ANALYSIS: Predicting the breakout players on defense based on fall drills

With Miami fall drills heading into the final couple of weeks before game 1, personnel usage and talent is coming more and more into focus. This morning we break down our top 5 breakout defensive players of 2023 based on what has been gleaned from fall drills to this point (Note that this focuses on players that have not previously had strong seasons at Miami or elsewhere/are breakout candidates):

5. DT Joshua Horton

It’s tough to make a big impact in Year 1 on the interior of the defensive line, but there are a confluence of factors for why Horton could emerge as a playmaker … especially as the season goes along. First, it’s a very thin DT proven depth chart, with Leonard Taylor the only guy who you can really point to as a difference-maker. Fellow DT starter Branson Deen arrives from Purdue, where he was okay as a starter but wasn’t blowing up offenses. Behind that pair is just not a lot – oft-injured Jared Harrison-Hunte, a still-developing Ahmad Moten, young guys and transfers. Which brings us back to the true freshman Horton. He has college-ready size and strength and really just has to understand what he needs to do on each play to make an impact. We expect him to be in the rotation from the jump and get more and more playing time as the year goes on. He could be in line for a very solid first year.

4. LB KJ Cloyd

A career backup/afterthought at Louisville, Cloyd has emerged at Miami this fall after transferring in and passed by Wesley Bissainthe on the depth chart for the first fall scrimmage, somewhat of a surprise. That battle is ongoing, of course, but Cloyd brings that veteran savvy and more size/strength than Bissainthe, who started at the end of last season. Is this a case of Louisville not knowing what it had in Cloyd or Miami just not having very good linebackers and Cloyd being the best option at OLB (he played mainly MLB for the Cardinals)? We’ll find out soon enough when he’s on the field and you can see if he’s got that production/playmaking you want. It seems he’ll get his opportunity to shine, and don’t bet against him making the most of it.

ANALYSIS: Predicting the breakout players on offense based on fall drills

3. CB Damari Brown

Is it a bit of a sketchy proposition to have a true freshman starter at cornerback when your defensive scheme tends to leave the boundary corners one-on-one down the field? Perhaps. But in what is probably best described as an average Miami cornerback room that’s loaded with transfers it’s the first-year Brown that was starting opposite his brother Davonte (former UCF starter who transferred in) ahead of Daryl Porter, Jr., Ja’Dais Richard and others in the first fall scrimmage. Damari had gotten elevated reps prior to the scrimmage, it should be noted, and look for him to try and maintain that heading into Game 1.

2. DL Rueben Bain

Bain is a pass-rushing freak with a motor that just never stops. At the end of the opening fall scrimmage his teammates marveled at how he was still going full speed every rep he was in despite the heat and length of the work in front of fans at Hard Rock Stadium. Bain is going to work as a backup end and tackle to start the year, it appears, but will be getting plenty of work at both spots. His combination of quickness off the ball, use of his hands and lower body strength cause all kinds of problems for linemen, and don’t be shocked if he gets close to double-digit sack numbers as a freshman. His potential is through the roof.

1. DE Nyjalik Kelly

One of the highly anticipated battles this fall was at end opposite Akheem Mesidor, with the second-year Kelly showing some flashes as a backup in 2022 and competing against the veteran Jahfari Harvey (who started several games over multiple seasons). It appears Kelly is on track to win the battle, and coaches are very high on his potential as a strong, run-stopping end who can also get after the quarterback and make plays in the backfield. With Mesidor and Leonard Taylor getting the bulk of the offense’s attention heading into game planning, Kelly could wind up with some very favorable one-on-one situations in which he can dominate.

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