Miami released its first depth chart of the preseason on Thursday, along with confirmation that junior safety Rayshawn Jenkins will miss the entire 2014 season.
Jenkins first broke the news on his Facebook account Wednesday night, only telling friends and followers that he would miss the year. Hurricanes coach Al Golden elaborated Thursday with details:
Al Golden said S Rayshawn Jenkins has a "chronic" back injury and confirmed he'll miss the season.
— Matt Porter (@mattyports) August 14, 2014
Jenkins started 12 games at safety for the Hurricanes in 2013, recording three interceptions and ranking in the top five on the team with 46 tackles. He missed all of spring drills with an undisclosed injury, but until this week he was thought to be in the mix for a starting job in 2014.
Dallas Crawford and Deon Bush were listed as the starting safeties on the depth chart released Thursday. The quarterback competition, arguably the No. 1 topic of conversation for Miami fans, will take center stage between now and the season opener after Al Golden listed senior transfer Jake Heaps and freshman Brad Kaaya as co-starters.
It is possible (or maybe even likely?) that Golden and offensive coordinator James Coley will keep the competition going right up until the Hurricanes' season opener at Louisville on Labor Day.
