Two Miami Hurricanes players ranked in the top 100 for 2018

Two Miami Hurricanes players are ranked in the top 100 players for 2018 by Athlon Sports. Safety Jaquan Johnson and linebacker Shaquille Quarterman are ranked as the Nation’s 45th and 42nd best players according to the iconic magazine.

Johnson and Quarterman were the Miami Hurricanes two leading tacklers in 2017. Johnson led Miami with 96 tackles and three forced fumbles. He tied for the team lead with four interceptions and two forced fumbles. Quarterman had 83 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and five passes defended.

Johnson and Quarterman are the leaders of the defense in addition to being the leading tacklers. Johnson led a young and mostly inexperienced secondary in 2017. He returns with corners Michael Jackson and Trajan Bandy this season. Behind them is a very young and inexperienced group of backups.

Miami lost starting cornerback Malek Young with career-ending spinal surgery last month. Behind Bandy and Jackson at the corners are Freshmen Gilbert Frierson, Al Blades Jr, Nigel Bethel and D.J. Ivey.

Johnson and Sheldrick Redwine return at safety. Behind them are rising Sophomores Amari Carter and Derrick Smith, rising Juniors Robert Knowles and Romeo Finley and incoming Freshman Gurvan Hall.

"45. Jaquan Johnson, S Miami Johnson is an all-around standout on the back end of Miami’s defense for coordinator Manny Diaz. As a junior in 2017, Johnson led all Hurricanes with 96 tackles and three forced fumbles. In addition to his ability to be a sure tackler in space, Johnson tied for the team lead with four interceptions."