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The Miami Hurricanes football program recently announced that seven players will not be making the trip to Orlando due to “ failing to meet the standards of expectations set by the program”. Receiver O’Juan Carney, tight end Jovani Haskins, tight end Michael Irvin Jr., defensive back Jeff James Jr., defensive linemen Tyreic Martin defensive linemen Gerald Willis and defensive back Cedrick Wright.
Everyone but Gerald Willis is a freshman. Willis is the most productive member of the group with 19 tackles including 5.5 tackles for loss.
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Unlike last year when West Virginia lost 4 players to academic ineligibility, including starting wide receiver Jovon Durante and starting cornerback Daryl Worley, the Mountaineers will be at full strength when they visit Orlando on Wednesday. According to WVIllustrated, the Mountaineers are only down their injured players this bowl game.
Unlike recent seasons in which the West Virginia head coach has had to announce starters and reserves who did not make the trip due to academic concerns, Holgorsen said Friday that he brought every member of the roster to Orlando.
“We ended with a 2.53 team GPA, which is the highest it’s been since I have been here tracking it back [to] 2011,” Holgorsen said, while issuing a shout out to Brittney O’Dell, WVU’s Associate Director of Student-Athlete Development.
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One of the missing players in the West Virginia offense will be Ka’Raun White who suffered a broken leg against Iowa State. Head coach Dana Holgorsen said he expects a combination of sophomores Gary Jennings and Jovon Durante to replace White’s production. White was second on the team in receptions and third in receiving yards, filled the bid body receiver in this 2016 version of the Dana Holgorsen Air Raid scheme. Jovon Durante suffered a tweaked knee in the season finale against Baylor but according to the head coach “He is good. He will play a good bit at that outside spot”