Miami Hurricanes Lose Senior LB Raphael Kirby for Season Due to Injury

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Going through a linebacker drill at the University of Miami should not take long these days after the football program has been hit hard by injuries. The latest and most difficult to overcome is the loss of senior Raphael Kirby.

Kirby (6’1”, 235) has been a consistent threat for the Hurricanes on defense making 19 consecutive starts heading into the Virginia Tech game on Saturday. Kirby left the game with a right knee injury and, explained by head coach Al Golden, will be out for the rest of the year.

The Georgia native spent much of his first two seasons as a backup and special teams player. He was named a starter for the 2014 season opener against Louisville finishing the year with 54 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, and two interceptions. Kirby was on pace to break his career-high in tackles with 40 at the time of his injury, a team-high. He also had 1.5 tackles for a loss and two quarterback hurries.

Defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio has been thin at linebacker much of the season with the loss of Marques Gayot (neck) and Darrion Owens (knee). Gayot played in three games as a backup before his injury and Owens played in two starting one before his setback.

Life gets no easier for Al Golden and company with No. 6 Clemson coming to town on Saturday.

Photo credit: palmbeachpost.com; No. 56 Raphael Kirby.