12 Days to Miami football: DE Jahfari Harvey ready for breakout season
Redshirt freshman Jahfari Harvey is ready to become a big part of the defense as the third defensive end in the rotation for the Miami football team.
Redshirt freshman Jahfari Harvey is hoping to have the same type of impact for the Miami football team in 2020 that Greg Rousseau had in 2019. Rousseau had 19.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in his redshirt freshman season in 2019. The Hurricanes will be able to overcome the loss of Rousseau.
Harvey, graduate transfer Quincy Roche and redshirt junior Jaelan Phillips provide Miami with one of the best pass rushes in college football. Roche finished with 19 tackles for loss and 13 sacks with Temple last season as he earned the AAC Defensive Player of the Year. Phillips is entering his first season playing for Miami.
Miami Co-Defensive coordinator Blake Blake has praised Harvey all summer about potentially being the most athletic of the Hurricanes defensive linemen including Rousseau. Defensive end is the position best equipped for Miami to lose a player with Rousseau’s talent and production.
Baker was quoted by Manny Navarro of The Athletic earlier this month about replacing Rousseau, the remaining edge rushers on the Miami football roster and how Harvey should not be forgotten when discussing the elite talent the Hurricanes have among their edge rushers.
Yesssss @jahfariharvey I see you💙🙏🏾💙🙏🏾. You got this!!!! So proud. # BeastMode. #12 #DEFENSE https://t.co/OsUoooX7ht
— KerryAnn_05 🇯🇲 (@bklynJAborn) August 18, 2020
"“It’s by far our deepest position…on the defensive side of the ball. Definitely excited about the guys that are going to be playing for us this season as well…He always is the forgotten one and he might be the most athletic of them all."
Harvey should be expected to contribute as much or more than Trevon Hill did as the third edge rusher for Miami in 2019. Hill had 27 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season as primarily third edge rusher in the Hurricanes rotation. Baker and head coach Manny Diaz would likely be pleased with those numbers.
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The schedule that Miami has in 2020 with all ACC teams and UAB who played in the New Orleans Bowl last season will make it much more challenging to put up big numbers. However the season works out, Harvey should have a big season in 2020 and potentially become the top edge rusher for Miami in 2021.