Miami Hurricanes right tackle DJ Scaife Jr. left UM’s loss to Texas A&M in the fourth quarter Saturday and did not return, but coach Mario Cristobal said the fifth-year senior won’t miss any time with the sprained ankle he suffered.
Cristobal said Scaife was capable of re-entering the game at the end and he was already back in practice on Monday.
Scaife played 58 snaps on Saturday, and he earned a 63.3 overall offensive score from Pro Football Focus. He had a strong performance when pass blocking, earning a 79.7 grade, but he had a 56.9 run-blocking score.
Through three games this season, Scaife has a 71.3 offensive score, 85.8 pass-blocking score and a 65.6 run-blocking score.
Chaney still out for extended period
Miami will be without third-year sophomore running back Don Chaney Jr. for most of the season.
UM has not disclosed the nature of the running back’s injury, but Cristobal said Chaney will be out for at least six weeks.
“He’s been coming along well,” Cristobal said. “I hate to give you an exact date. I think he’s still probably six, seven, eight weeks away. OK, he will be back at some point this season. I’d go conservative, eight [weeks], and pushing the envelope a little bit, six [weeks].”
If Chaney returns in six weeks, he could be available for the Hurricanes’ home game against Florida State on Nov. 5.
Chaney missed nearly all of the 2021 season after suffering an ACL and meniscus tear. He endured a recovery and rehabilitation process that he described as “ridiculously hard.”
Chaney has 79 career carries for 366 yards and four touchdowns.
Cristobal praises Aggies’ environment
Texas A&M packed 107,245 people into cavernous Kyle Field on Saturday, which was the third-largest crowd and the highest attendance for a nonconference game in the stadium’s history.
Despite the massive crowd, Cristobal said the Hurricanes weren’t negatively affected.
“I think they’re an awesome environment,” Cristobal said. “I think Texas A&M does a great job on gameday. Their fans are behind them 100 percent. They do a really really good job. But I don’t think it played a factor in the game.”
Miami did get called for one false start in the loss, but Cristobal said he wasn’t sure whether that could be attributed to crowd noise.
“In terms of handling the environment, I thought they did really well,” Cristobal said. “Especially at the line of scrimmage.”
