Miami Boots Two Top Defensive Players For NCAA Violations

Miami has kicked two of its top defensive players off the team just a week before the Hurricanes open the season against Florida A&M. Redshirt junior defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad and senior linebacker Jermaine Grace have been permanently dismissed from the team for a violation of NCAA rules.

Muhammad and Grace missed parts of practice on Thursday as part of an NCAA investigation into their use of luxury rental cars. Clearly something was found in that probe because Miami quickly resolved the situation by removing them from the squad.

Miami will honor the scholarships of both players if they wish to continue at the university, but the school said there would be no further penalties as no staff members of boosters were involved.

Muhammad led the Hurricanes in sacks (five) and tackles for loss (8.5) in 2015, while Grace was the team’s leading tackler.

This isn’t Muhammad’s first run-in with discipline, as he missed the entire 2014 season after he was suspended for punching another student in the face. He was also suspended for the first game of the 2015 season for a violation of team rules.