Miami football: First-look 2019 depth chart projections

Defense

Notable losses: A unit that finished inside the top-ten in the country will have plenty of holes to fill. On the back end, the team lost a pair of starting safeties in Jaquon Johnson and Sheldrick Redwine, both will be sorely missed. At corner, Michael Jackson is no longer with the team after declaring for the NFL Draft. On the defensive line, All-ACC tackle Gerald Willis is gone, as is defensive end, Joe Jackson. That is a lot of talent to replace on the defensive side of the ball.

DE: Jonathan Garvin, Junior | Patrick Joyner, RS Freshman 

DT: Nesta Silvera, Sophomore | Jon Ford, Junior | Jordan Miller, RS Freshman

DT: Chigozie Nnoruka, Senior | Pat Bethel, Senior | Tyreic Martin, RS Junior | Jason Blissett, Freshman

DE: Gregory Rosseau, RS Freshman | Scott Patchan, RS Senior | Jahfari Harvey, Freshman

Replacing Gerald Willis, who was as dominant as any player on the defensive interior will be tough. Graduate transfer Chigozie Nnoruka from UCLA will help. Silvera has flashed in the action he’s seen in his young career and should get the nod next to Nnoruka. The rest of the group will rotate along the interior. Keep an eye on true freshman Blissett who will see action and is a big-time recruit.

At defensive end, Joe Jackson will be replaced by Garvin who looks like an elite edge rusher in the making. He’s been playing since his true freshman season and is only getting better. Rosseau will have an inside track to start across from him. Rosseau is a long athletic end who can create pressure. He may be spelled on obvious run downs by Patchan who brings experience to the group. Harvey and Joyner are young names that should see some time in the rotation to spell the edge rushers despite needing some time to work on their game.

SLB: Michael Pickney, Senior | Bradley Jennings, RS Sophomore | Sam Brooks, Freshman

MLB: Shaq Quarterman, Senior | Waynmon Steed, RS Sophomore | 

WLB: Zach McCloud, Senior | Avery Huff, Freshman | D.J. Wilder, RS Sophomore

No position is easier to predict for the Miami Hurricanes than at linebacker. The trio of Quarterman, McCloud and Pickney have been starting since their first year on campus. They are the veteran presence on this defense that should make it go in 2019. Quarterman is the best of the bunch as the pivot man who makes the call and should be a high draft pick in 2020.

Pickney is no slouch either and both should be on the field as much as possible. McCloud has been up and down but will get the nod right away. He will be a candidate when Diaz does not roll down a safety, his preferred method of attacking an offense. The group will be pushed by Jennings and Steed mostly who have been waiting in the wings. Freshman Brooks will push all the others for time as well.

CB: Trajan Bandy, Junior | Al Blades, Sophomore 

S: Amari Carter, Junior | Bubba Bolden, Sophomore 

S: Gurvin Hall, Sophomore | Gibert Frierson, RS Freshman | Robert Knowles, RS Senior 

Striker: Romeo Finley, Junior | Avery Huff, Freshman 

CB: D.J. Ivey, Sophomore | Nigel Bethel, RS Freshman | Te’Cory Couch, Freshman

A group that features incumbents to be excited about but lost serious talent is the defensive backfield. All-ACC safety Jaquon Johnson has been the team’s best defensive back for two years. He paired with Shedrick Redwine to be a great pair of safeties for this team. Replacing them will be Carter and Hall. Both saw time in sub roles last season and looked good.

They will have big shoes to fill in 2019 but should be up to the task. USC transfer, Bolden, is a four-star recruit that may push both players for playing time and could see action all over the field if eligible. Finley returns from a breakout season in the hybrid defensive back/linebacker role. Bandy also returns after getting All-ACC honors and is a lockdown corner. Ivey struggled in limited action but has a good pedigree as a four-star recruit. Blades will see plenty of action and could beat out Ivey when it is all said and done. Couch is a top-40 corner who will get snaps in the nickel.

Special Teams

KR: Jeff Thomas, Junior | DeeJay Dallas, Junior | Mark Pope, Sophomore

PR: DeeJay Dallas, Junior | Mark Pope, Sophomore | Mike Harley, Junior

K: Bubba Baxa, Sophomore | Camden Price, RS Freshman | Turner Davidson, RS Sophomore

P: Louis Hedley, Freshman | Jack Spicer, RS Senior

There will never be a shortage of promising players to return kicks and punts at Miami. Dallas and Thomas should see action back there in 2019. However, given their increased roles in the offense do not be surprised to see speedsters Pope and Harley take some of those duties throughout the season. Even Lorenzo Lingard, the highly respected sophomore and former five-star recruit, could see action in those roles.

Baxa will revive his role as the placekicker. He was solid last year and only missed one extra point. Unless he melts down in camp there is no reason to believe the sophomore will not be back. At punter Louis Hedley brings excitement to the Hurricanes. The punters a year ago, including walk-on Spicer, were not good and it hurt the team as a whole. Hedley is a mammoth punter from California who was the top punter in the class of 2019.