Miami Hurricanes DE Joe Jackson best defender nationally in week 5

Football metrics site Pro Football Focus named Miami Hurricanes defensive end Joe Jackson their best defensive player in the country for Week five.

Jackson scored out at a national-high 95.5 in the Miami Hurricanes 47-10 blowout win over North Carolina. Jackson scored one of Miami’s not one, not two, but three defensive touchdowns. Jackson intercepted a screen pass near the line of scrimmage and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Jackson’s pick-six extended Miami’s lead to 24-10 and seemed to sink the Tar Heels. Jackson was the only Miami Hurricanes defensive player that earned a spot on the PFF Week Five national defensive team of the week. He finished the night against UNC with five tackles, one tackle for loss, a sack, the pick six and two forced fumbles.

Jackson’s performance also earned him the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week. Miami Hurricanes linebacker Shaq Quarterman was named the ACC’s co-linebacker of the Week.

Jackson is part of a Miami Hurricanes defensive line that has exceeded expectations this season. Miami leads the country in tackles for loss this season by a fairly wide margin. UM has 60 TFLs this season which is 12 more than Nevada who is second. The Canes are averaging 12 TFLs/G which is 1.75 more than East Carolina.

Jackson is second on Miami with 2.5 sacks. Quarterman leads the team with three after having two against North Carolina. Jackson is fourth in TFLs behind defensive tackle Gerald Willis, defensive end Jonathan Garvin and Quarterman.

Jackson was one of five Miami Hurricanes to wear the turnover chain against North Carolina. Garvin was the only repeat offender with two fumble recoveries including a scoop and score in the first quarter following a Quarterman strip sack.

PFF summarized Jackson’s night in a tweet separate to the one listing their week five “team of the week.

Next, up for Jackson and the Miami Hurricanes defensive line is Florida State. The Seminoles have had one of the most porous defensive lines in the country this season. They are among the worst teams at allowing sacks and opponents to get into their offensive backfield in general.

A big key to defeating Florida State will be Miami continuing to thrive on beating opposing offensive lines. The matchup is a bad one for the Seminoles but in one game anything can happen.

Florida State’s offense behind Willie Taggart who was touted as an excellent offensive mind when he was hired away from Oregon following last season has been the bigger issue this season than the defense. The Seminoles average 22.2 points per game which is 110th among 130 teams in FBS.