Miami was praised for their strength on the defensive and offensive lines, the upgrade in the secondary and the hiring of new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman in the annual survey of coaches in the ACC by Athlon Sports.
Mario Cristobal remade almost the entire defensive coaching staff and brought in nearly a completely new secondary during the 2025 offseason. Corey Hetherman was hired after the inconsistencies on defense cost the Hurricanes a College Football Playoff berth.
The Miami defensive line returns starting edge rushers Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor. The addition of transfer defensive tackle David Blay from Louisiana Tech provides experience and stability for Miami on the interior of the line. Miami is young at DT behind Blay.
Miami added cornerbacks Charles Brantley, Xavier Lucas, Ethan O'Connor and Kelonte Scott and safeties Zechariah Poyser and Jakobe Thomas as transfers to its 2025 roster. Brantley, Lucas, Poyser and Thomas are projected starters for Miami with returning starting CB O.J. Frederique.
"“They’ll be decent up front on defense, and they spent like crazy for a new secondary.”
“They’re good on the offensive line; that’s one area you don’t worry about with Mario [Cristobal].”
“The new DC [Corey Hetherman] did a really good job at Minnesota, and he’ll have more talent to play with than Lance [Guidry] did.”"
Miami returns starting tackles Markel Bell and projected future first-round NFL Draft pick Francis Mauigoa as the starting tackles and Anez Cooper at guard. Veterans Matthew McCoy or Ryan Rodriguez projects as the other starting guard and TCU transfer James Brockermeyer will be the starting center.
The addition of Blay and the defensive backs with linebackers Kamal Bonner and Mohamed Traore should give Miami a boost defensively. Hetherman led a Minnesota defense that was ninth nationally, allowing 16.9 points per game and fifth with opponents posting 285.7 total yards per game.
Miami is expected to play a more aggressive, get-up-the-field defense under Hetherman than they did under previous defensive coordinator Lance Guidry. Bain returning healthy after missing four games in 2024 should help Miami significantly on the DL in 2025. The aggressive play should lead to Miami getting in backfield often in 2025