Miami football moving Jason Blissett to DE makes sense for future depth
The potential of the Miami football program moving redshirt freshman Jason Blissett from defensive tackle to defensive end makes sense for the future depth of the Hurricanes.
The Miami football program has the deepest group of defensive ends in the country entering the 2020 season. Redshirt sophomore Greg Rousseau led all returnees nationally with 15.5 sacks in 2019, graduate transfer Quincy Roche from Temple had 13.5 sacks last season and backing them up is Jaelan Phillips.
Phillips was the top recruit in 2017 when he signed with UCLA. No team nationally can match the talent, athleticism and production Miami has at defensive end. The Hurricanes face definitely losing Roche after the 2020 season, near certainty that Rousseau will leave and the possibility of Phillips entering the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Miami football program could enter the 2021 season without their top three defensive ends from 2020. That leaves a lot of uncertainty. Redshirt freshmen defensive lineman Jason Blissett signed with Miami as a tackle in 2019. Blissett was listed as a defensive end for the Independence Bowl and could be staying there.
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David Lake of Inside the U reported on Wednesday that Blisset has taken snaps on the edge during the Hurricanes’ first three days of spring practice on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Blissett who weighed 269 pounds last season is down to 257 according to his official bio on HurricaneSports.Com.
Blissett took his redshirt season in 2019 and could get buried on the depth chart behind Phillips, Roche, and Rousseau and redshirt Jahfari Harvey in 2020 but the move is one for the future more than just this upcoming season.
With a season full of reps at defensive end in practice and playing on special teams, Blisset could develop into a 2021 starter. Senior Jon Ford and junior Nesta Silvera are expected to be the starting DTs in 2020.
Behind Ford and Silvera at DT the Miami coaching staff is very high on the trio redshirt sophomore Jordan Miller and redshirt freshmen Jalar Holley and Jared Harrison-Hunte. One of those three will likely replace Ford as a starter in 2021.
Blissett recorded two tackles and one tackle for loss in his only playing time last season against Bethune-Cookman as he redshirted as a true freshman. After Harvey, Miami will have redshirt freshman Cameron Williams and incoming freshmen Chantz Williams, Quentin Williams and Elijah Roberts.
Chantz is already enrolled, Quentin and Roberts will enroll at Miami later this year. Roberts signed with the Miami football program as a strongside defensive end with the potential to move to defensive tackle at 6’3 267 pounds. The Hurricanes have not signed any defensive tackles in the Category ’20 class.
Next. ESPN projects Greg Rousseau as next Chase Young. dark
Miami has a commitment from 2020 tackle Willie Moise, but he has not signed a letter of intent yet. The speculation is that Moise has not qualified. There was additional conjecture if Moise did sign with Miami he could move to the offensive line. Miami has a commitment from four-star 2021 DT Savion Collins from Palmetto.