Miami football needs more 2021 turnover chain appearances

The Miami football team that was exceptional in producing turnovers during the first two seasons of the turnover chain in 2017 and 2018 needs more frequent appearances from the icon in 2021. Miami finished 40th in FBS in 2020 with 16 forced turnovers. Several conferences played fewer games.

Miami would have ranked lower on the list if the Big 10, MAC, Mountain West and Pac 12 did not start about a month after the ACC began its season. The Hurricanes defense only had three games in 2020 forcing multiple turnovers. Miami forced three turnovers in back-to-back games against Louisville and Florida State in September.

The Miami defense had its best game of the season in 2020 with five forced turnovers in a 48-0 victory over Duke in November. In their 2020 season-opening win and losses against North Carolina and Oklahoma State to end the year, the Hurricanes defense failed to force a turnover.

The Miami defense finished the 2020 season with nine fumble recoveries and seven interceptions. Cornerback Al Blades was the only Miami player with two interceptions in 2020. Departed defensive end Quincy Roche with three and safety Amari Carter with two were the only players Miami players with multiple fumble recoveries.

Safety Bubba Bolden with four and Roche with two were the only Miami players to have multiple forced fumbles last season. The 2017 ACC Coastal Division Champion Miami football team forced 31 turnovers with 14 fumble recoveries and 17 interceptions to finish third nationally.

Safety Jaquan Johnson and cornerback Michael Jackson were the co-leaders for Miami in 2017 with four interceptions. Johnson and defensive end Jonathan Garvin led the 2017 Hurricanes with two fumble recoveries each. Johnson paced the 2017 Miami defense with three forced fumbles.

With head coach Manny Diaz resuming defensive play-calling in 2021, the Miami defense is expected to return to the aggressive play it had when he was the Hurricanes defensive coordinator from 2016-2018. Forcing turnovers and the turnover chain making more appearances is critical for the Miami football team.