Miami’s James Williams tries to play through injury before going down in loss to FSU

James Williams, one of the undeniable bright spots in a rocky season for the Miami Hurricanes, went down with an injury Saturday against the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee and was unable to return.

Williams briefly exited with a groin injury in the second quarter before returning a drive later. His return only lasted a few plays before he again pulled up after seeming to re-aggravate the injury. The rising-star safety tried to hop off the field without putting much weight on his left leg, but he eventually collapsed onto the turf at Doak Campbell Stadium and trainers rushed out to check on him. The freshman was eventually able to walk off the field under his own power, albeit very gingerly. He tested the groin during halftime and early in the second half, and was ultimately unable to get back on the field for the second half of the 31-28 loss.

Williams, who was starting his sixth straight game after replacing fellow safety Gurvan Hall Jr. in the starting lineup in September, had one solo tackle before exiting, giving him 29 total tackles this season. He also has two interceptions, including a game-sealing pick in Miami’s upset of the then-No. 17 Pittsburgh Panthers last month.

The 6-foot-5, 224-pound defensive back is one of the biggest reasons for optimism about the Hurricanes’ future amid another underwhelming season. He was the No. 1 safety recruit in the nation for the Class of 2021, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings, and has been contributing since Week 1 against the then-No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide. After coming off the bench for the first three games of the year, Williams took over in the starting lineup against the FCS Central Connecticut State Blue Devils while Hall served a suspension and he hasn’t relinquished the starting job since. For the last three weeks, Miami has started a pair of true freshmen at safety as Kamren Kinchens took over when Bubba Bolden decided to have season-ending surgery in October.

Williams wasn’t the only defensive starter the Hurricanes lost in the first half against Florida State. Defensive lineman Jonathan Ford, who has started 9 of 10 games at defensive tackle this season, also exited with right ankle injury on the final play of the first quarter, but was able to return early in the third quarter.

Williams, Stevenson play through pain

Despite being limited for at least part of the practice week leading into the Florida State game, Williams and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson both took their usual spots in the starting lineup Saturday.

Both Williams and Stevenson wore red non-contact jerseys at practice Tuesday, and were not full participants. Williams, who was dealing with an apparent left-arm injury, wore a sleeve on his left shoulder Saturday as he started at safety for the sixth straight game. Stevenson, who has started nine straight games this season, wore sleeves on his right shoulder and right leg.

Offensive lineman Ousman Traore, listed as the backup left guard, also returned Saturday after the flu kept him out of the Hurricanes’ win against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets last Saturday.

Moment of silence

On Saturday morning, ESPN’s College GameDay devoted a segment to the Miami-Florida State rivalry, playing old clips and discussing how the game had lost its luster and how neither of the teams has made it into the College Football Playoff.

“Can we just have a moment of silence for what this game used to mean to college football,’’ GameDay commentator Kirk Herbstret said before the ESPN hosts became silent.

Then, Herbstreit said how the rivalry made him think “back in 2000, Santana Moss [saying] ‘Big time players make big-time plays in big games.’ I think Miami is going to be the team that makes those big plays. I got the Canes.’’

Desmond Howard also picked the Canes, with former Seminole Lee Corso picking FSU.

Ray Guy semifinalist

Miami redshirt junior Lou Hedley this past week was named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2021 Ray Guy Award honoring the nation’s top punter.

Hedley, a native of Mandurah, Australia, was a Ray Guy finalist last season.

This season, Hedley is averaging 44.8 yards after 40 punts. He’s put 16 punts inside the 20-yard line and has 10 punts over 50 yards.

▪ Legendary Hurricanes receiver Reggie Wayne was among the 2021 Atlantic Coast Conference Football Honors class announced Tuesday.

A first-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts, Wayne was selected to six Pro Bowls over the course of his career and also won a Super Bowl title. He remains Miami’s school career leader in total receptions with 173 and ranks a close second to Santana Moss in receiving yards (2,510).

This year’s class will be honored during on-field pregame festivities at the ACC Football Championship Game, set for 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium.

▪ Coming into the game, UM defensive end Zach McCloud, a sixth-year senior, was the only Hurricane who had ever lost a game to FSU.