Miami football 2023 freshmen linebacker expectations
The Miami football program signed four linebackers in the 2023 class and added three more as transfers. Four-stars Malik Bryant and Raul Aguirre and three-star signees Bobby Washington and Marcellius Pulliam help Miami upgrade the depth, size and talent of the LB corps entering the 2023 season.
Washington State transfer Francisco Mauigoa is projected to be the starting middle LB for the Miami football team in 2023. Sophomore Wesley Bissainthe and Louisville transfer K.J. Cloyd are competing to start at Weakside LB. The remaining LBs in the rotation should continue to compete for snaps throughout the season.
As the 169th-ranked prospect, 16th LB and 39th player in Florida in the 2023 class, Bryant is also the top-ranked Miami signee. Bryant is a versatile LB who had 77 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five sacks and three forced fumbles as a senior in 2022. Expect Bryant to be in the Miami LB rotation in 2023.
Aguirre was the 203rd-ranked signee, 20th LB and 17th player in Georgia in the 2023 class. The unofficial Miami depth chart has the freshmen as the third and fourth-team LBs. Aguirre is listed as the fourth team LB behind Mauigoa, redshirt junior Corey Flagg and fellow freshman Marcus Pulliam.
Expect Aguirre to contribute at least on special teams. Aguirre was the 203rd prospect, 20th LB and 17th in Georgia out of Fayetteville, Whitewater. In his final two high school seasons,
had 176 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. At 6’2 and 233 pounds, Aguirre already has excellent size as a freshman LB.
Pulliam’s scouting report states he played inside in a 3-4 defense at Tyrone, Georgia, Sandy Creek. Pulliam recorded 98 tackles, 10 TFLs, eight sacks, and two QB hurries in the last two seasons. Pulliam is already 6’2 and 230 pounds as Mario Cristobal and LBs coach Derek Nicholson have placed an emphasis on getting bigger at LB.
Washington has been praised for his speed. Nicholson was quoted by Canes Country saying that Washington is an “Unbelievable athlete…Long, big, athletic, tough, twitchy, can run, I mean very, very, fast and very, very explosive.” Learning on special teams with his speed will help in Washington’s development in 2023.
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The 2023 LB signees for Miami are the best group the Hurricanes have brought in since Zach McCloud, Michael Pinckney and Shaq Quarterman in 2016. McCloud, Pinckney and Quarterman started together as freshmen in 2016 through their junior seasons in 2018. Expect the 2023 Miami freshmen LB to make an impact.