Miami football opponents have eight players ranked in top 100

Eight players on the opponents of the Miami football team are ranked in Sports Illustrated’s Top 100 for the 2018 season. If Miami gets an ACC Championship game rematch with Clemson, that number would be matched by the Tigers.

The Miami football team has three players on the Sports Illustrated list. Defensive end Joe Jackson is 67th, linebacker Shaq Quarterman is 14th and safety Jaquan Johnson eighth.

Hurricanes wide receiver Ahmmon Richards who was 56th in 2017 was left off the list and the all snubbed list for 2018. After a True Freshmen All-American season in 2016, Richards suffered through injuries in 2017. If he can stay healthy there is no reason he won’t be one of the nation’s elite receivers in 2018.

Only four Miami football opponents have players that made the SI list. LSU, Duke, Florida State and Boston College each have two players in the top 100. Miami Head Coach Mark Richt and  Offensive Coordinator Thomas Brown will have the bigger challenge than Miami Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz.

Six of the eight players the Miami football team will face ranked in the top 100 players are on defense. The Highest ranked Miami football opponent on the list is LSU cornerback Greedy Williams who is ranked 11th. As we enter the season Johnson is ranked higher than opposing players Miami will face.

Another pair of Hurricanes that were surprisingly left off the list were linebacker Michael Pinckney and cornerback Michael Jackson. If opposing defenses focus too much on Johnson, Quarterman and Joe Jackson, Pinckney and Michael Jackson should be able to thrive if they are not game planned for.