DALLAS
The 10th-ranked Miami Hurricanes got a key player back on Saturday against the SMU Mustangs with edge rusher Akheem Mesidor returning to the starting lineup.
But they will be without three key players when they play the Mustangs at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Sophomore cornerback OJ Frederique Jr., wide receiver CJ Daniels and defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. are all out for the Hurricanes.
The team on Friday had listed all three as questionable for the game.
Frederique, a Freshman All-American a season ago, has a team-leading five pass breakups to go along with 10 tackles. But Frederique only played 12 snaps in Miami’s win over Stanford last week as the Hurricanes used a rotation of Frederique, Xavier Lucas, Damari Brown and Ethan O’Connor at outside corner against the Cardinal. Expect those three to handle the bulk of the duties on Saturday, with Keionte Scott continuing to be Miami’s nickel corner. O’Connor and Lucas started at outside corner on Saturday.
Daniels leads the Hurricanes with six touchdown catches and is second on the team with 33 catches and 351 yards. With him sidelined, the Hurricanes will need additional players to step up to complement true freshman Malachi Toney, who leads the team with 43 catches and 562 receiving yards. In addition to Keelan Marion, who has started all seven games for Miami this season, look to Cincinnati transfer Tony Johnson, sophomore JoJo Trader and true freshman Josh Moore to get extended reps. Trader started with Toney and Marion.
Moten, who has started alongside David Blay at defensive tackle, has 16 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack through seven games. Sophomore Justin Scott will start in Moten’s place.
Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor (3) works out with Defensive Line Coach Jason Taylor before the start of an NCAA football game against the Southern Methodist University Mustangs at Gerald Ford Stadium on Saturday, November 1, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Mesidor did not play in Miami’s 42-7 win last week after sustaining an apparent foot injury in the Hurricanes’ loss to Louisville on Oct. 17. In his absence, sophomore Marquise Lightfoot started opposite Rueben Bain Jr. while several other young defensive linemen — notably Armondo Blount, Booker Pickett and Herbert Scroggins III — received extended playing time as well.
The full list of UM players who are out for Saturday’s game against SMU in addition to Frederique, Daniels and Moten: Linebacker Malik Bryant; defensive linemen Hayden Lowe and Mykah Newton; linebacker Bobby Washington Jr.; wide receiver Chance Robinson; tight ends Dylan Reiman, Jack Nickel and Jackson Carver; and offensive linemen Ralph Scroggins and Demetrius Campbell.
This story was originally published November 1, 2025 at 10:04 AM.
Jordan McPherson
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.
