Manny Diaz pleased with athleticism of Miami Hurricanes freshmen DTs

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 13: Pat Bethel #93 of the Miami Hurricanes dives at Bryce Perkins #3 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a game at Scott Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 13: Pat Bethel #93 of the Miami Hurricanes dives at Bryce Perkins #3 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a game at Scott Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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After losing Gerald Willis and graduate transfer defensive tackle Tito Odenigbo after the 2018 season, adding depth at the position was critical for the Miami Hurricanes in the 2019 recruiting cycle. Head coach Manny Diaz is pleased with their three freshmen additions.

Freshmen defensive tackles, Jared Harrison-Hunte, Jason Blissett and Jalar Holley provide the Miami Hurricanes with good depth and promise for the future on the interior of the defensive line. Senior Pat Bethel is heading into his final season and junior Jon Ford will be eligible for the NFL Draft in 2020.

Head coach Manny Diaz has been pleased with what he has seen through four practice in training camp. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald quoted Diaz as saying that the Hurricanes have the three most athletic freshmen defensive tackles in the country. Miami also added graduate transfer Chigozie Nnoruka from UCLA.

Ford, Bethel, Nnoruka, sophomore defensive tackle Nesta Silvera and potential redshirt freshman Jordan Miller figure to form the rotation on the interior of the defensive line for the Miami Hurricanes in 2019. Blisset has the best chance to contribute this season as a true freshman.

It would be surprising for Harrison-Hunte and Holley to redshirt in 2019. Blisset was a four-star signee. Harrison-Hunte and Holley were three stars. Blisset was the 294th ranked signee in 2019 and the 22nd ranked defensive tackle. Harrison-Hunte was 519th and 38th and Holley was 777th and 59th.

Diaz seems excited

about the three freshmen’s and Nnoruka’s potential in 2019 and beyond.

"“If anybody signed three more athletic tackles than we did, I would love to see them. “[Jared] Harrison-Hunte, [Jason] Blissett, [Jalar] Holley, they can do some things. [UCLA transfer] Chigozie Nnoruka [too]. We have some guys we think are going to be special.”"

Replacing the production from second-team all-American Gerald Willis at defensive tackle is going to be by committee. Willis was 13th in the nation in 2018 averaging 1.5 tackles per loss per game, finishing the season with 18. He missed Miami’s Pinstripe Bowl loss to Wisconsin with a hand injury.

Bethel was the most productive of the returning defensive tackles for Miami. He had 22 tackles, five TFLs and two sacks last season. Bethel will give Miami a steady and experienced player in the middle of the defensive line. He is not the dominant type player that Willis was.

The Hurricanes staff think that Ford and Silvera can become dominant. At 6’4 300 pounds, Ford has the dominant size in the middle of the defense to be able to dominate. Ford has finally put it together that he can be the dominant type of player in the middle of the Miami defense.

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If Silvera can also become dominant it will be like the Miami teams of the late eighties and early 2000s with defensive tackles like Russell Maryland, Cortez Kennedy and Vince Wilfork. It will make it nearly impossible to run on the Hurricanes. Nnoruka forms with Bethel to give Miami good experience.