CLEMSON, S.C. — Hurricanes standout defensive end Marquise Lightfoot and starting cornerback Xavier Lucas are “all the way back” from injuries they suffered earlier in the season, UM coach Mario Cristobal said on WQAM’s “The Joe Rose Show” on Monday.
Lightfoot suffered an undisclosed injury in the first half of Miami’s win against Clemson on Oct. 3. Lucas has been out since suffering an undisclosed injury in the season opener against Stanford.
Cristobal also said linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin Jr. and cornerback Damari Brown are healthy. However, Cristobal also said that sophomore offensive lineman Max Buchanan was out with an injury. Buchanan posted a picture of himself in a hospital bed on social media on Wednesday but later deleted it.
“Hopefully, he’ll join us later in the year,” Cristobal said.
Buchanan started Miami’s five games at right guard. Pro Football Focus gives him a 72.4 run-blocking grade but a 43.8 pass-blocking grade.
Lightfoot has been one of the leaders of the Hurricanes’ defense. He has 19 tackles and five sacks this season, including a sack in Saturday’s win.
Lightfoot is the latest Miami defender to suffer a significant injury. Cornerbacks OJ Frederique Jr. and Lucas suffered injuries in the season opener against Clemson and have not yet returned to the field.
“These have been some absolutely brutal blows,” Cristobal said after Saturday’s game. “No pattern to them because you always want to study what you’re doing in case there’s something, a common thread or pattern.”