Miami Hurricanes defense three separate units that can dominate in 2018
The catalyst behind the Miami Hurricanes breakout season in 2017 was their defense. The Hurricanes lead the nation in sacks, were fourth in tackles for loss and third in turnovers.
Entering 2018, the Miami Hurricanes defense has three separate defensive units that should be among the nation’s best. The defensive line, linebackers and secondary all have players that should challenge to be All-Americans in 2018.
Any talk of the Miami Hurricanes defense begins with their linebackers. The all-Junior starters at linebacker are entering their third season as starters. Shaq Quarterman and Michael Pinckney were Freshmen All-Americans in 2016. Zach McCloud is also an All-ACC caliber player.
Quarterman is likely to be the first of the Hurricanes linebackers off the board if he, Pinckney or McCloud decide to leave for next spring’s NFL Draft. The Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller said that Quarterman has a first-round grade on his preseason watch list.
The Miami secondary went from a big question mark entering 2017 to one of the nation’s best entering 2018. The Hurricanes have half of the nation’s first-team All-American secondary according to UPI. Safety Jaquan Johnson and cornerback Michael Jackson were both selected by the wire service as preseason first-team All-Americans.
Johnson is getting a lot of preseason notice. He was selected as the eighth best player overall in the country by Sports Illustrated and also named to Athlon’s preseason All-American first-team. Quarterman was named to Athlon’s third-team and UPI’s second team.
The Hurricanes also return their other starting safety Sheldrick Redwine. Other Miami returnees in the secondary that received significant playing time in 2017 are cornerbacks Senior Jhavonte Dean and Sophomore Trajan Bandy. The Hurricanes also bring in a stellar Freshmen class in the secondary.
The defensive line is a bit more complicated. The potential is there to be one of the best in the nation. Miami lost a lot from its 2017 defensive line.
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Junior defensive tackles Kendrick Norton and R.J. McIntosh left for the NFL a year early. Miami also lost defensive ends third-round pick Chad Thomas and sack leader Trent Harris who were Seniors.
Replacing Thomas and Harris won’t be as difficult as McIntosh and Norton. Senior Demetrius Jackson and Junior Joe Jackson will replace Thomas and Harris at end.
Sophomore Jonathan Garvin. Junior Scott Patchan and Freshmen Greg Rousseau will back them up. Miami has one of the deepest defensive end groups in the country.
The Miami defensive tackles are a bit more of an unknown. Gerald Willis returns to the Miami football team after taking 2017 off.
Willis dominated on the scout team last season and in Spring practice. The Hurricanes staff expects big things from him this fall.
Related Story: Is Gerald Willis ready to dominate this fall?
Junior Pat Bethel is expected to be the other starting defensive tackle in Miami’s 4-3 defense for the season opener against LSU. Rising Sophomore Jon Ford and Freshmen Nesta Silvera are both expected to push Bethel for playing time up front.
After a season in which Manny Diaz’s brilliantly conceived turnover chain gained national prominence, the Hurricanes will try to duplicate their success of living in opposing backfields and forcing turnovers like they did last season.
Next: Miami safety Jaquan Johnson consensus preseason All-American
If they can come even close to that in 2018, Miami should by in the running for a second straight season for a spot in the College football playoff or at least a New Year’s Six bowl game.