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Will No. 4 Hurricanes starting lineman Max Buchanan miss time with injury?
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- Will No. 4 Hurricanes starting lineman Max Buchanan miss time with injury?
Max Buchanan, the No. 4 Hurricanes' starting right guard, left Miami's blowout win over Clemson with an apparent leg injury. He returned later in the game, but a post he made on social media could indicate he will be out for an extended period of time.
Buchanan, a sophomore from Sanford, posted a photo of himself in a hospital bed and gown on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday morning. He wrote, "Y'all hold out … (I will) be back." The post has since been deleted.
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The Hurricanes have not provided an update on Buchanan's status.
On Monday afternoon, Miami coach Mario Cristobal praised Buchanan and fellow offensive lineman Matt McCoy's toughness (McCoy also left the Clemson win with an injury before returning).
"Matt McCoy showed a display of toughness that I have never seen," Cristobal said. "To go (through) what he went through and to come back in there. Him and Max Buchanan — off the charts."
Buchanan has started each of the Hurricanes' first five games at right guard. He left the game against Clemson in the second quarter, but returned in the second half. He played 39 snaps.
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Buchanan cracked the starting lineup this season and has performed decently. Pro Football Focus gives him a 72.4 run-blocking grade but a 43.8 pass-blocking grade.
If Buchanan misses time, the Hurricanes have options to take his place at right guard. Miami could slot in sophomore SJ Alofaituli, who started the first four games at left guard. Alofaituli played 27 snaps at right guard against Clemson. Alofaituli has played 204 offensive snaps this year, mostly at left guard. He has a 67.9 run-blocking grade and a 53.2 pass-blocking grade.
Transfer lineman Jamal Meriweather is also an option; he played six offensive snaps against Clemson. Meriweather has played 71 snaps this season, earning a 59.3 run-blocking grade with a 55 pass-blocking grade.
The Hurricanes could also shuffle the line, moving McCoy inside to guard. He was Miami's starting left guard last season. That could open the right-tackle spot for Jackson Cantwell, a former five-star prospect. Cantwell has played 78 snaps this season, earning a 63.2 run-blocking grade and a 59 pass-blocking grade.
Cantwell has primarily played guard this year, but when he played 16 snaps at tackle against Central Michigan, he earned his best PFF grades of the season.
