July Player Performance Index top 30 deep dive: No. 22 LB Jaylin Alderman

CaneSport is breaking down the top 30 Miami players on the roster based on projected production, and today we’re at No. 22, Jaylin Alderman.

THE BIG PICTURE

Alderman was a second portal window take out of Louisville, where he started last season and had 62 tackles with seven TFL and 1.5 sacks. While he played mainly MLB for the Cardinals, he can also play OLB and will compete with Wesley Bissainthe to start at WILL. Even if Alderman loses that fall battle, he can provide much-needed depth at both spots. Adding him was important for the team considering the rest of the linebackers on the roster have little experience. Aside from Francisco Mauigoa, Alderman and Bissainthe, the only guy that’s not a first- or second-year player at the position is oft-injured/inexperienced Chase Smith.

JULY PLAYER PERFORMANCE INDEX: No. 30 Elijah Alston, No. 29 Josh Horton, No. 28 Raul Aguirre … No. 27 D’yoni Hill … No. 26 Samson Okunlola … No. 25 Jaden Harris … No. 24 Markeith Williams …No. 23 Akheem Mesidor

THE ANALYSIS

Alderman was solid in his first year starting every game at Louisville in 2023 with the aforementioned 58 tackles, 7 TFL and 1.5 sacks. He redshirted in 2022 buried down the depth chart, and in 2021 was primarily a backup with a highlight 66-yard interception return for the game-winning touchdown in a 42-35 win over UCF (he was passed by Dorian Jones on the depth chart that year). He ended 2021 with 17 tackles, sharing one for a loss. A 6-1, 230-pound junior, Alderman will push to start over Bissainthe, and his Pro Football Focus grades bear out his solid play last season: In 606 reps he graded out at 65.6 percent overall (62.1 percent run defense, 54.0 tackle grade with six QB hurries and 12 missed tackles). In 2021 he played 206 reps and graded out at a lowly 45.9 percent overall (41.8 run defense, 52.4 tackle grade). He missed 16 tackles that year and was noted with eight QB hurries. It’s also worth noting that Alderman has struggled in coverage in his career, allowing 27 completions on 33 targets for 331 yards with three TDS and one INT.

THE PROJECTION

Alderman will push to start, and last year you saw another Louisville transfer, KJ Cloyd, beat out Bissainthe for the top job to begin the year (Bissainthe quickly won it back). Coaches want to light a fire under Bissainthe and also see if they can do better, and certainly Alderman will get plenty of reps backing up MLB and OLB even if he doesn’t start. There’s not much experience aside from the top 3 guys at this position, and last year you saw Cloyd and Corey Flagg combine for 785 reps. So we see Alderman pushing past 400 reps and being productive regardless of his starting status. Think along the lines of 45 or so tackles with 5+ TFL and a couple of sacks. He’s not a home run hitter, to use that analogy, but he’s a solid addition who can make plays.

THE JUMP HE NEEDS FROM SPRING TO FALL CAMP

Alderman wasn’t here in the spring, so this fall we’ll really start to get a sense of how he can fit into Lance Guidry’s attacking style of defense. He’ll be called upon to cover, which hasn’t been his strength (last year opposing QBs hit on 19 of 24 passes when targeting him for 282 yards with three TDs, per PFF), so that’s something to keep an eye on. So far what he’s been best at is helping in run support, something Miami certainly needs, so if Alderman can show off physicality and speed to the point of attack that would go a long way toward him potentially beating out Bissainthe.

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