With so many early departures and the Miami Hurricanes losing serious depth going into the 2012 football season, UM needed some good news and got some on Friday.
Senior linebacker Ramon Buchanan will be back with the Canes for one more season, having been granted a medical hardship waver. Miami struck out months back regarding defensive lineman Adewale Ojomo, who was denied a sixth season, but got a lucky break with the return of Buchanan.
Buchanan played the first four games of the 2011 season before a season-ending knee injury against Bethune-Cookman last October 1st.
It is believed that Buchanan’s injury was a result of the dirt infield as the Florida Marlins were still in season, though head coach Al Golden never confirmed or denied. Regardless, that will not be the case in 2012 as the Marlins have moved south and Sun Life is again a football-only venue.
Prior to the injury, Buchanan had 18 tackles – two or loss – and a blocked kick on the season, bringing his career total to 106 tackles, with 13.5 for loss. Buchanan has started 15 of 39 games in his career at UM.