CBS Sports recently released its list of the 26 most-feared defensive players entering the 2026 season. Miami placed multiple defenders on the ranking, a significant accomplishment considering the amount of NFL talent the Hurricanes lost after last year's College Football Playoff run.
Nearly half of the top 10 was made up of edge rushers, including Texas' Colin Simmons (No. 1), South Carolina's Dylan Stewart (No. 2), LSU's Princewill Umanmielen (No. 4), and Miami's Damon Wilson II (No. 6).
No. 6 Damon Wilson II
The highest-ranked Hurricanes player on the list is transfer EDGE Damon Wilson II.
Wilson arrived in Coral Gables after a breakout season at Missouri. His nine sacks ranked among the SEC leaders and immediately made him one of the most impactful defensive transfers in the country.
No. 19 Ahmad Moten
The second-highest ranked Hurricane on the list was defensive tackle Ahmad Moten at No. 19.
That should not surprise anyone who watched Miami last season. He became one of the biggest contributors to Miami's interior defensive line in 2025.
Miami lost Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor to the NFL, but Moten gives defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman an established force in the middle of the defense. His ability to collapse the pocket and disrupt running lanes is a major reason he is viewed as one of the nation's most feared defenders.
No. 26 Bryce Fitzgerald
Bryce Fitzgerald was included at the end of the list after only one college season. Fitzgerald checked in at No. 26 on the list after emerging as one of the nation's best young defensive backs in 2025. The freshman safety tied for the second-most interceptions in the country with six.
He also delivered two of the biggest plays of Miami's season during the Hurricanes' College Football Playoff win over Texas A&M.
Add us as a preferred source on Google