Sophomore linebacker Eddie Johnson has been reinstated by University of Miami coach Al Golden and returned to practice Tuesday.
Johnson, the Hurricanes’ second-leading tackler, was left home for last week’s 41-40 loss at Virginia because of undisclosed football-related issues. He will play but not start when UM faces USF in the Hurricanes’ home finale Saturday, Golden said.
“There’s a level of responsibility we can’t move on without,” Golden said of Johnson. “You (have) to be accountable, responsible, be a good teammate. I’ve been in this situation before, and hopefully he’ll come out of it stronger and respond. … As a coach, you can’t look the other way when those type of things are going on. Hopefully he learned from it.”
Meanwhile, freshman linebacker Gabe Terry has not been reinstated after he was also left behind for the Virginia game for undisclosed reasons. Terry, from Palm Beach Central High School, has been disciplined and not allowed to play in games at least twice this season.
Asked about Terry’s status, Golden said: “I’d love for him to play. But it’s in his court. He’s got to mature. He’s got to see the big picture and how he impacts the team. Right now he has not been reinstated. I don’t know if that’s going to change.”
• Starting receiver Allen Hurns broke a bone in his thumb against Virginia but is expected to play against USF. Hurns, who caught two touchdown passes against the Cavaliers, is wearing a cast and will be outfitted with a protective splint or wrap for Saturday’s game. The Hurricanes are already without Rashawn Scott, UM’s second-leading receiver who is indefinitely suspended, and Malcolm Lewis, a starter before sustaining a season-ending ankle injury against Georgia Tech.
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