Gregory Rousseau is one of two-star Freshman on the Miami football roster that will wear number 15. Rousseau and quarterback Jarren Williams are two of the prized recruits for the Hurricanes Class of 2018.
Before he has even has played a game for the Miami football team Rousseau has exceeded expectations. Rousseau was one of the stars this Spring for the Hurricanes. In three spring scrimmages, Rousseau had nine sacks.
Rousseau is currently listed as the third-string left defensive end on the Miami football roster. He is behind Sophomore Jonathan Garvin and Senior Demetrius Jackson. Rousseau will definitely be a key part of the Miami rotation at defensive end in 2018.
Rousseau signed with the Miami football program as a three-star weakside defensive end. He was the 427th player overall, the 27th ranked player at his position and the 80th ranked player in Florida in the Class of 2018 according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings.
Miami Hurricanes Director of Player Personnel Joel Rodriguez spoke with the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson in July about the UM Defensive Line. The summaries were rerun by the Palm Beach Post.
"“With freshmen in general, you have to go game by game (as far as playing time and expectations). If we can get Greg to give us 25 to 30 snaps of productive football in that LSU game — really good snaps of setting edges, being physical, affecting the quarterback — then that would be a successful debut.Whoever the starting tackle is for LSU is probably going to be better than what our backups were this spring, which is who he was going against.“Maybe Greg’s 25 snaps come on a third-down pass rush package where he only does that. As he masters that, he can eventually take on bigger chunk of snaps. We have four defensive ends ahead of him who have played snaps in big games for us; he doesn’t have to play a lot right now.”"
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The LSU offense is a good place for Rousseau to begin. While the Hurricanes will clearly face much less of a test week two against FCS Savannah State, the Tigers offense has had a lot of turnover from last season.
LSU has to replace their starting quarterback and leading rusher and receiver. The Tigers lack of experience on offense will likely mean they face a lot of third and long situations against a very experienced Miami defense. That will allow Miami Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz to insert Rousseau as a situational pass rusher.
Rosseau seems to be a perfect fit for the Hurricanes defense. It’s been well documented that Miami led the nation in sacks per game last season. The long, athletic Rousseau should be the Hurricanes next great pass rusher in Diaz’s aggressive defense.
For 2018 Rousseau will play behind and learn from Garvin, Demetrius Jackson, Joe Jackson and likely Junior Scott Patchan. From what Rodriguez said it’s clear that the Miami defensive staff wants to bring Rousseau along slowly. As he begins to contribute Rousseau’s snaps should grow later in the season.