Miami football future is bright at linebacker with freshman Sam Brooks

True freshman linebacker Sam Brooks is the future at the position for the Miami football team. Brooks led the Hurricanes with five tackles in Saturday’s 63-0 victory over Bethune-Cookman.

The Miami football team was able to get many freshman and sophomores into the lineup to gain experience in Saturday’s 63-0 blowout victory over Bethune-Cookman. The most important of those players might have been true freshman linebacker, Sam Brooks. Brooks is the future at the position for the Hurricanes.

Brooks led the Miami football team with five tackles in Saturday’s victory over the Wildcats. The freshman from Miami Northwestern High School is as close to a starter at linebacker that the Hurricanes have in 2020.

Miami loses the four-year LB starting trio, seniors Shaq Quarterman, Michael Pinckney and Zach McCloud at the end of 2019. Behind them are little experience and a lot of injury-prone players. Redshirt sophomores Bradley Jennings and Waynmon Steed and redshirt freshman Patrick Joyner are all out with injuries.

The most recent two-deep depth chart did not include, Jennings, Steed or Joyner. To further hinder the Hurricanes depth at linebacker, it was announced over the weekend that 2019 four-star signee Avery Huff and defensive end Cameron Williams are academic redshirts in 2019 as mandated by the NCAA.

Brooks is the backup to Quarterman at middle LB, McCloud is the backup to Pinckney at weakside LB and the Hurricanes have most often employed senior Romeo Finley at striker with sophomore Gilbert Frierson backing him up. Miami head coach Manny Diaz discussed Brooks earlier this week during media appearances.

"“To see him run, chase the ball, made us think he has a really bright future here…He was criminally underrated by the rankings. He had played a lot of defensive end at [Miami] Northwestern. Standing up his speed from sideline to sideline is exactly what we want.Wait until [strength coach] David Feeley gets done with him. He’s going to be something special. When he was wearing the number one jersey at Northwestern playing defensive line when they give it to a 10th grader that means he has the respect of the entire program. That tells you all you need to know."

Brooks respects the senior linebacking trio and is grateful to have the opportunity to play behind them.

"“Before I played for UM I used to always see [Miami linebackers] and looked up to them, especially Shaq [Quarterman] – he doesn’t even know it,…I was in high school, would go to the game, watch the linebackers. Now that I’m finally playing behind them, it’s a great experience for me.They’re four-year starters, so they know everything…For next year I have to put on some more weight. As far as instincts about linebacker, I’m doing well. I have the speed, everything else, just have to put on about 20 more pounds.”"

Joyner was impressive in limited playing time in 2018. He recorded five tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. The Miami coaching staff moved Joyner from defensive end to LB this spring due to the lack of depth the Hurricanes had in the middle of their defense. Joyner suffered a groin injury this spring that is still keeping him out.

The 2020 Miami football recruiting class has four LBs committed. They might not need all of them or could possibly convert one or two to striker. This far only safeties and cornerbacks have been converted. The 2020 LB commits are AJ Mathis, Tirek Austin-Cave, Romello Height and Corey Flagg Jr.

Miami could also add a graduate transfer through the ever-popular portal for next season. The Hurricanes will also add the top signee in 2017, former UCLA linebacker and defensive end, Jaelan Phillips. Phillips will fit perfectly into the newly created viper position for 2020. Viper is a DE/LB hybrid.

The other possibility could be to play 2020 returning safeties Gurvan Hall, Amari Carter and Bubba Bolden on the field at the same time. Miami could play three defensive linemen, one LB, a striker and five defensive backs. Clemson was using a 3-1-6 formation against Syracuse on Saturday according to Kirk Herbstreit.