As Promising As Future Is, Deck Still Stacked Against UM Football

The Miami Hurricanes suffered a huge blow to their (premature) plans to begin their re-ascent in the college football world in 2008. Senior defensive end Courtney Harris suffered a torn Achilles, and will likely miss the 2008 season. This is particularly noteworthy considering the shocking lack of depth at the position, even penciling Harris in for this year. Here's what the Canes have - Returning starter Senior Eric Moncur, Sophomore phenom Allen Bailey (his strength and freakish athleticism are legend, although he may miss the first game of the season with a torn pectoral muscle), Sophomore Adewale Ojomo, Sophomore Steven Wesley, and not-yet-qualified (and two-star) true Freshman Andrew Smith. That's it.

When you're coming off a 5-7 season, and you are talking rebirth to people, you can't have many weak links in your chain, and defensive end, especially with another injury, is a weak link, at least on paper. The Canes will definitely have to consider shoring up the position by having players at other positions switch over. Some candidates include true freshmen linebackers Marcus Robinson and Gavin Hardin (Hardin's the more likely to make the move), and junior Richard Gordon (who's already changed positions at least twice in his career).