ESPN contradicts others naming Miami football early entry draft losers

Contradicting analysis from CBS Sports earlier this week, ESPN named the Miami football program one of the losers of the “College football winners, losers from NFL draft early-entry deadline.” Miami has to replace All-American defensive ends Jaelan Phillips, Quincy Roche and Greg Rousseau.

Rousseau was unblockable as a redshirt freshman in 2019 with 19.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks but opted out of the 2019 season. Phillips was named a second-team All-American for Miami in 2020 with 15.5 TFLs and eight sacks. Roche contributed 14.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks. Miami will have to rebuild their edge rushers.

Also foregoing remaining eligibility for the Miami football program are junior tight end Brevin Jordan and graduate transfer kicker Jose Borregales who became the first consensus first-team All-American for Miami since 2006. Jordan set career highs with 38 receptions for 576 yards and seven TDs in 2020 despite missing three games.

Borregales was a revelation for Miami this season. After Miami had poor kicking in 2019, Borregales was steady for the Hurricanes in 2020.  Borregales made all 37 of his extra points and made 20 of 22 field-goal attempts to finish with 97 points.

With another game or two, Borregales might have been able to set the single-season scoring record for the Miami football program. ESPN focused on the losses at DE and who Miami has to replace them in 2021.

"Miami HurricanesThe Hurricanes are losing some serious power in their pass rush. Defensive ends Jaelan Phillips and Gregory Rousseau are two of Miami’s three early entrants (the third being TE Brevin Jordan), so the Hurricanes could be turning to incoming freshman Chantz Williams (No. 8 DE in 2020 class) and Tennessee transfer Deandre Johnson to make up for some lost production.In 2020, Phillips had 15.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. Rousseau opted out of the 2020 season after posting 19.5 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks and two forced fumbles as a sophomore in 2019.Rousseau’s replacement, redshirt senior Quincy Roche, also declared for the NFL draft after 14.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles on the year. Miami’s defense ended the 2020 season giving up 1,196 yards of offense and 99 points in its final two games, so that will be a concern going into the offseason."

Somehow, ESPN left out redshirt freshman Jahfari Harvey who seems more likely to start as an edge rusher with Johnson. They mention Chantz Williams as an incoming freshman in the Class of 2020, when he played this season recording four tackles. Miami also returns redshirt freshman Cameron Williams at DE in 2021.

Cameron Williams had seven tackles 1.5 TFLs and one pass breakup in 2020. Miami does not have a lot of depth at DE and could have four-year returning starting linebacker Zach McCloud move to DE for the 2021 season. McCloud had two tackles in playing some snaps at DE in the Cheez-it Bowl loss to Oklahoma State.