Defense
Notable losses: The Hurricanes will have to replace a lot of talent on a good defense from a year ago. Most of that talent is along the defensive line. R.J. McIntosh, Trent Harris, Chad Thomas and Kendrick Norton are all missing from this year’s line. On the back end, the team lost starting corner Dee Delaney. All five of those players will be missed and leave a big hole in this group.
DE: Joe Jackson, JR
DT: Gerald Willis, RS SR
DT: Jon Ford, SO
DE: Jonathan Garvin, SO
The Miami defensive line will need to replace all four starters from a year ago. The unit was a strength of this team a season ago with both talent and depth. There is still talent here but the depth is lacking a bit. Jackson is the best of the bunch and is already getting talked about as a big-time NFL prospect for the 2019 draft. Ford and Garvin both saw action a year ago but will need to take steps to become more every down players this season. Willis is a talented player who needs to put it all together consistently. For depth, the team has Demetrius Jackson as a solid pass rushing option and freshman Nessta Silvera in the middle. There are graduate transfers who can help mitigate the big losses but this unit could make or break the Miami defense.
SLB: Zach McCloud, JR
MLB: Shaq Quarterman, JR
WLB: Michael Pinckney, JR
This unit has been the same three starters for the last two years and that will not change this year. The trio of McCloud, Quarterman and Pinckney entered UM together and started together for the last two seasons. They did not take the big leap that many thought in their sophomore season but the talent is there. Quarterman is a leader and alpha of this defense who reminds me of Denzel Perryman who now plays for the Chargers. McCloud’s will be pushed for playing time this season from the youth behind him. Manny Diaz and company love the talented depth here in sophomores De’Andre Wilder and Bradley Jennings.
CB: Michael Jackson, SR
FS: Sheldrick Redwine, SR
SS: Jaquan Johnson, SR
CB: Trajan Brandy, SO
NCB: Gurvan Hall, FR
The most experienced group on defense is the defensive backfield. Star safety Jaquan Johnson returns after snubbing the NFL last offseason. He will lead the group from the back end. Fellow safety Sheldrick Redwine improved throughout the year after spending the majority of his career at corner. Michael Jackson is a shutdown corner who is getting rave reviews from the NFL. Brandy and Hall are young but extremely talented. As far as depth, it will be a lot of youth behind this group with freshman and sophomores. Amari Carter, D.J. Ivey, Gilbert Frierson and Derrick Smith will all see time. There is plenty of talent and experience and this group should be solid going forward.
Special Teams
PR: Jeff Thomas, SO
KR: Jeff Thomas, SO/ DeeJay Dallas, SO
K: Marco Baeza, RS JR
P: Zach Feagles, SO
The specialist took a big hit. Berrios was the team’s return man for both kicks and punts. Sophomores Thomas and Dallas should bring less experience but more speed. Both have track star speed and big play ability. Two things that this Miami team has a glut of is players that are fast and can return kicks. Kicker Michael Badgley may have an NFL future but he was a star for the Hurricanes, replacing his production will be very difficult. Feagles struggled during his freshman season but is a talented player with NFL pedigree through his father.