Miami (FL) Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes Leave Cortel Jenkins Home in Win at UVA

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Miami Hurricanes and Mark Richt continue to make a statement that they will not tolerate a lack of discipline from their players. Miami backup Defensive Tackle Courtel Jenkins did not make the trip with for the Hurricanes 34-14 win over Virginia Saturday.

This is the second time in less than a year that Jenkins has been suspended. Matt Porter, of the Palm Beach Post, reported yesterday that Jenkins was left home due to continued disciplinary problems.

Jenkins, a Junior was the backup at Defensive Tackle behind Sophomores R.J. McIntosh and Kendrick Norton. Per Porter through a Post source, Jenkins played on the scout team in practice this week because of on the field disciplinary problems.

The Hurricanes were able to absorb Jenkins loss. They have excellent depth at Defensive Tackle with Redshirt Sophomore Gerald Willis and Junior Andrew Moten as the backups behind McIntosh and Norton.

Jenkins has been flagged for three personal foul penalties this season, including one for piling on after the whistle in the win against Pittsburgh last week. His past disciplinary problems include being sent home from the Sun Bowl against Washington State last season for academic issues.

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Mark Richt has set down an edict that he and his staff expect their players to be disciplined or there will be consequences for their actions. Since being hired, Richt and/or the Miami athletic administration have dismissed three defensive starters and four-star freshman wide receiver Sam Bruce.

Speaking to USA Today in June, Richt said:

“My goal isn’t to throw guys off the team. We had a meeting (in June)… and I told the guys, ‘I want everybody to be here. But I want everybody to do it the way we’re going to ask you to do it. Everything we’re asking you to do is helping you be a better student, a better person, a better football player. Period.”

Linebackers Juwon Young and Jermaine Grace and Defensive End Al-Quadin Muhammad were dismissed in June and August for their part in a car rental scandal. Backup kicker Jonathan Semerene was also let go after getting his second DUI in less than 20 months during the offseason.

Richt added:

“If I love my guys, I’m going to try to help discipline them and train them… so when you leave here you’ll be successful in life. If you don’t want to do that, you don’t need to be a part of this team.”

Richt continues to show that if players do not buy into what he and the coaching staff wants, players will not play and with continued indiscretions they will be dismissed. His first priority is to prepare his players for the future. If the players follow Richt’s lead they should become good people first and then good players.