Miami Hurricanes DT Jared Harrison-Hunte has surpassed Jon Ford

Miami Hurricanes redshirt freshman defensive tackle Jared Harrison-Hunte has been one of the best playmakers this season and has surpassed senior Jon Ford as a starter.

Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Jared Harrison-Hunte leads the Miami Hurricanes with three sacks, is fifth, with 5.5 tackles for loss and third among defensive linemen behind defensive ends Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche with 16 tackles. Harrison-Hunte has surpassed senior DT Jon Ford on the depth chart.

The ascension of Harrison-Hunte to the first-team culminated when he received 43 snaps to 22 for Ford in the 44-41 Miami victory over North Carolina State on Friday. Harrison-Hunte and junior Nesta Silvera give the Hurricanes an athletic tandem at defensive tackle to team with Phillips and Roche.

Harrison-Hunte finished with five tackles and a half-sack against in the victory over the Wolfpack. Silvera had five tackles and one TFL. Silvera recorded his TFL on the first full drive for North Carolina State in the fourth quarter. The TFL preceded a Miami scoring drive to cut the score to 41-37.

Silvera added a key stop on the three and out the Miami Hurricanes defense had in the fourth quarter than preceded their game-winning scoring drive. Silvera has already set career highs this season with 24 tackles, four TFLs and one pass breakup while tying a career-high with one sack.

The Miami front four will face one of its biggest challenges of the season against Virginia Tech who is fifth nationally and leads the ACC averaging 277.43 rushing yards per game. Harrison-Hunte and Silvera are going to have to get push up front and penetrate the Hokies backfield so slow down their rushing attack.

Behind Harrison-Hunte and Silvera Miami has redshirt sophomore, Jordan Miller and redshirt freshmen, Jason Blissett and Jalar Holley. Miami will be very experienced upfront in 2021 and have commits from five-star DT Leonard Taylor and four-star DT Savion Collins in the Class of 2021.