Several Hurricanes defenders were banged up during Miami’s physical, first-round playoff victory against Texas A&M on Saturday.
But Mario Cristobal said Monday morning that he “feels good” about those players’ chances to return for the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State on Dec. 31. Cristobal did not disclose what the players’ injuries are.
“But I would say that these guys, yeah, I feel good about it,” Cristobal said on WQAM’s The Joe Rose Show. “They were all on the plane in great spirits and moving around really well. … Brother, it’s December and it’s the playoffs, right? Who’s not hurting?”
Toure appeared to suffer the most significant injury, going down hard after making a lead-saving tackle on the penultimate defensive play of the game. But Toure was seen on the sidelines moments later, celebrating freshman Bryce Fitzgerald’s game-sealing interception.
“That’s how Mo plays. Mo, since the day he got here, has been nothing but a team guy,” Cristobal said. “And his level of play, again, it was exemplified, epitomized in that one particular play. That’s what he is, and you know we feel really good about him getting healthy pretty quickly.”
Toure had eight tackles in Miami’s win. Poyser had six tackles, and Moten had one tackle.
