Miami football Midseason Awards

Best Defensive Player: S Mishael Powell

Through the first few weeks of the season, this wouldn't have even been a contest, with edge rusher Tyler Baron running away with the award. Baron has been quiet over the past few weeks, though, leading to Powell getting the recognition.

Powell, who goes familiarly by Meesh, has been a huge addition to the Miami defense after he started for the National Champion runners-up Washington Huskies in 2023. Through six games, the safety is fourth on the team with 20 tackles and he also has three of the team's 10 interceptions: no other player has more than one.

You could argue the play of Miami's safeties has fallen off from a year ago, with standouts Kamren Kinchens and James Williams leaving for the NFL Draft, but Powell is the real deal and has shown that early this year.