Miami Hurricanes DE named Top returning edge defender, its not who you think

One Miami Hurricanes defensive end was named the top returning edge defender in college football and another was completed snubbed from the ESPN list published on Friday.

ESPN published a list on Friday “Ranking college football’s top 10 returning edge defenders for 2020.” One Miami Hurricanes defensive end was ranked as the top returning edge defender for 2020 and another was mysteriously left off the list. Quincy Roche is the top returning edge defender, but Greg Rousseau was snubbed.

In their explanation below ESPN used a combination of Pro Football Focus grades and wins above average from PFF to make their determination of which players rank in the top 10. Arguing with metrics and especially those put forward by the preeminent football statistical company Pro Football Focus is difficult.

The stats that are available to most of the public do not always measure the performance of a football player accurately. In addition to the numbers Roche graded out at from PFF, the Temple transfer recorded 49 tackles,19 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, five pass breakups two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble in 2019.

The more common numbers that Rousseau had in 2019 favor comparably to Roche. The only logical explanation for Rousseau being left off the list is that he did not become a full-time player and starter until week six. Rousseau had 54 tackles, 19.5 TFLs, 15.5 sacks, one PBU, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

"Chase Young might not be rejoining the college ranks in 2020, but there’s no shortage of talent among edge defenders as we look forward to the upcoming college football season. Using a combination of Pro Football Focus grades and PFF’s wins above average (WAA) metric, we present the top 10 edge defenders returning to college football in 2020, as well as a sleeper to watch.1. Quincy Roche, MiamiThe recently transferred Roche was a solid pass-rusher in 2017 and 2018, earning above-average grades in both seasons, but he just so happened to produce one of the biggest breakout seasons in 2019, which cements his standing atop this list.Roche’s 93.3 pass-rush grade ranked behind only Young among edge defenders last season, while his 18.4% pressure rate tied for eighth. His quick, violent hands helped him to secure 68 total pressures a season ago, the fourth most among edge defenders, and that helped him finish the season as the nation’s second-most valuable edge rusher in terms of PFF WAA.Miami’s pass rush was its greatest strength last season, and that’ll likely be the case again now that Roche is on the roster."

The 15.5 sacks Rousseau recorded in 2019 lead all returnees nationally for 2020. Rousseau outperformed Roche in tackles, TFLs and sacks last season. Roche had more PBUs, FF and FRs but those are more rare and random occurrences than the first three. PFF ranked the Miami pass rush 12th in the country in 2019.

The Miami Hurricanes pass rush would not have ranked that high without Rousseau who was by far their best pass rusher. PFF in their own article about the top 25 defensive linemen returning to college football in 2020 did not include Rousseau.

Defending their stance about leaving him out, PFF stated: “Gregory Rousseau is not on this list — don’t trust the sack numbers that are unstable year-to-year)”   It is difficult to imagine that Rousseau did not post high numbers in his pass rush grade, pressure rate and total pressures.

Rousseau was honored earlier this week when he was named one of the 20 best players under 20 years old in college football. With Roche, Rousseau and Jaelan Phillips, Miami will have an elite pass rush in 2020.