Miami expects several key starters back vs. UNC, but Nelson remains ‘game-time decision’

After sustaining a rash of injuries in their final game before the bye week last month, the Miami Hurricanes expect to have several starters back Saturday when they host the North Carolina Tar Heels in Miami Gardens.

Running backs Jaylan Knighton and Henry Parrish Jr and defensive backs Tyrique Stevenson and Daryl Porter Jr. all practiced at full speed this week, and coach Mario Cristobal said all four will be ready to go this weekend when the Hurricanes open Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Offensive tackle Zion Nelson, however, will remain a game-time decision after missing three of the first four games this season.

“Henry and Jaylan are good. They practiced full speed,” Cristobal said. “Tyrique and Daryl Porter are also good.”

Parrish, who has started all four games this season after transferring from the Ole Miss Rebels in January, went down with an unspecified injury in the second half of Miami’s 45-31 loss to the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in September, but won’t miss any time, with the bye coming at an opportune time for the running back to get healthy. The same goes for Knighton, who left the Middle Tennessee game with a left ankle injury and has mostly played a more limited role so far this year because of an injury in the preseason.

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Parrish leads the Hurricanes (2-2) with 67 carries and 359 yards, and is tied for the team lead with five touchdowns — four rushing, one receiving — and also has caught six passes for 47 yards. Knighton, the primary backup running back, has run for 97 yards on 22 carries.

At cornerback, Stevenson missed the entire second half of Miami’s loss to the Blue Raiders with a lower extremity injury, which opened the door for Porter to have his best game as a Hurricane. However, Porter, who transferred from the West Virginia Mountaineers in February, also later left with a shoulder injury.

Stevenson has started all four games so far this year and has seven tackles, one interception and one pass defended. Porter has five tackles and one tackle for loss in a reserve role.

Nelson’s status, however, remains in doubt, which would be another blow for Miami. Even though he hasn’t started a game this season, Nelson earned preseason All-America recognition from Athlon, College Football News and The Athletic, and has mostly slid in to a reserve role because offseason knee surgery forced him to miss most of training camp, as well as the first two games of the regular season. The star tackle finally debuted in the Hurricanes’ loss to the then-No. 24 Texas A&M Aggies in Week 3 and contributed at both tackle spots, with Miami hoping to ease him back into a starting role as he competed with fellow offensive linemen John Campbell Jr. and DJ Scaife Jr. — the starting left and right tackles, respectively.

The junior, however, had a setback, Cristobal said, and didn’t play in Week 4. Although he said he’s “optimistic” about Nelson’s status for this week, Cristobal acknowledged the offensive lineman still not fully cleared to return to action.

“Zion will be a game-time decision,” the coach said. “He has gotten work and does look good, but, again, we’ll rely on the medical staff to give us the final decision on him. We’re very optimistic about him and his chances.”