30 Days to Miami football: Romeo Finley 2018 Preview

Romeo Finley is entering his Junior year in the Miami football program learning a new position. Finley is one of several Hurricanes that are projected to play in the newly created position of striker. The striker will be a combination of safety and strongside linebacker.

Finley spent his first two seasons on the Miami football team as a backup safety. Most of his playing time has occurred on special teams. Finley has accrued 13 tackles, nine solo and four assists, with one pass breakup in his Freshmen and Sophomore years combined as a Hurricane.

There has not been much room for Finley to move into a starting role at safety. That will also be the case this season at striker. Jaquan Johnson and Sheldrick Redwine return for their third and second seasons as starting safeties. Zach McCloud started at weakside linebacker the last two seasons. He will now be the starting striker.

In addition to McCloud, Finley will be competing for playing time at striker with Derrick Smith, Charles Perry and De’Andre Wilder. Perry and Wilder are natural linebackers. Like Finley, Smith’s natural position is safety.

Smith made 13 tackles and had one tackle for loss as a Freshman in 2017. Perry returns for his Senior year after suffering a season-ending knee injury against Notre Dame last season. Perry had 15 tackles and an interception in 2017. Wilder made ten tackles as a Freshman last season.

The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson spoke to assistant coaches in the Miami football program in July about the upcoming season. New Outside Linebackers Coach Jonathan Patke discussed how Finley and Smith were doing adapting to striker. He also gave an update on who is ahead in the competition on the depth chart.

"“They went back and forth; both ran with the ones…Romeo had a better spring than Derrick. We are going to play the most physical players first and Romeo really showed up in the run game and throwing his body around, which we were pleased with. He did really nice things in the run game.”"

Both Finley and Smith had a chance to play with the first team defense in the Spring. McCloud is a lock to be the starter at striker/strongside linebacker. He is entering his third season as a starter at linebacker with classmates Shaq Quarterman and Michael Pinckney.

McCloud missed most of the spring with a wrist injury. Perry also missed the spring recovering from the torn MCL suffered last fall. Getting healthy will be a key for the Hurricanes success this in 2018. Mark Richt and Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz have done a good job building up the depth through recruiting.

Finley’s ability against the run will help him tremendously in his battle to earn playing time. McCloud was also dealing with injuries last fall but didn’t miss any time. Patke discussed McCloud getting healthy.

"“I’m excited to get him back…He was banged up toward the end of the season after the Pitt game. The physicality he brings is exciting.”"

Providing physicality on defense is important in the Miami defense. So is speed. The Hurricanes coaching staff wants their star trio at linebacker in on third down. Quarterman was often taken out on third down last season. That might mean the majority of Finley’s playing time could occur again on special teams.

Finley will still need to be ready this season. The backups to Johnson and Redwine at Safety are likely to be Redshirt Junior Robert Knowles, Sophomore Amari Carter and Freshman Gurvan Hall. If an injury occurs at safety the coaching staff could also look to Finley and Smith again as well.

With training camp set to begin on Saturday, Finley’s versatility can only help him. Jackson quoted one of the Miami offensive assistants about Finley and Smith’s ability to play the striker and the importance that holds.

"“They’re big enough to hold up in the run game as linebackers but good enough to hold up in coverage against (running) backs and tight ends — will be invaluable to us.”"

With less than a month left to kickoff in Arlington, Texas against LSU, the Hurricanes time to prepare for the Tigers is getting close. Soon the focus will begin to be more on preparing for LSU and less on position battles and who is playing where.

As the season evolves and Miami gets past LSU with their second game of the season against FCS Savannah State, the Hurricanes coaching staff will get a chance to evaluate how striker and Finley will fit into the defense in 2018.