Rebuilt Secondary Key to Success for Miami Defense

The Focus on the Miami defense for the upcoming season has been on the front seven. The rebuilt secondary could be the key.

The Hurricanes return seven players up front, the secondary has to replace three of the four starters from last season.

Miami Hurricanes Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz, some of the cornerbacks and safeties spoke after practice today about the upcoming season and how important the secondary will be to the success of the Miami defense.

Miami lost four players from last season’s secondary to the NFL. Cornerbacks Adrian Colbert and Corn Elder and Safety Rayshawn Jenkins were drafted. Safety Jamal Carter signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent.

Jaquan Johnson who started five games at safety last season is back. Sophomore Malek Young also returns after starting four games at cornerback last season.

Johnson is projected to start at the rover (strong safety) position. The corners are likely to be Graduate Transfer Dee Delaney and Junior College transfer Jhavonte Dean. Sophomore Romeo Finley is the leader to start at strong safety.

Sheldrick Redwine and Michael Jackson also return in the secondary. Redwine switched to safety in the spring and should push Finley for starting spot at free safety. Jackson scored a key touchdown against Notre Dame on special teams last season.