The decisions by defensive ends, graduate transfer Trevon hill and junior Jonathan Garvin to skip the bowl game for the Miami football team should pay dividends in 2020.
The Miami football program was already going to lose graduate transfer defensive end Trevon Hill no matter what happened at the end of the 2019 season. Hill’s decision to skip the Hurricanes bowl game is beneficial to both hi and Miami.
The decision by Jonathan Garvin to turn pro was a bit more of a tough blow for the Miami football program but if he was definitely leaving for the NFL Draft it gives the Hurricanes a chance to step forward more now than if he had declared after the bowl game.
Garvin’s numbers decreased significantly this season following a breakout sophomore year in 2018. Garvin recorded 60 tackles to lead Miami defensive linemen, 17 tackles for loss, which was second on the Hurricanes and five sacks in 2018. Those numbers dwindled to 37, nine and five in 2019.
Garvin added had five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown as a sophomore. He had no pass breakups, fumble recoveries or TDs in 2019, but did force two fumbles. After being projected as a second-day pick in the NFL draft, Garvin seems likely to be a third-day selection after a less than inspiring 2019 season.
Hill joined the Miami football program as a graduate transfer from Virginia Tech via the transfer portal during the 2019 offseason. After a dominant three games for the Hokies in 2018, Hill got off to a slow start with Miami this season. Hill finished the year with 27 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks and one pass breakup.
According to multiple reports Garvin signed with an agent and therefore would be ineligible to play for Miami in the bowl game. Garvin and Hill’s decisions to leave early hinders the depth for Miami at DE in the to be determined bowl game but gives Miami and chance to play the younger players on the roster.
Miami DE Jonathan Garvin has signed with an agent, will sit out the bowl game and enter the 2020 NFL Draft, per a report from @MichaelPerchick. Garvin broke out as a sophomore in 2018, finishing fourth in the ACC with 17.0 TFL. He finishes his UM career with 29.0 TFL and 12.5 SK.
— Josh White (@_JoshRWhite) December 7, 2019
With Garvin and Hill out, redshirt freshman Greg Rousseau who was named the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year with 18 TFLs and 14 sacks and senior Scott Patchan are the likely starters at DE in the bowl game. Patchan could petition the NCAA for a sixth season for a medical redshirt to play in 2020.
Patchan could return to Miami or matriculate elsewhere to seek more playing time. The player most likely to benefit from the departures of Garvin and Hill is freshman DE, Jahfari Harvey. Since he has yet to play four games this season Harvey will be able to receive extensive snaps in the bowl game and maintain his redshirt.
Miami is very high on Harvey’s future. If he is healthy redshirt freshman Patrick Joyner who Miami moved to linebacker in the offseason could also receive snaps at defensive end in the bowl game.
Miami could also try junior defensive tackle Jon Ford who is also draft eligible or graduate transfer Chigozie Nnoruka at defensive end in the bowl game. The trio of freshmen defensive tackles, Jason Blissett, Jalar Holley and Jared Harrison-Hunte plus redshirt freshman Jordan Miller could also get looks in the bowl game.