Hurricanes Ready to Reinforce Defense as Lightfoot and Lucas Return for FSU Showdown

Coach Mario Cristobal sounded relieved on Monday’s press conference – the Hurricanes finally have two of their biggest defensive pieces back in action. Both Marquise Lightfoot, the ferocious defensive end, and Xavier Lucas, the starting cornerback, are "all the way back" from the injuries that sidelined them earlier this season.

“The bye week was very productive for us,” Cristobal said, his voice a mix of optimism and the usual coach‑like pragmatism. “We focused on development, got some physical practice in, and made sure a few guys got healthy. Conditioning, preparation for FSU – all that mattered.”

Lightfoot’s setback came midway through Miami’s 31‑24 win over Clemson on Oct. 3. He left the game with an undisclosed issue and missed the next few weeks. Lucas, meanwhile, has been nursing an injury from the season opener against Stanford, keeping him out of action since early September.

In addition to the two returning starters, Cristobal confirmed that linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin Jr. and cornerback Damari Brown are also cleared to play. The good news, however, is tempered by a lingering question about sophomore offensive guard Max Buchanan, who suffered a setback that forced him to post a hospital‑bed photo on social media – a picture he later removed. The coach hinted Buchanan could rejoin the squad later in the year, but right now he’ll be a miss.

On the bright side, the line isn’t entirely depleted. Matt McCoy, who bruised his shoulder during the Clemson game, bounced back and finished the contest. Cristobal confirmed McCoy is good to go for the Seminoles matchup.

Statistically, Lightfoot has been a force this season – 19 tackles and five sacks, including a sack that helped seal the Clemson win. His presence on the edge is a big morale boost for a defense that has taken a few hard blows. Lucas, when healthy, provides the cornerback depth the Hurricanes need to keep up with the explosive passing attacks common in the ACC.

Injuries have been a theme this year. After the season opener, both OJ Frederique Jr. and Lucas went down, and Cristobal admitted the pattern is “absolutely brutal” and hard to pin down. He stressed the staff is still looking for any common thread that could help prevent future setbacks.

All things considered, Miami walks into the FSU game with a healthier, more confident defensive unit. Whether that translates into a win against the Seminoles will depend on execution, but having Lightfoot and Lucas back certainly tilts the odds in the Hurricanes’ favor.