Miami Hurricanes safety Amari Carter returning brings back entire seconary

The return of Miami Hurricanes safety Amari Carter for the 2021 season as announced by head coach Manny Diaz during a Wednesday press conference allows for the return of the entire secondary. Carter will be the most experienced player in the Miami secondary in 2021 entering his fifth season.

Carter finished second on the Miami Hurricanes with 53 tackles and had one pass breakup and two fumble recoveries. Carter made nine starts in 10 games in 2020. The one game Carter missed was the Cheez-it Bowl loss to Oklahoma State for unspecified reasons. Carter was also ejected twice in 2020 due to targeting.

The snaps at safety were shared among redshirt junior Bubba Bolden, Carter and junior Gurvan Hall. Miami will be extremely deep at safety in 2021 led by the experience of Bolden, Carter and Hall. Freshman Brian Balom will be the safety with the most experience returning as a backup.

Balom recorded 10 tackles for Miami in 2020. The Hurricanes also return 2020 freshmen, Jalen Harrell, Keshawn Washington and Avantae Williams who missed the 2020 season with an unspecified illness. Williams was the nation’s second-ranked safety according to the 247 composite rankings in 2020.

Miami signed five-star safety James Williams and four-star Kamren Kinchens in the Class of 2021. New defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson will have a lot of talent to work with at safety. Carter has to eliminate the targeting calls while remaining an aggressive, physical player. Carter is an old school safety.

Carter will be challenged to remain a starter in 2021. Bolden is an All-American type talent and Hall is a steady veteran. The six safeties Miami signed in the last two classes will have a chance to compete for playing time with Carter. James Williams is an immense talent who can play almost anywhere for Miami on defense.