Miami football highest rated defensive players by position

The Miami football team is building a defense full of elite talent. Miami will be strongest on the defensive line.

The Hurricanes return several productive players on defense and signed multiple players in or near the 100 in the Class of 2022. Miami has 10 newcomers on defense for the 2022 season. Six of the Miami incoming freshmen for Miami are blue-chip signees.

Paired with the 2021 Class, Miami has a good foundation to build on defensively for at least the next two seasons. With Mario Cristobal as the new head coach, Miami will emphasize the line of scrimmage. The Hurricanes need to improve defensively. Miami was 84th last season allowing 28.4 points per game.

Miami was 75th allowing 389.6 total yards per game. Miami was significantly better finishing 47th allowing 5.4 yards per play. The Hurricanes were 44th allowing 144 rushing yards per game and 48th at 3.89 yards per carry.

Miami should improve significantly in pass defense in 2022 with the hiring of former Georgia defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae. Prior to Georgia, Addae was on the staff at West Virginia when they led the nation in pass defense in 2020. Miami was 102nd allowing 250.6 passing yards per game in 2021.

Four of the five highest-ranked players at their position defensively for Miami are returning from the 2021 roster. The new staff will place a priority on development.

Miami had the 13th most talented college football roster in 2021 according to 247 Sports. The Hurricanes signed the sixth-best 2022 class by averaging player rating. Although the 2022 class is small, Cristobal is setting the foundation for the future and showing he won’t settle for average talent on the Miami roster.