Miami football projected DT depth chart entering spring practice
Defensive tackle will be one of the strengths of the defense for the Miami football team in 2022. Jared Harrison-Hunte and Leonard Taylor are near certain starters for Miami at DT in 2022. Taylor had a productive true freshman season in 2021 with 21 tackles, a team co-leading 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one pass breakup.
Harrison-Hunte had 17 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, two sacks and one PBU in an injury-filled season. The Miami football program can have its best DT tandem since 2017. Rising redshirt junior Jordan Miller projects as the primary backup to Harrison-Hunte and Taylor. Miller had 19 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks in 2021.
Miami has good depth behind Harrison-Hunte, Miller and Taylor at DT that will create good competition this spring. Transfers Jacob Lichtenstein from USC and Antonio Moultrie from UAB provide experience. Allan Haye and versatile defensive lineman Elijah Roberts will also compete for snaps this spring.
The key this spring at DT will be finding the right combinations entering the offseason and training camp in August. Head coach Mario Cristobal, defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and DL coach Joe Salave’a will evaluate which DTs are better against the run and as pass rushers to determine who will play on early and late downs.
Taylor is a force who will likely be an every-down player. Moultrie was a versatile player at UAB who can play DE, DT and was a rush linebacker in the Blazers’ 3-4 defense. In four seasons at UAB, Moultrie had 116 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, two sacks, one interception, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
Next. Miami DE projected depth chart entering spring practice. dark
Lichtenstein had his most productive season with USC in 2021 after playing in only two games the two previous seasons combined. Lichtenstein had 28 tackles, six TFLs and four sacks in 2021. In his USC career, Lichtenstein totaled 42 tackles, eight TFLs, four sacks and one PBU. Miami has good depth at DT for 2022.