Miami Hurricanes striker depth chart entering spring practice

Striker will be the most mercurial position for the Miami Hurricanes entering spring practice. Most college football teams now have a position that is a hybrid defensive back and linebacker. With spread offenses prevalent throughout college football a player who is adept against the run and the pass is imperative.

There is no guarantee that new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele will keep the striker position or the name if he chooses to start a player that is a hybrid of a DB and LB. Gilbert Frierson has started 15 games at striker over the past three seasons. With Amari Carter graduating, Frierson is the projected starter at striker.

Despite starting only three games in 2021, Frierson finished seventh on Miami with 41 tackles and had 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack. In his career, Frierson has 110 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, three sacks, one interception, eight pass breakups and one fumble recovery. Frierson originally signed with Miami as a cornerback in 2018.

While Frierson is the projected starter, there are a few other players who could start at striker if Steele chooses to utilize a 4-2-5 defense. Chase Smith signed with the Miami Hurricanes in 2021 as a LB but was considered a striker as a true freshman. Safety James Williams is another player who Miami could play at striker.

Smith had 13 tackles and two pass breakups in 2021. Williams played in 10 games with seven starts. The former five-star signee had 31 tackles, 0.5 TFLs, led Miami with two interceptions and had two pass breakups. Williams’ 6’5, 224-pound frame makes him ideal to play striker or whatever hybrid position Miami might utilize.

Miami is deep at safety which makes the 4-2-5 defense the way for the Hurricanes to get their best player on the field, Kamren Kinchens finished fourth on Miami with 44 tackles and added one TFL, four pass breakups and one forced fumble that was versus Alabama. Second-year freshman Avantae Williams also had an impact.

Williams finished with 18 tackles and one interception playing in only the final six games of the 2021 season. Miami has a lot of depth at safety behind Avantae and James Williams and Kinchens. The depth at safety will provide Steele and his defensive assistants with a lot of versatility and different formations.