Miami football opponents have eight players ranked in top 100

The Miami football staff will have a quartet of tough players to prepare for when they play Boston College and Duke in back to back weeks October 26 and November 3.

Eagles defensive back Lukas Denis is ranked 54th and running back A.J. Dillon 17th. Duke linebacker Joe Giles-Harris is 99th on the list and cornerback Mark Gilbert 71st.

Denis lead the ACC and was second in the nation last season with seven interceptions. He also was third on Boston College with 81 tackles. Denis’ ten pass breakups ranked 17th in FBS last season. If Denis duplicates his 2017 season it would be difficult to keep him off the All-American team for a second straight season.

Dillon finished 12th in the country and led the ACC last year averaging 122.2 rushing yards per game. He is a longshot Heisman Trophy Candidate entering the 2018 season. Dillon ran for 1,589 yards and 14 touchdowns as a Freshman last season. Dillon wasn’t at all a threat out of the backfield. He did not record a single reception.

Dillon’s outstanding season earned him a spot on ESPN’s True Freshman All-American team. The other spot went to Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor who Miami saw in the Orange Bowl last season.