Avery Huff Redshirt Freshman Linebacker
The spring depth charts are not always an indication of who will start season openers. For the Miami football team in 2020 that is likely to be the case for many positions. The most critical position for the Hurricanes to settle this spring is who is going to start at LB next to redshirt senior Zach McCloud.
With most of the snaps being delegated to the striker position in place of the third LB, McCloud chose to redshirt in 2019 behind Quarterman and Pinckney at LB and graduated Romeo Finley at striker. McCloud’s return gives the Miami football team a critical steady veteran in the middle of the Miami defense.
Pinckney sat out the Independence Bowl in December. Brooks started in his place and had a career night. In his first bowl game and the most significant playing time of his true freshman season, Brooks recorded 12 tackles and a half tackle for loss starting next to Quarterman. Brooks figured to be the favorite to start entering the spring.
Brooks and freshman LB Tirek Austin-Cave are both out this spring with shoulder injuries. Freshman LB Corey Flagg is also out this spring with a knee injury, redshirt junior LBs Bradley Jennings is still recovering from injuries sustained the past two seasons and Patrick Joyner is additionally out with an injury.
Former walk-on Ryan Ragone was listed as the weakside LB with the Miami football first-team defense on Tuesday by David Lake of Inside the U. Huff has impressed during the first week with his length, athleticism and ability to run at 6’3 200 pounds. He is likely to add more mass and challenge Brooks.