Miami Hurricane Football: Nothing Can Happen to These 5 Players in 2012

Last year without Lamar Miller, Miami would have been in big trouble, but luckily for them, he stayed rather healthy throughout the season.

This season Miami doesn't have that one player that would ruin a season, but that doesn't mean they don't have several players that serve detrimental to what they want to do this year, which is compete for the ACC Championship.

Here is my personal list of five players they can not afford to lose this season if they want that opportunity.

Jake Wieclaw, K

Some of you may laugh at seeing a kicker in this list, but the truth of the matter is Jake Wieclaw is a huge part of the Hurricanes offense.

The Hurricanes' leading scoring last year with 72 points will certainly enter this season on the Lou Groza Award (Best placekicker in the country) watch list. He was a semi-finalist last year.

Wieclaw has a terrific leg and is almost automatic missing only three field goals all last season.

If Wieclaw goes down, Miami will have to turn to two players, Matt Goudis or Alex Trastorza, to back him up, with Trastorza being the only one with experience kicking for Marist College last season.

Anthony Chickillo, DE

The defensive line took a big hit this year with the losses of Adewale Ojomo, Marcus Forston and Olivier Vernon, basically leaving sophomore Anthony Chickillo as the Hurricanes' lone returning defensive lineman.

The good news is that even though he is the only returning starter on the line, he was probably their best one they had last year. The bad news is what that means this year is if they lose him, they could be in huge trouble.

Chickillo is one of those players that only comes around once a decade. He is extremely agile and moves so well that he tied for the team lead in sacks last year with five.

He played in all 12 games, starting the last nine and finished on the Freshman All-American team. 

Allen Hurns, WR

Allen Hurns might not be the best wide receiver they have on the field this year, but he is their only receiver that has a lot of experience.

Hurns ended last year catching 31 balls for 415 yards (both third on the team) and four touchdowns (second on the team). The rest of the wide receivers on this year's Hurricanes team has a total of 18 catches for 180 yards and no touchdowns.

Hurns is a very key part of the receiver corps, even though players like Rashawn Scott and Phillip Dorsett may actually end up being better players.

If Hurns goes down, that means the depth shrinks and the inexperience settles in, meaning big trouble for Miami.

Denzel Perryman, LB

I know the Hurricanes have plenty of good linebackers this season, but none of them are as solid as Denzel Perryman.

Perryman proved last year that he belonged in the starting lineup as he ended up second on the team in tackles with 69.

Perryman is going to be the next great linebacker out of Miami, but what they truly need from him is his leadership. He has already spoken to ex-Hurricane Sean Spence on what he needs to do to become the leader of the team.

Although Perryman is just a sophomore, he is going to be the leader of this defense this year, and without him, they could be in big trouble.

Seantrel Henderson, OT

Last season when I caught word that Seantrel Henderson had back surgery in the offseason and wouldn't be available until the fourth game of the season, I really never thought much of it. I figured the offensive line had some great players and solid depth.

I was wrong.

The offensive line was a mess for most of the season last year, and with only two starters coming back this year, there is even more concern on how good they will be.

In fact, the depth is so bad that head coach Al Golden posted flyers looking for students to try out for an offfensive line position.

That is where Henderson will become a factor. He is the biggest and best offensive lineman they have, and if he is truly healthy, the offensive line will gel and they will be all right.

If he gets hurt, the offensive line is in big trouble and Golden may have to send out another flyer.