CaneSport’s Inside the Lines with Miami Hurricanes CB D’yoni Hill, who relishes the challenge posed by those that doubt his group

The Miami Hurricanes are replacing four lost defensive backs starters from within with guys like CB Daryl Porter, Jr., nickel Damari Brown and safety Jaden Harris, all anticipated starters. Porter, Jr. is the only one of the trio that’s a full-time returning starter.

And then Miami went out and supplemented its DB roster in the transfer portal with a couple of key additions: Washington safety Mishael Powell and Marshall cornerback D’yoni Hill, who worked there last year under current Miami CBs coach Chevis Jackson and was under coordinator Lance Guidry there two years ago.

Today’s Inside The Lines feature focused on Hill.

INSIDE THE LINES SERIES: C Zach Carpenter … QB Emory Williams … WR Jacolby George … OL Francis Mauigoa … DT Ahmad Moten … OL Samson Okunlola … OL Matthew McCoy … RB Jordan Lyle … WR JoJo Trader … DL Tyler Baron

“(I want) to continue to evolve each and every day,” said Hill, a second portal window addition. “Since I got here I’ve been very welcomed – my first two weeks it was like I was already part of the program.”

Because of his prior experience with Jackson and Guidry, there isn’t a big learning curve.

“It was just about coming out here and executing,” Hill said. “Being the best I can be each and every day.”

Hill is getting pushed for the starting job this fall camp by the likes of Jadais Richard and even true freshman standout OJ Frederique.

“The coaches here – nothing is given, everything is earned,” Hill said. “When it comes to favoritism, none of that. We have a saying, `The best man will play.’”

Hill chose UM over Indiana and Missouri in the portal, and last year he had 55 tackles and an interception along with 10 pass breakups. He played 671 reps. Marshall, it should be added, had a secondary that ranked No. 6 and No. 25 in the nation in interceptions the last two seasons.

“At my old school, Marshall, we were getting a new cornerbacks coach, new play calls and new everything,” Hill said. “So I just felt like `Hey, if we’re getting new things here I can go somewhere else and be great and be in the same boat I’m in now. To be able to come to a place that’s near my hometown (Gainesville, Fla.), that means a lot. And having the two coaches, coach Jackson that was there since my freshman year of college, he has done nothing but improve me. So I just felt like to go with him was the right thing to do to continue to improve.”

Per Pro Football Focus this past season he checked in at a solid 74.1 percent overall with an 84.1 tackle grade and 70.9 cover grade. He was noted allowing 34 of 61 completions for 517 yards with three TD passes given up and one interception (55.7 pass completion percentage against, 15.2 yards per completion allowed).

In 2022 he only played 20 reps.

Hill says he sees his role on this team as “taking my knowledge of the game and giving it to each and everyone. We have a younger secondary which means some slacks here and there, but as long as we’re all on the same page and communicating it shouldn’t be a problem. My role: Be available. My plan is to get more consistent reps this year. Just focus in on the goal, which is the end goal to be great as a team and continue to develop.”

As for this overall DB room and its level of play after losing four starters? Hill says he relishes those that think his group is a question mark area.

“That keeps us on edge, let us know ahead of time we have something to work for,” Hill said. “Having that being out there is just going to make it more challenging for us, give us a chance to go out and showcase our ability each and every game.

“That’s a goal: we want to be the best. In order for you to be the best, it starts at practice. We have a point to prove.”

*Hill also stresses that going up against “one of the best offenses in college football” is only making his side of the ball better.

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