Miami center Jakai Clark leaves game in first quarter

Miami center Jakai Clark walked off on his own power with 36 seconds remaining in the first quarter. He was knocked back by a Bethune Cookman defender when he was on his knees at the end of a Hurricanes’ touchdown run. Clark was on the ground for a few minutes, tended to by Miami trainers, but then walked off on his own power, with a bit of assistance from trainers and medical staff. According to reports, Clark suffered an injury to his right ankle.

The injury occurred when Hurricanes running back Henry Parrish, Jr. took a 5-yard run in for a score to put the ‘Canes up 14-3 late in the first quarter. Clark started the final nine games of the season at center during the 2021 season for the Hurricanes, becoming one of the team’s anchors along the offensive line.

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He was testing out his right ankle on the sideline at the beginning of the second quarter, according to the ACC Network’s sideline reporter. The good news for Miami fans is that Clark returned to the game early in the second quarter, so it appears his ankle is fine. Coming out of Grayson High School (Loganville, Georgia), he was rated as the 90th best interior offensive lineman in America and a three-star prospect, according to the On3 Consensus Rankings.

Hurricanes’ running back Henry Parrish, Jr. just scored his second touchdown of the first half to put the ‘Canes up 21-3 with 12:06 remaining in the second quarter. Parrish and Thaddius Franklin, Jr. have combined for over 100 rushing yards and three touchdowns between them in the first half. Miami linebacker Gilbert Frierson also returned a pick-six 31-yards for a touchdown, putting the ‘Canes up 28-3 in the second quarter. Bethune Cookman countered with a beautiful screen pass for a touchdown, to cut the Miami lead to 28-10 with 6:34 remaining in the first half.