The Miami Hurricanes defense has to replace a lot from a year ago. They had two first-round picks and four starters from last year's defense selected in the first 116 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft.
But, as the old saying goes, 'next man up'. There are some established backups that will be moving into starting roles and some intriguing freshmen that will get a chance to see the field early. And then there are the breakout players. Much like the trio predicted to step up on the offense, there are three players on the defense that will emerge as crucial pieces this season:
This is no surprise, and it's easy to be a fan of what Blount brings to the table. Last year felt like an adjustment season for Blount, and now he is primed to take a major leap. He's going to eventually be the guy on the interior and has an elite ability to get to the quarterback from the inside rush. This season, I believe he'll get time at defensive tackle, nose guard and defensive end, which should help him rack up the snap count.
Some fans forget that Blount was just 17 when he got on campus after he reclassified to the 2024 class. Now he's a junior, and he's fully grown into his 6-foot-4, 275-pound body. Blount is going to be a beast.
Armondo Blount (#18)
— Grant Reacts (@GrantReacts1) February 22, 2026
🏈Some Cut Ups
📊 17 Comb Tackles, 2.5 Sacks pic.twitter.com/AtCIRoyCCL
Miami is pretty thin and inexperienced at linebacker behind starter Mo Toure and Chase Smith. The general belief is Cam Pruitt will be that third guy in the base alignment. But Wiley is the best athlete at the position. He's around 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds and he can run. The size alone gives Wiley some position versatility.
He can offer snaps at edge and as an off-ball linebacker that has the athletic ability to stop the run or cover backs and tight ends in the pass game. The big issue with Wiley is consistency. He was mostly on special teams last year, and now he's going to take the next step forward.
Kellen Wiley (30) and Bobby Pruitt (22) in drills. pic.twitter.com/49LC1hHHAT
— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) March 26, 2026
The secondary rotation is going to be interesting this season. There are a lot of capable bodies and there might be some hurt feelings. O'Connor was a part-time starter at cornerback last year, and he'll probably be in a similar role this season, with Xavier Lucas and OJ Frederique likely to be the opening-week starters.
O'Connor doesn't do anything great, but he's good in a lot of areas. He's technically sound in man coverage and a very good tackler. O'Connor knows when to play the ball and has become a player the coaches can trust. Add a few turnovers to his overall output, and he's a strong candidate for a breakout campaign.
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