Hokies Release Injury Report for Miami
The Hokies and Hurricanes enter Thurrsday night’s match-up battered and bruised on the defensive line
The Virginia Tech Hokies are back in action on Thursday night in Blacksburg as the team braces for their annual match-up with the Miami Hurricanes within the friendly confines of Lane Stadium. It is always a tricky task for teams to get healthy enough to be back and ready to play on a short week, and it appears that this remains the case for both the Hokies and the Hurricanes ahead of Thursday night’s match-up.
For Virginia Tech, aside from the three players who have been ruled out for the season for weeks now (RB Deshawn McClease, LB Trent Young, and OL Demetri Moore ), the Hokies have listed both starting defensive end Ken Ekanem, as well as reserve running back Shai McKenzie as questionable for the Miami game with upper extremity injuries.
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Additionally, the Hokies have listed defensive tackle Nigel Williams as questionable, as he is dealing with a sprained ankle that he suffered in the second half of last Saturday’s loss to Syracuse.
Ekanem and Williams would be tough personnel losses to overcome on Thursday if they are unable to go, given their impact that they make on the defensive side of the ball on a week-to-week basis. As for McKenzie, the Hokies have used him in limited situations on the offensive side of the ball, but he has had a role on multiple special teams units, and his loss would be impacted more there than it would at running back.
The theme seems to be constant across both teams when considering the injuries on the defensive line, as Miami released their injury report for the match-up as well, ruling out starting defensive end Demetrius Jackson, as well as starting defensive tackle Gerald Willis with “lower extremity” injuries. The ‘Canes also listed starting defensive end Chad Thomas as questionable, as he attempts to continue to play through a broken hand.
If anything is for certain heading into Thursday night, it is that both offenses will be running right at the replacements on the opposing defensive lines, hoping that attacking the inexperienced fill-ins will help position the teams to better win the ball game. It should make for an interesting storyline heading into the weeknight showdown in Blacksburg.