Miami Hurricanes DE Elijah Alston sees deep D line, has a singular focus: “I just want to win”

If you listen to the Miami Hurricanes offensive linemen, this UM defensive front is going to cause all kinds of problems for opposing offenses. A sample, courtesy of fourth-year LT Jalen Rivers: “This is probably the best defensive line I’ve faced in my time here. … The phrase `iron sharpens iron’ – we’re one of the best offensive lines, I feel, and we’re going against the best D line I feel in the nation.”

For Miami fans, it’s very much a new-look defensive line, and one that was mostly brought in via the portal other than returning star DE Rueben Bain and DL Akheem Mesidor coming  back off injury. New additions include transfer DTs Simeon Barrow and CJ Clark and DEs Tyler Baron and Elijah Alston.

All of the above are expected to play big roles in a rotation, and Alston is more in the rush end mold and could be in store for quite a lot of sacks this coming year.

He spent the last five years at Marshall, so he’s quite familiar with what Lance Guidry runs and vice versa.

“It’s not much of a big difference, other than a few plays the playbook is technically the same (as at Marshall),” Alston said, adding “I’m very excited to play with new faces, new people around me on the front end.”

As for his take on the overall talent up front for Miami?

“It’s going to be a good D line, I like this line a lot,” Alston said. “We’ve got people everywhere, inside and outside, rotation, everywhere. I love this D line.

“I like playing for (Guidy), like his energy, his style of coaching. I love it, enjoy it. His defense, it’s electric. We’re constantly moving, always doing something.”

Alston was electric at Marshall this past season with 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks along with an interception and 16 QB hurries. In 2022 he started twice and had 22 tackles, 1.5 TFL with 7 QB hurries. In 2021 as a redshirt freshman he started six games and had 34 tackles, 4.5 TFL and 2 sacks with two forced fumbles.

Per Pro Football Focus? He had an elite 90.8 grade this past season (was 61.1 percent the prior season, so a huge jump up). That included a 66.9 run defense grade, 55.3 tackle grade and 90.7 pass rush grade. Alston was noted with 11 missed tackles in 475 reps with nine hits on the QB. Out of high school had other offers from James Madison, Norfolk State and Western Carolina, so he wasn’t heavily recruited.

He says at Miami “I’ll do my job, execute. I don’t have to be Superman, make every play. As long as I do what I’m supposed to do based upon the play call, just do my job and execute, I’ll do my part.”

A final thought from Alston?

“I just want to win,” he says. “I want to win, have fun. That’s my goal.”

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