Post-Spring Analysis: Miami Hurricanes DL has a lot of potential once players return fully healthy
Post-Spring Miami QB analysis … RB analysis … WR analysis … TE analysis … OL analysis
With Miami’s 15 spring practices in the rearview mirror, it’s worth taking a position by position look at where things stand, and today we look at the DL position:
PROJECTED MIAMI DL DEPTH CHART
DE
1st team: Akheem Mesidor
2nd team: Rueben Bain
DT
1st team: Leonard Taylor
2nd team: Jared Harrison-Hunte
DT
1st team: Branson Deen
co-2nd team: Thomas Gore
co-2nd team: Joshua Horton
DE
Co-1st team: Jahfari Harvey
Co-1st team: Nyjalik Kelly
POST-SPRING ANALYSIS
Did we love what we saw this spring from the defensive line? Not so much, but there’s a reason for that. Remember of the nine guys above we project on the two-deep once the season kicks off, four were out all 15 practices (Taylor, Harrison-Hunte and Harvey due to injury, Horton is a summer arrival coaches are very high on) and one missed half of spring (Mesidor coming off injury). So this spring was really about depth and learning something about transfer tackles Deen and Gore. Of the depth guys, it was Bain that really stood out. He was off the charts with his combination of quickness, size and strength and will be in the rotation inside and at end this season. He had three sacks in the spring game, putting an emphasis on the impact he can have. Deen also impressed coaches on the inside. So perhaps the depth on the line might be okay, although the team probably needs another body at tackle who can really be an impact.
A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD
DE Akheem Mesidor was one of the ACC’s top linemen last year with 10.5 TFL and seven sacks along with four pass breakups, while fellow end Jahfari Harvey split time (starting seven games) and finished with 7.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks. Leonard Taylor had moments where he looked like one of the nation’s most dominant tackles, and you have to think his consistency will be better with another year to develop – he had 10.5 TFL and three sacks. Miami brought in Branson Deen and Thomas Gore in the portal to supplement returning backups Jared Harrison-Hunte (who will compete to start when he’s back healthy this fall) and Jacob Lichtenstein. Plus Ahmad Moten had some decent moments this spring and incoming freshman Joshua Horton could be ready to make an impact from what we’ve heard. Off spring we view Deen as the best replacement in the starting lineup for Jackson. Remember that he started at Purdue last season and had 4 TFL and 2.5 sacks along with 4 QB hurries. In 2021 he was All-Big Ten honorable mention after starting 11 games and finishing with 26 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 4 sacks and 4 QB hurries. So while he’s undersized he should be more than good enough. Gore, by comparison, was at a lower level Georgia State where in four seasons he had 93 career tackles and 11 sacks.
Guys not on the depth chart we list? DE Chantz Williams, DE Thomas Davis, DE Cyrus Moss and true freshmen DE Jayden Wayne and DE Collins Acheampong. Of those perhaps Moss has the best chance to surprise, but he has to still put on a lot more weight.
The overall talent along the line is fairly good … if some of these guys live up to their potential.
Now let’s look at the Pro Football Focus grades from last year:
DE Jahfari Harvey (rising fifth year redshirt junior): 412 reps, 76.2 overall grade, 76.2 run defense, 74.5 tackle grade, 71.1 pass rush. 31 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks.
DE Nyjalik Kelly (rising sophomore): 183 reps, 63.6 overall grade, 63.2 run defense, 82.7 tackle grade, 65.4 pass rush. 11 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 4 sacks.
DE Akheem Mesidor (rising fourth year junior): 394 reps, 86.8 overall grade, 86.0 run defense, 75.9 tackle grade, 80.6 pass rush. 38 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 3 QB hurries, one forced fumble.
DE Chantz Williams (rising fourth-year junior): 111 reps, 66.3 overall grade, 66.6 run defense, 67.8 tackle grade, 61.9 pass rush. 13 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 fumble recovery.
DT Branson Deen (redshirt senior): 492 reps, 74.2 on defense overall grade, 66.1 on run defense, a subpar 41.7 tackling (8 missed tackles) and 78.1 as a pass rusher (credited with 25 QB hurries per PFF). 28 tackles, 4 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 4 QBH.
DT Thomas Gore (redshirt junior): 608 reps, 84.8 on defense overall grade, 74.8 on run defense, 50.5 tackle grade, 89.7 pass rush. 38 tackles, 8 TFL, 5 sacks, 6 QBH.
DT Jared Harrison-Hunte (fifth year redshirt junior): 205 reps, 67.8 overall grade, 66.1 run defense, 27.6 tackle grade, 70.3 pass rush. 16 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks.
DT Leonard Taylor (rising junior): 329 reps, 89.8 overall grade, 81.9 run defense, 53.5 tackle grade, 86.4 pass rush. 24 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 3 sacks, INT, 6 QB hurries.
So there is decent enough playmaking and depth here for new Miami coordinator Lance Guidry, especially when you factor in new arrivals Bain, Horton, etc.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Last year opponents averaged 142.9 rush yards per game (4.0 yards per carry) and Miami’s defenders had 37 sacks in the 12 games. That placed the Canes No. 54 in the nation in rush defense, and the team was also No. 20 in first downs defense. But there was no other major defensive category in which the team was in the top 50. So there’s certainly room for improvement under Guidry. We think this should be a better line than a year ago, with the losses DT Darrell Jackson and DE Mitchell Agude. The concern area is tackle next to Taylor, but remember that both Mesidor and Bain can work inside and the Deen/Harrison-Hunte battle in the fall (we see Gore as a depth guy) could see one of them step up.
Mesidor, Kelly and Harvey are a really good trio of ends that showed they can make plays last year, so overall this has the makings of a line that could take a decent step up from 2022.
The post Post-Spring Analysis: Miami Hurricanes DL has a lot of potential once players return fully healthy appeared first on On3.
