‘I might cry’: Departing seniors suit up for last home game as Hurricanes on Saturday

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Keelan Marion has not been in Miami for long. The redshirt senior transferred to the No. 15 Hurricanes in the summer, having previously played for BYU and UConn.

Although Marion — who has been one of Miami’s hottest players lately — has not spent a lot of time in South Florida, the time he has invested in UM has meant a lot to him. So when he runs through the smoke Saturday for the last time at Hard Rock Stadium before the Hurricanes face N.C. State at 3:30 p.m., he expects to be emotional.

“I might cry,” Marion said. “I’m going to try to hold it in, though. I might cry. I know it’s been a long journey, but I don’t regret anything. I don’t regret where I’ve been, the route I took or anything. I’m forever thankful and forever thankful for this program, the coaches, this coaching staff giving me the opportunity to come in here and play with these guys. I love them. I love these guys like I’ve known them for years. Like, I told Jojo (Trader) in my receiver group, I could have obviously been somewhere where I didn’t want to be, and it could have been miserable.

“And so just being around these guys every day brings me the joy, and anything I can do to help those guys and serve those guys, that’s what I’m willing to do.”

Marion is one of several seniors graduating after one year with the program. Quarterback Carson Beck, safety Jakobe Thomas, defensive tackle David Blay Jr., kicker Bert Auburn, wide receiver CJ Daniels, linebacker Mo Toure, center James Brockermeyer and safety Keionte Scott (who will miss Saturday’s game with an injury) are some of the players who transferred to UM for one season only.

Despite their short tenure, this time has meant a lot to them.

“It’s been awesome,” Beck said. “Obviously, I’m super blessed, thankful and grateful for the opportunity to have been able to come down here. Just after the injury and surgery and everything that I have gone through this year, it’s been crazy. So to play my last regular season home game will be a lot of fun, and obviously looking forward to it.”

Of course, there is a group of other players who have been at Miami for years who will also be playing their last home game at UM. Defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor transferred from West Virginia and has spent four seasons with the Hurricanes, blossoming into one of the top defensive ends in the nation. 

“His impact on his teammates is awesome,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “He’s learned leadership, maturity. I can’t say enough great things about him. I love the guy, his work ethic. I think he’s a set-the-standard type of guy.”

Other graduating seniors who have been at Miami for several years include offensive lineman Anez Cooper, linebacker Chase Smith, linebacker Jaylin Alderman, offensive lineman Ryan Rodriguez, linebacker Wesley Bissainthe and offensive lineman Markel Bell, among others.

“It’s very special because when I was in high school and I ain’t have (any) offers or nobody to commit to, I’m just happy that Mario just bought me in and he just believed in my ability,” Cooper said. “He just (saw) something in me that a lot of coaches didn’t see. So the time here has been great. It was brand new, something for me to see because I ain’t really see a lot of this stuff that I’m seeing now, being from Alabama. So it’s been good. I’m happy. It came fast. It (finished) fast. Man, I was just a freshman, and I look up now — I’m playing my last game in Hard Rock. It’s emotional. I’m going to be emotional (when) I walk out there (for the) last time I’m going to be running through that tunnel.”

Rounding out the group of players potentially playing their last game at Hard Rock is the small group of draft-eligible juniors who could decide to enter the NFL draft. Defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa — both projected to be first-round draft picks — lead a group that also includes running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (who is injured), defensive lineman Ahmad Moten Sr., safety Zechariah Poyser and cornerback Ethan O’Connor, among others.

“Hard Rock is — that’s home. Always will be home,” Mauigoa said. ” … It means a lot. I spent all my three years over here; that’s been home, and that locker room will always (have) a special place in my heart.”

Saturday is not a lock to be the last UM game at Hard Rock Stadium this season. The Orange Bowl is a playoff quarterfinal, and the national championship will be held in Miami Gardens, as well. The Hurricanes have a tough path to the playoffs, but it is still feasible. If that happens, Miami’s players could get to play in front of hometown fans again. But for now, they will have to savor this moment and what their time at UM means to them.

“One thing I can say (is) once you get into programs like this at Miami, it’s family after football,” Marion said. “You still want to keep contact with these guys after football.”

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