Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No. 17 Wesley Bissainthe
The Miami Hurricanes have massively reshaped the roster from a year ago with five primary offensive starters gone (QB Tyler Van Dyke, RB Henry Parrish, WR Colbie Young, OL Javion Cohen and Matt Lee) along with seven on the defensive side (DT Leonard Taylor, DT Branson Deen, DL Jared Harrison-Hunte, S Kam Kinchens, S James Williams, CB Jaden Davis and CB Te’Cory Couch).
50. RB JORDAN LYLE … 49. RB CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON … 48. DE COLE MCCONATHY … 47. S ZAQUAN PATTERSON … 46. TE CAM MCCORMICK … 45. NY CARR … 44. JUSTIN SCOTT … 43. OT Markel Bell … 42. RB AJAY ALLEN … 41. TE RILEY WILLIAMS … 40. OL MATTHEW MCCOY … 39. LB CAM PRUITT … 38. DT JOSHUA HORTON … 37. LB RAUL AGUIRRE … 36. S MARKEITH WILLIAMS … 35. S JADEN HARRIS … 34. QB EMORY WILLIAMS … 33. WR JOJO TRADER … 32. D’YONI HILL … 31. RAY RAY JOSEPH … 30. ISAIAH HORTON … 29. MARLEY COOK … 28. JAYLIN ALDERMAN … 27. JADAIS RICHARD … 26. SAMSON OKUNLOLA … 25. ELIJA LOFTON … 24. ELIJAH ALSTON … 23. DAMARI BROWN … 22. REESE POFFENBARGER … 21. ZACH CARPENTER … 20. SAM BROWN … 19. CJ CLARK … 18. ELIJAH ARROYO
Which brings us to our annual series breaking down the top 50 players on the current roster. As we go along on this list you’ll get an idea of the overall depth of talent on Mario Cristobal’s team this year as he seeks Miami’s second 10-win season in the last two decades.
Today we are at No. 17:
NO. 17 LB WESLEY BISSAINTHE
Why He’s No. 17
Bissainthe is still looking to live up to his promise as a highly touted four-star signee out of Miami Central High School two years ago, when he was sought by top programs around the nation. And this could be his breakout year after a strong spring … but he’ll have to earn it with the team bringing in Louisville transfer Jaylin Alderman to compete for his OLB spot. A year ago another Cardinals transfer, KJ Cloyd, beat out Bissainthe for the job in fall camp before Bissainthe quickly reclaimed it early in the season. He ended 2023 with 44 tackles, 6.5 for losses, and two sacks. Per Pro Football Focus he played 445 reps and graded out at a not-great 61.8 percent overall with a 67.3 run defense grade, 71.2 tackle grade, 58.7 pass rush grade and 56.7 cover grade. When targeted in coverage he allowed 13 catches on 15 targets for 166 yards and a TD, and he was noted by PFF missing five tackles. As a true freshman in 2022 he had 30 tackles, emerging as a starter late in the year. In 2021 he played 276 reps and graded out at a decent 64.5 percent. That included a solid 72.7 run defense grade, 67.2 tackle grade, 52.4 pass rush grade and 61.4 cover grade. PFF noted four missed tackles, with opponents targeting him 18 times in the passing game and completing 13 for a net of just 82 yards. So he’s been good, not great, and needs to up his level of play in Year 3 at Miami.
What he needs to do to move up this list
Miami returns two starting linebackers in Bissainthe and MLB Francisco Mauigoa, and the only real competition for Bissainthe’s spot is second portal addition Jaylin Alderman, who started at Louisville last year. So task one for Bissainthe is showing he deserves to start for a third season. And then he has to show more difference-making plays – interceptions, forced fumbles, tackles for loss – than he has the last two years. He has to show he can become an impact player.
Realistic season objective
Bissainthe is going to play a lot of reps regardless of if he starts or is behind Alderman – there just isn’t any proven experienced linebacker depth behind those two and starting MLB Francisco Mauigoa. We think Bissainthe can take the next step in 2024 in Lance Guidry’s defense and be a guy who is one of the team’s top tacklers while also using his speed and athleticism to be a difference-maker with tackles behind the line of scrimmage as well. Miami needs him to do that, since he’s been up-and-down with his play thus far in his Cane career.
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