Who UM’s Darian Mensah Believes Can Fill the Joshua Moore Void

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MIAMI, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes’ wide receiver core suffered a major loss, as sophomore Joshua Moore was announced out for the rest of the season with an upper-body injury, but quarterback Darian Mensah has a couple of candidates in mind who are ready to fill the 6-4 and 220-pound void.

“I think there’s a bunch of guys who could step up,” he said in his weekly media availability via Zoom. “The two that come to mind are [Vandrevius] Jacobs and Somourian Wingo. I think they’re explosive playmakers and they’ve got the opportunity. It’s their time to go and take advantage of it.”

Moore caught just seven passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns in the first three games of the season. He was visibly grabbing his right shoulder towards the end of the 33-20 win over Wake Forest last Friday. As the 19-year-old goes down, others will be called upon to step up.

Other than Cooper Barkate, redshirt junior Vandrevius Jacobs transferred to the Coral Gables campus with significant experience. Last season, at South Carolina, he was an explosive playmaker for the Gamecocks. Jacobs caught 32 passes for 548 yards (17.1 yards a catch) and scored four touchdowns.

Each time the 21-year-old found the end zone, it came with significant numbers:

– 35-yard touchdown Vs. South Carolina State

– 49-yard touchdown at Missouri

– 50-yard touchdown at Texas A&M

– 74-yard touchdown at Clemson

In 40 snaps this season, Jacobs has been targeted three times. He has the background to connect with Mensah down the field, but stepping on the field will have to be earned behind the scenes. Same goes for Wingo, who’s shown early flashes.

The former four-star recruit has caught four passes on four targets for 85 yards and a touchdown thus far. Wingo has logged 39 snaps, but didn’t play against Wake Forest.

Alongside them are freshmen Vance Spafford and Milan Parris, who can make a push for rotational snaps.

The Hurricanes’ tight ends, Elija Lofton and Gavin Mueller, haven’t had many targets, but that could significantly change moving forward.

Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson could look to spread the ball more, as sophomore and college football rising star Malachi Toney left the Wake Forest matchup with an upper-body injury. He still played throughout the game, but was limited.

Moore’s absence will test the Hurricanes’ wide receiver depth. He was projected to surpass last season’s production by a long shot. Moore still has three more seasons of NCAA eligibility with the new five-by-five rule. He will likely be ready for fall camp ahead of the 2027 college football season.

The Hurricanes will play Central Michigan this upcoming Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium. It’s the team’s first weekend game ahead of a competitive Atlantic Coast Conference, plus a historic rivalry matchup on primetime against Notre Dame at South Bend, Indiana.

Anthony Aguirre covers the Miami Hurricanes and Miami Heat for Roundtable Sports. Contact info for tips/info: alexagmu@gmail.com & 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports

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