Hurricanes All-American Kamren Kinchens carted off field with injury against Texas A&M
MIAMI GARDENS — Miami All-American safety Kamren Kinchens left UM’s win over Texas A&M with what appeared to be a severe injury Saturday night.
Kinchens suffered the injury after colliding with Aggies wide receiver Ainias Smith after a Smith reception with 1:58 left in the fourth quarter. He had to be taken off the field on a cart after a long stoppage of play. He was awake and talking to trainers as he was carted off, according to the ABC broadcast.
“So far, the reports that we have on [Kamren Kinchens] are that everything seem to be relatively normal,” Cristobal said. “So I’m going to head over there right after I get done with the press conference and see how he’s doing.”
“I think we’re going to be fine,” Cristobal added.
Kinchens was taken to the Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, according to the ABC broadcast.
Kinchens, who had an interception and a fumble recovery earlier in the contest, was an All-American last year and a preseason All-American this year.
“That’s as hard as it gets,” Cristobal said. “You’ve got parents in the stands, teammates. Football is unforgiving at times. I don’t think that’s the case here. I’m very hopeful. I don’t like to get ahead of myself, but I like to think positive and think everything is trending in the right direction, and we’ll get an update to everybody as soon as we get it.”
Kinchens has become a major leader for the Hurricanes since he arrived. Even after he suffered the injury Saturday night, he told fellow safety James Williams that he wanted to keep playing.
“I was just telling him, ‘Look at me. Keep your eyes open. Breathe. You’re OK. It was OK.'” Williams said. “He was just telling me he wanted to finish.”
Williams said he told Kinchens, “I know you want to finish, but just breathe. Understand where you’re at and just breathe.”
Several Miami players spoke about Kinchens’ leadership and what he means to the program after the game. They all said Kinchens will be in their thoughts and prayers, and wide receiver Xavier Restrepo said he wanted to FaceTime Kinchens as soon as he could.
“Hopefully he’s OK,” quarterback Tyler Van Dyke said. “Prayers up for Kam. He’s the heart and soul of this program. He really is … He’s the heart and soul, like I said, main leader of the team, brings it every day in practice, makes us work, so hopefully he’s OK.”
Several former Hurricanes also posted their prayer on social media.
“Prayers … for 5,” Ed Reed posted.
Williams praised Kinchens’ ability to lead the team, which was crucial in Miami’s win Saturday night.
“Kam will be in my prayers, in my heart,” Williams said. “He’s the heart and soul of the team. He really wants to win. He really wants to change the culture here. Doesn’t like losing. … He not only pushed me, he pushes everybody around me to be great. He wants us to be great. He wants us to be better than we already are.
“A guy like Kam, that’s an amazing guy. I love him to death. That’s my boy.”
