Defensive backs Xavier Lucas (6), Ja’Boree Antoine (16), and Damari Brown (2) listen to drill instructions at Miami Hurricanes football team practice on Aug. 5, 2026, at the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility in Coral Gables, Fla.
Carl Juste
cjuste@miamiherald.com
Could the No. 4 Miami Hurricanes’ depleted secondary receive a boost when they play at the Clemson Tigers on Saturday night (7:30 p.m., ABC)?
It looks like a possibility.
Sophomore Xavier Lucas, who hasn’t played since the season opener against Stanford, is listed as questionable for Saturday, according to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s first availability report for the game released on Wednesday.
Miami has been playing without three of its top cornerbacks basically all season, with starters Lucas and OJ Frederique out since the Stanford game and sophomore reserve Ja’Boree Antoine out since before the season began.
Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal on Monday said Lucas was “getting closer” to returning to game action.
“Not all the way there yet,” Cristobal said. “Hopefully, good news later this week. There’s been a lot of progress. Works his butt off, but not all the way there.”
In their absence, the trio of Ethan O’Connor, Damari Brown and safety Bryce Fitzgerald have been Miami’s primary outside cornerbacks.
Speaking of Brown, he did not play last week against Central Michigan but does not have an injury designation, signaling that he should be good to go against Clemson.
Other players who sat out or were banged up against Central Michigan but don’t appear on the availability report: running back Mark Fletcher Jr., defensive linemen Ahmad Moten Sr. and Armondo Blount, and linebacker Kellen Wiley.
Linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin is listed as questionable and reserve tight end Owen Ruskavich is out.
As for Clemson, two players are listed as questionable (defensive end Armon Mason and Elyjah Thurmon), while seven have been ruled out (safety Polo Anderson, cornerback Shavar Young Jr., wide receiver Cole Turner, running back David Eziomume, defensive tackles Kourtney Kelly and Markus Strong, and offensive lineman Mason Wade).
This story was originally published September 30, 2026 at 8:07 PM.
.JPG)
Miami Herald
Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.