***If you thought the Canes’ defense was in bad shape physically, it has gotten worse. The Palm Beach Post reported Thursday that starting cornerback Adrian Colbert, a graduate transfer from Texas, tore the meniscus in his knee Wednesday “and could miss multiple weeks,” and that defensive tackle Courtel Jenkins, who we knew wouldn’t be playing, had surgery for a torn meniscus. Colbert had an interception that he ran back 46 yards to the FAMU 40 — the second of his career — in the opener. UM scored five plays later. Until now, all the injuries and/or dismissals had been among the D-line and linebackers. Sophomore Sheldrick Redwine is the player expected to replace Colbert, with other young corners available, such as Michael Jackson, the speedy Malek Young, Ryan Mayes and Terrance Henley.
On Thursday night, coach Mark Richt confirmed to Ariz, on behalf of the Herald, and other reporters at a community park in Pembroke Pines, that both Jenkins and Colbert had medical procedures. When Ariz asked Richt about the report of Colbert “dealing with a knee issue,” Richt said, “Yeah, he won’t play for sure this week. Not a season-ending thing. It’ll probably be a matter of days. I don’t know how many days.”
Ariz: “Did he have to have a procedure?”
Richt: “Yeah, he got cleaned up.”
Ariz: “Same thing with Courtel?”
Richt: “Yeah, same thing.”
Then, Richt said: “Football is a contact sport… Neither one of these are too serious.”
*** Defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad, who was dismissed from UM along with linebacker Jermaine Grace for what UM said was a violation of NCAA rules in relation to a Miami Beach luxury rental car company, has surfaced at Hampton University — an FCS school.
Muhammad posted on Instagram a photo of a Hampton University football helmet but wrote about his former Canes.
“Sorry for the wait…” he wrote. “…I lost a lot off people in the past couple weeks family love ones close ones friends people that I would have never thought in a million years would have turned there back on me but it is what it is guess what God and football not going anywhere every play I make I’m throwing up the U for them 305 boys S/O 2016 cane players. #AQM #8 #ALWAYSACANE #305 #973 #RichtEra.”
SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN