Haynes, Harris On the Shelf Against Clemson
Linebacker Hunter Haynes and running back Kevin Harris won’t play Saturday against Clemson. Haynes, a junior who has started the first six games, sprained his knee against Maryland and wasn’t able to make it back to practice this week. Harris, a senior who started the first three games, tried to make a go of it, and was actually cleared for Clemson, before re-injuring his groin in Tuesday’s practice. He did not look like a happy guy leaving the practice field, for obvious reasons. He entered the season riding the momentum of last December’s performance in the EagleBank Bowl, and ran well when he could still run. There are only five guaranteed games after Clemson, so here’s hoping Harris can get back in time to have some semblance of a senior season.
Haynes, who is third on the team with 29 tackles, will be missed but Coach Jim Grobe said in Tuesday’s media conference that the depth at that position gives him some comfort. I imagine senior Dominique Midgett will start in the middle with Matt Woodlief moving outside, but regardless, those two plus Jonathan Jones, Lee Malchow, Scott Betros and Joey Ehrmann can all expect to play a lot of football at Clemson.
“That’s the nice thing about where we are right now,’’ Grobe said. “We’ve got quite a few linebackers. A guy that probably needs to play more is Betros. With him, that gives you some flexibility there.
“The great news was Dom Midgett played really, really good. He might have played his best game Saturday after faking that shoulder dislocation. So with him in the mix that gives you a chance to move Woody around if you want to. I think Joey Ehrmann is playing really good and with (Jones) and Lee Malchow at (strong-side linebacker) we’ve got a little flexibility there.’‘
Grobe, for the record, was kidding about Midgett faking his injury. In truth he has remarked several times how amazed he was at Midgett’s courage and fortitude.
Another player who will miss the Clemson game is Dennis Godfrey, the oft-injured sophomore tackle whose main contribution has been as a backfield blocker on the punt team. After Godfrey was helped off the field against Maryland after spraining his knee, sophomore tackle Michael Hoag replaced him in the punt team.
“I wish Dennis Godfrey hadn’t gotten hurt,’’ Grobe said. “He was starting to have some really good practices. I was hopeful that before we got through the season he’d be able to start taking some snaps for us.’’