Justin Scott has not received the same preseason attention as Ahmad Moten Sr., Damon Wilson II or some of the other recognizable names on Miami's defensive front. But that could change quickly in 2026.
Scott enters his junior season with the size and production to become one of the Hurricanes' most important interior defenders. He even has high hopes for the 2027 NFL Draft where he has been mocked in the first round.
Miami's defensive front is talented, but the opportunity is there for Scott
Moten earned second-team All-ACC honors last season after recording 31 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Wilson arrives from Missouri after a nine-sack season that put him on NFL draft radars. Those players deserve the attention they are getting but Scott will play a pivotal role alongside them.
The former five-star prospect from Chicago was part of Miami's defensive-line rotation as a freshman, then took on a much larger role during the Hurricanes' 2025 College Football Playoff run. Scott played in all 16 games, made nine starts and started each of Miami's final nine contests. He finished with 26 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.
Scott's best stretch came late in the season. He had four tackles and two tackles for loss against Syracuse, then followed that with four tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack against Virginia Tech. Scott added five tackles and another tackle for loss in the regular-season finale at Pittsburgh before recording a stop in each of Miami's three College Football Playoff wins and three more tackles in the national championship game against Indiana.
Scott measures in at 6-foot-4 and 303 pounds, and he has the physical profile to take on more work in the middle of the defense.
During spring practice, offensive lineman James Brockermeyer called Scott “really powerful” and said he plays with good leverage, making him difficult to move out of the A-gaps. Mark Fletcher Jr. also singled Scott out during preseason camp last year, saying he had given him some of the toughest work because of his size and power.
The biggest question entering 2026 is whether Scott can become a more productive pass rusher from the interior. One sack and 6.5 tackles for loss are useful numbers for a sophomore defensive tackle in a rotation, but Miami will need more interior pressure after losing experienced players from last year's front. Moten will draw plenty of attention, and Wilson should command attention off the edge. That could create opportunities for Scott to see more one-on-one situations inside.
Miami fans may be focused on the bigger names right now. But by the end of the season, Scott could enter the conversation.
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