Sophomore Derrick Smith is expected to be one of five Miami football players defensively to see time this season at the newly created position of striker. The striker is a combination of safety and linebacker. Zach McCloud will be the starter at striker.
Striker is replacing strong side linebacker defensively on the Miami football team. It was created during Spring practice by Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz to improve pass coverage and when McCloud was lost for the Spring with a wrist injury.
Smith played in all 13 games during his Freshman year in 2017. He recorded 13 total tackles, 10 solo and one tackle for loss.
Smith is currently listed as third string at striker. He will compete for playing time behind McCloud with Junior Romeo Finley, Senior Charles Perry and Sophomore DeAndre Wilder. Like Finley, Smith’s natural position is safety. Perry and Wilder were linebackers before this season.
Smith recorded tackles in five games last season. His best game came in the ACC Championship against Clemson. Smith made six tackles, four solos.
The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson spoke to outside linebacker coach Jonathan Patke last month about the competition between Finley and Smith at striker.
"“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.Derrick did nice things in coverage, showed up more in coverage. Right now, it will be good competition. You have CJ (Perry) coming back and getting healthy and Wilder as well.”"
The versatility that Smith provides in the striker position is what the coaching staff is hoping for. An unnamed Miami staffer spoke to Jackson last month about the importance of filling two roles at one position.
"“Having guys like Derrick Smith and Romeo Finley that can fit that mold — they’re big enough to hold up in the run game as linebackers but good enough to hold up in coverage against backs and tight ends — will be invaluable to us.”"
The speed that Smith and Finley provide at the Striker position is also important. It takes a page out of the book of what Jimmy Johnson did with the Miami football team in the 1980s. Johnson would frequently move players up a level on defense.
Defensive backs would move to linebacker and linebackers to the defensive line. It added a level of speed in the college game not seen before. Johnson took the success that Howard Schnellenberger began with the Miami football program a step further.
Patke was quoted on the official Miami Hurricanes Athletic Site HurricaneSports.Com during the spring about the Striker.
"“Derrick Smith and Romeo [Finley] are athletic coming from the safety room. We want to get the most speed out there and if they are going to play with physicality, it’s going to help our defense immensely.”"
The move might be good for Smith with all the talent Miami is bringing in this season in the secondary. Freshman safety Gurvan Hall is projected to be the next great Miami safety. The Hurricanes coaching staff is also high on Sophomore Amari Carter’s potential.
Carter is currently the backup at free safety to Senior Jaquan Johnson. Hall is third string at strong safety behind Senior Sheldrick Redwine and Redshirt Junior Robert Knowles. Both starting safeties will be open in 2019.