Miami Hurricanes have to rebuild DTs after McIntosh and Norton Declare for NFL
The Miami Hurricanes will have to rebuild the interior of their defensive line next season. Starting defensive tackles R.J. McIntosh and Kendrick Norton announced they were foregoing their final season to enter the NFL draft.
Norton and McIntosh gave the Miami Hurricanes one of the most formidable defensive interior tandems in the country. The Hurricanes also lose Senior backup, Anthony Moten. Miami does return Gerald Willis who sat out the 2017 season. Willis will be Miami’s most experienced defensive tackle in 2018.
McIntosh and Norton’s departures are the third and fourth Miami Hurricanes defensive linemen to leave in the last week. Backup defensive linemen Junior Ryan Fines and Freshman D.J. Johnson have announced their attention to transfer following the season.
McIntosh and Norton anchored the Miami defensive line the last two seasons. McIntosh tied for the team lead with defensive end Chad Thomas with 12.5 tackles for loss this season. He also led the defensive linemen with 52 total tackles. Norton finished 2017 with 26 total tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss.
After a lot of thought, prayer, talking to my family and coaches, I’ve decided to make myself… https://t.co/4l8yD62fQN
— Kendrick Norton Jr™ (@norton_kendrick) January 8, 2018
Fines should be eligible immediately at another FBS school as a graduate transfer. Johnson is moving on to be closer to his hometown of Sacramento, California due to family medical issues.
The immediate contenders to start opposite Willis are rising Junior Pat Bethel and rising Sophomore Jon Ford. The Miami Hurricanes have an oral commitment from Nesta Silvera of American Heritage in Fort Lauderdale. They are also chasing Silvera’s high school teammate defensive end Andrew Chatfield to add depth on the defensive line.
Scott Patchan switched from defensive line to tight end for the 2017 season. With Miami bringing in two top ten tight ends in the Class of 2018 the potential could be there for Patchan to switch back.
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The Hurricanes coach staff was very high on Ford coming out of high school. The three-star recruit from Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale had one assisted tackle this season.
Bethel had seven solo tackles and 11 assists for 18 total tackles this season. Ford and Bethel are likely to see a lot of playing time this fall with the lack of experience Miami will have on the defensive interior.
The Hurricanes are expected to add about seven players to the 19 that signed letters of intent in December. Defensive tackle Dennis Briggs is expected to sign with the Hurricanes per 247Sports.Com. Briggs is a 6’4 252-pound four-star player from Kissimmee, Florida.
Next: Miami Hurricanes getting a lot of accolades for 2018
The Hurricanes are going after other defensive tackles, but they seem to be cool to lukewarm on Miami per 247. Ten of the top 50 defensive tackles in the Class of 2018 are still unsigned.