Miami Hurricanes safety Gurvan Hall hopes to be defensive Michael Irvin

Miami Hurricanes sophomore safety Gurvan Hall aims to be the defensive version of Michael Irvin saying “if you are a playmaker…you make plays.”

Gurvan Hall has been sensational through two scrimmages in training camp. The sophomore safety has three interceptions for the Miami Hurricanes. Hall is projected to start with junior Amari Carter in what could become the next great safety tandem at the U. Miami lost two-year starters, Jaquan Johnson and Sheldrick Redwine.

Hall’s comment about being a playmaker and making plays is reminiscent of the father of one of Hall’s teammates, junior tight end Michael Irvin II. Michael Irvin Sr. was known as “The Playmaker” as an All-American wide receiver when he played for Miami from 1985-87.

Johnson and Redwine graduated after stellar careers with the Miami Hurricanes. Johnson led Miami in tackles each of the last two seasons. Redwine was a fourth-round draft pick of Miami Hurricanes North, AKA the Cleveland Browns.

Hall is part of a talented, but young and inexperienced secondary. Junior cornerback Trajan Bandy is Miami’s only returning starter. Bandy and Carter will be the leaders in the secondary as juniors. The safety room got a bit smaller late Tuesday night when junior Derrick Smith announced he was entering his name into the transfer portal.

Smith’s page on Miami’s official athletic website Hurricane Sports has already been removed. Behind Carter and Hall, Miami has sophomore transfer Bubba Bolden, senior Robert Knowles and true freshman Keontra Smith. The Hurricanes will be counting heavily on sophomore cornerbacks Al Blades jr and D.J. Ivey.

Carter and Hall will have some chemistry in the secondary. They are both from Palm Beach County and according to Hall “have known each other for a very long time.”  Inside the U quoted Hall extensively about his future and the outlook for the Miami secondary in 2019.

"“To me the bottom line is if you are a playmaker, then you got to make plays, That is at any position. As a safety, if the ball is thrown your way, then you got to make plays. I just try and be a playmaker. Our defense prides itself on forcing turnovers, so that is what I’m going to try and do when I have the chance.”One of the biggest things we talk about as a secondary is toughness. I do pride myself on having that type of presence on the field with my tackling. We are coming along very well.We already have a bond because a lot of us are from the same recruiting class like me and Al Blades and D.J. Ivey and then I have known Amari Carter for a very long time. We are all just working together and competing and staying on the same page.The energy we (Carter) bring to each other is awesome. We feed off each other most definitely. When I see him make a big hit, it just makes me want to go out and do that on the next play. I know it is the same way with me when I make a play.”This year he is different because he is stepping up more as a leader now that he is older. He will get on us and tell us to step up and that it is time to get to work when we need to hear it. He’s one of our leaders.”"

Hall’s comment on toughness follows one of the doctrines of what Miami head coach Manny Diaz is trying to build with the Miami Hurricanes. Diaz has mentioned the importance of toughness throughout his seven and half months as head coach of the Miami football program.

Led by the return of the all-Senior linebacking corps of Shaq Quarterman, Michael Pinckney and Zach McCloud and junior defensive end Jonathan Garvin the Miami defense is expected to be as tough as they have been during Diaz’s three years as defensive coordinator. Miami gets a chance to prove it in the opener versus Florida.