Manny Diaz has spent the 2021 offseason rebuilding the defensive staff for the Miami football program with coaches who have extensive experience in the Southeastern Conference. Miami hired two former SEC assistants in the offseason and a third who began his career as a legendary Atlanta high school head coach.
Jess Simpson returned to Miami in January after spending the last two seasons as the defensive tackles coach for the Atlanta Falcons. Simpson was the defensive line coach for Miami in 2018 before leaving for Atlanta. Simpson will work with Diaz who has taken over the responsibilities as defensive coordinator in addition to head coach.
Simpson has proven to be an excellent recruiter and his connections in Atlanta will help Miami continue to recruit well in the Peach State. Current Miami defensive linemen, Jahfari Harvey, Cameron Williams, Jared Harrison-Hunte and Jalar Holley signed with Miami after being recruited by Simpson.
Defensive tackle Jason Blissett who recently retired also signed with the Miami football program after being recruited by Simpson. Simpson should be able to continue to recruit well in Georgia with all his connections there. When it comes to development, Simpson helped Atlanta have a strong run defense in his two seasons.
Sources: Ishmael Aristide is finalizing a deal to become an assistant coach at Miami. Aristide emerged as a star analyst for Texas A&M and was considered one of the program’s best recruiters. He has deep recruiting roots in south Florida, which made him attractive to Manny Diaz.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 20, 2021
The Falcons finished 14th and 15th in rushing yards per attempt during the two seasons Simpson was on the Atlanta staff. Atlanta improved from 29th to 23rd in sacks during the 2020 season. With Diaz making the defensive calls, Miami should continue to have an elite pass rush while Simpson mentors the DL.
The hiring of defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson is a huge addition to the Miami football staff. Robinson has had two stints on the staff at Auburn, was the defensive backs coach at Florida from 2011-14 and the DB coach and defensive coordinator at South Carolina from 2016-20 under Will Muschamp.
Robinson is an elite recruiter who was credited with signing two five-star DBs at Florida and one at South Carolina. Other than 2021 signee, safety James Williams, Miami has had trouble signing DBs from South Florida recently. Robinson should be able to change that while helping Miami improve the development in the secondary.
Travaris Robinson, who spent the past five seasons as defensive coordinator / defensive backs coach at South Carolina, will join the Miami Hurricanes football staff as defensive backs coach
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 9, 2021
Robinson has a proven ability to develop and his players and getting them ready for the NFL. Miami has to upgrade the talent in the secondary and develop their DBs at a high level to improve the play for the Hurricanes and get them ready for the NFL. Hiring Robinson is a step towards an improved secondary.
The most recent hire by the Miami football program with SEC experience is strikers coach Ishmael Aristide. Aristide has experience at Texas A&M where he has worked since March 2019. Prior to College Station, Aristide was on the Auburn staff from 2016-2017 and the Mississippi staff for two years before being hired by the Aggies.
Aristide was named by 247 Sports in September 2020 as one of the 30 under 30 rising stars on college football staffs. Aristide was praised by 247 as an elite recruiter. As the striker’s coach for Miami, Aristide will head a position group for the first time. Diaz has upgraded the recruiting talent for Miami in one offseason.