New Miami football DTs primarily add depth
The addition of transfer defensive tackles Anthony Campbell from Louisiana-Monroe, Branson Deen from Purdue and Thomas Gore from Georgia State adds depth for the Miami football team in 2023. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald quoted a Hurricanes football staffer discussing the expectations from the new DTs in 2023.
The Miami football staffer projects that Deen is the front runner to start at DT alongside All-American candidate Leonard Taylor. Deen will face tough competition from Jared Harrison-Hunte who has been a starter in the past. The staffer told Jackson that Deen is “tough and can stop the run.”
Deen appeared in 39 games in four seasons at Purdue with 26 starts. With the Boilermakers Deen recorded 74 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, one pass defended and one forced fumble. At 6’2 and 280 pounds, Deen is not as big of a DT as Mario Cristobal and his staff usually prefer. Harrison-Hunte is 6’4 and 285 pounds.
The staffer told Jackson that Deen is a “depth (player)…has got to win with quickness” at 6’2 and 280 pounds. Per Jackson, Gore had a “non-descript” spring. In four seasons at Georgia State Gore had 93 tackles, 22 TFLs, 11 sacks and two forced fumbles. Gore could be a situational interior pass rusher.
At 6’7 and 277 pounds Campbell provides excellent length for the Miami football team on the interior of the defensive line. Campbell was evaluated as a “
development guy…(that is) long and tall.”
Campbell has two years of eligibility left. Campbell had five tackles, one TFL and one pass defended in two seasons at ULM.
Next. Miami staffer expects intense CB competition. dark
In addition to Harrison-Hunte, Jackson mentions Jacob Lichtenstein as the primary competition for Deen with Harrison-Hunte to start next to Lichtenstein at DT. Miami returns redshirt freshman Ahmad Moten and signed 6’7 and 250 DL Collins Acheampong for the 2023 roster. Miami also has versatility from other DL.