Miami Hurricanes position battles to monitor other than QB
Filling out the secondary
The Miami Hurricanes have to replace three starters who were first-team in the secondary for at least the last two seasons. Junior Trajan Bandy returns for his second season as a starter at one cornerback. The other three positions in the Miami secondary are open for competition.
Al Blades Jr. and D.J. Ivey are competing to start at the opposite corner. Blades had 13 tackles and one tackle for loss in 2018. Blades was a key special teams contributor in 2018. Ivey had three tackles in last season. Miami cornerbacks’ coach Mike Rumph has been impressed with the progress Ivey has made during the offseason.
"“I saw some progress in DJ Ivey…He showed some physicality. I think he can cover really well. I think he understands the defense.”"
Sophomore Gurvan Hall, Junior Amari Carter and USC transfer, redshirt sophomore Bubba Bolden are competing to start at safety. Carter has played in each of Miami’s 26 games during his two seasons. His numbers went down last season. Carter had26 tackles, two TFLs, two sacks and a forced fumble as a true freshman in 2018.
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As a sophomore, last season Carter had 12 tackles, three tackles for loss and three pass breakups. He is a big hitter. Who starts at safety will depend on what Diaz and safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda are looking for. Bolden will join the Miami football program after sitting out at USC in 2019.