurricanes on Friday. Olsen, who has one year of eligibility remaining, converted 19 of 21 field-goal attempts last season, ranking among the nation’s most accurate kickers. Over his career, which began at Michigan State, he has made 40 of 51 field goals. While he did not attempt any kicks beyond 50 yards last season, he was perfect on attempts from beyond 39 yards. Weinberg, a former top-rated high school kicking prospect, brings a powerful kickoff leg that Miami values. Despite converting 12 of 19 field goals last season, team officials attribute several misses to mechanical and operational issues that have since been corrected. Weinberg produced touchbacks on 56 of 61 kickoffs and retains three years of eligibility. Miami expects open competition at kicker, similar to last offseason when transfer Davis ultimately won the job over Bert Auburn.

The Hurricanes have now added six players through the portal and are close to landing Duke quarterback Darian Mensah, who ranked second nationally in touchdown passes and passing yards last season. Recent additions also include defensive tackle Jarquez Carter (Ohio State), slot corner Omar Thornton (Boston College), and receivers Cam Vaughn (West Virginia) and Vandrevius Jacobs (South Carolina).