Post-Spring Analysis: Miami Hurricanes DL has question marks that need answering
With Miami’s 15 spring practices in the rearview mirror, it’s worth taking a position by position look at where things stand, and today we are breaking down the defensive line position:
PROJECTED MIAMI DL DEPTH CHART
DE First team: Rueben Bain, second team Cole McConathy
DT First team: CJ Clark, second team Thomas Gore
DT First team: Marley Cook, second team Joshua Horton
DE First team: Akheem Mesidor, second team Elijah Alston
QB position breakdown … RB breakdown … WR breakdown … TE breakdown … OL breakdown
POST-SPRING ANALYSIS
Last year’s defensive front was stout, but gone from that unit are Game 1 starting DT Leonard Taylor, DT Branson Deen and DE Nyjalik Kelly (transferred). As you look at the projected two deep above, you see it loaded with transfers from the last couple of years – CJ Clark, Thomas Gore, Marley Cook, Akheem Mesidor and Elijah Alston. That gives a sense of how Miami’s had to build things up front with a lack of recruiting depth when Mario Cristobal took over.
And Miami still is seeking more help, especially on the interior. Being targeted in the transfer portal and expected to visit on Monday are Michigan State DT duo Simeon Barrow and Derrick Harmon. The Canes also are looking at DII Grand Valley DT Jay’viar Suggs. That gives a sense of the upgrade UM is seeking here off spring ball.
As for what Miami has coming out of spring ball?
As you look at it, the star of the group is freshman All-American Rueben Bain. But beyond him it’s all question marks. Akheem Mesidor is an All-ACC level player who can play end or tackle but is coming off surgery for torn tendons in both feet that cost him most of last year and this spring … and he says he will need to play in specially constructed cleats. So if he can attain his prior level of dominance remains unclear. At DT Clark arrived from NC State but was a second-teamer for half the spring, and Cook is a Middle Tennessee transfer who is strong but stout and it’s unclear how he will be able to impact games at a much higher level. The backups we project are true freshman Cole McConathy, undersized DT Thomas Gore, redshirt freshman Josh Horton and Marshall rush end arrival Elijah Alston, who we think can thrive in that capacity. Gone in the transfer portal: DT Jared Harrison-Hunte and DE Jayden Wayne.
Taken in its totality you can see there might be some holes up front, which is why Miami needs transfer portal help.
Miami ended 2023 ranked No. 11 in rushing defense while tallying 88 tackles for loss and 35 sacks. For comparison, in 2022 the team ranked No. 54 in rushing defense and had 84 TFL and 37 sacks. Lance Guidry has a knack for getting the most out of his defense, but he may have his work cut out a bit more this season depending how the portal additions wind up playing out.
A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD
When you look at statistics for some of these guys at their best moments, it’s pretty good.
Bain really stepped up in Year 1 this past season with 12.5 TFL and 7.5 sacks. Mesidor’s healthy 2022 season saw him tally 10.5 TFL and seven sacks. Alston had 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks along with an interception and 16 QB hurries last year at Marshall. Clark was a three-year starter for the Wolfpack and had 22 tackles, four TFL and a sack last season. As for Cook? In 2022 he had 22 tackles, 9.5 TFL and 6.5 sacks along with 35 QB hurries, then this past season had 22 tackles, 6.5 TFL and a sack along with 15 QB hurries. That was at a much different level, of course.
The stats look good, but as we laid out in the first segment of this article there are hurdles to overcome.
Now let’s look closer at the Pro Football Focus grades for players with significant rep counts:
*Alston: Per PFF 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.
*Bain: He graded out at a stellar 82.2 percent overall in 627 reps with a 70.7 run defense grade, 53.1 tackle grade and elite 89.4 pass rush grade.
*Clark: Per PFF he graded out at 61.0 percent last year (59.6 run defense, 60.4 pass rush, 50.6 tackle grade). He’s noted by PFF with 13 QB pressures this year and 16 in 2022.
*Cook: Cook graded out at 72.9 percent overall this past season (622 reps, 75.6 run defense grade, 43.8 tackle grade, 70.3 pass rush). In 2022 he graded out at 85.2 percent (613 reps, 73.1 percent run defense, 64.7 percent tackle, 90.1 percent pass rush).
*Gore: In 167 reps he graded out at 76.7 percent (70.2 run defense grade, 76.8 tackle, 67.8 pass rush).
*Mesidor: He only played 45 reps last year, and in 2022 he was at an elite 87.1 overall grade with an 86.5 run defense grade, 75.9 tackle grade and 80.7 pass rush grade.
*Ahmad Moten: In 146 reps he graded out at 60.7 overall (62.1 run defense grade, 35.9 tackle grade, 54.0 pass rush grade).
THE BOTTOM LINE
If Mesidor is at full health, then he and Bain should form one of the ACC’s top defensive end tandems, and Alston can also be a great option rushing from end. If the transfers pan out at tackle, and if Clark can be dominant, then that position should also be just fine. Don’t sleep on redshirt freshman Josh Horton possibly emerging as well. But there are a lot of “ifs” here, and there is a lot this entire unit up front needs to prove in the fall.
If the line doesn’t hold up that will, of course, affect the entire defense and in particular a secondary with its own issues after losing four starters. In short, this is not a team that can afford to give the opposing QB a lot of time in the pocket. While all eyes may be on the flashy offense led by Cam Ward, in truth a lot of Miami’s success this year will ride on the defensive line coming together and having a very productive season.
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