Miami Hurricanes News: Lance Guidry new DC, Antione Jackson NLI release
Less than 48 hours after defensive coordinator Kevin Steele was hired away by Alabama, Mario Cristobal found his replacement. Tulane defensive coordinator Lance Guidry is the reported new Miami DC 15 days after he was hired in New Orleans. Also on Tuesday, Miami Hurricanes signee Antione Jackson wants out of his NLI.
Guidry is a surprise replacement for Steele. Since Steele left for Alabama on Sunday night Guidry was not a name even on the radar as the Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator. The Miami football program had several other potential names mentioned as the Hurricanes’ next defensive coordinator.
Projections to succeed Steele included promotion from within the program, former Wisconsin interim head coach Jim Leonhard and Dolphins linebackers coach Anthony Campanile. On the Locked on Podcast this afternoon host Alex Donno posed the question about the status of current Miami LB coach Charlie Strong.
Strong and Miami defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae were among the potential successors to Steele posed by various college football analysts. Alabama is reportedly also interested in a potential spot on its staff. Strong was a defensive analyst at Alabama during the 2020 season.
Guidry comes to Miami from Marshall where he led a top-10 defense in 2022. Cristobal quickly identified his candidate and made it happen. Guidry inherits a Miami defense that was wildly inconsistent in 2022. Miami had three games allowing 21 points or less and five of 40 points or more.
A few hours after the news about Guidry broke, Jackson confirmed a report that he wanted a release from the National Letter of Intent he signed in December. Jackson is one of the youngest signees in the class of 2023 after reclassifying from 2024. Jackson was one of only three Miami 2023 defensive backs signees.
Four-star cornerbacks Damari Brown and Robert Stafford are also in the 2023 Miami class. Miami also added Brown’s brother Davonte from Central Florida and Terry Roberts from Iowa as transfers at CB for 2023. Mario Cristobal still has work to do with three openings on the offensive staff.
Next. Miami recruiting rankings not impacted by Jackson leaving. dark
The expectation is that Miami will hire an offensive coordinator who will also be the quarterbacks’ coach. Former OC Josh Gattis coaching wide receivers for Miami last year was an unusual setup. Frank Ponce only coached quarterbacks in 2022. Ponce left to become the OC and QB coach at Appalachian State.