Miami edge rusher Tyler Baron off to All-American start

Miami edge rusher Tyler Baron is second nationally with 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks through the first two games of the 2024 season. Baron has been exceptional in helping compensate for the loss of defensive lineman Rueben Bain indefinitely to a soft tissue injury.

Pro Football Focus named Baron to their College Football Week Two team. Baron had five tackles, 3.5 TFLs and 3.0 sacks in the 56-9 Miami win over Florida A&M. Miami had four players named to the PFF ACC Week Two team of the week. Center Zach Carpenter, right tackle Francis Mauigoa and cornerback O.J. Frederique were on the ACC PFF TOW.

Baron has added eight tackles to the 5.5 TFLs and 4.0 sacks this season. Baron and Elijah Alston who has 4.0 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and one pass defended still give Miami an elite set of edge rushers even with Bain out. Miami ranks 14th nationally with 18 TFLs and sixth in sacks.

Baron is on track to surpass his career highs of 30 tackles in 2021, 10.5 TFLs and 6.0 sacks in 2023. Continuing at this current pace throughout the season would be nearly impossible for Baron. In 1986, Daniel Stubbs set the Miami single-season sack record with 17.

"He is built like an avatar and he is explosive...He has one of the most natural feels for the game of anyone I have seen. He understands leverage and angles. He is really smart. He is locked in and in tune with what is going on. He is always looking for ways to get better and he works hard. He is tough. He checks all the boxes. And now he is full throttle. He has shown everybody what he is about and he is another hungry human being"

- Mario Cristobal describing Tyler Baron

Baron had a very circuitous route to Miami. After entering the transfer portal in December, Baron initially committed to Mississippi and flipped to Louisville in January. After spending the spring with Louisville, Baron re-entered the transfer portal and wound up with Miami.

The addition of Baron was significant for Miami. With Alston, Baron provides Miami with far more depth. When Bain returns, offensive coordinators are going to have a difficult time game-planning for him and Baron. Mario Cristobal has succeeded in building elite defensive and offensive lines.

With Ball State and South Florida in the next two games, Baron should continue putting up video game numbers. Ball State is 131st nationally allowing 10 tackles for loss per game in 2024 and South Florida is 74th with opponents averaging 5.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Ball State ranks 110th nationally allowing 3.0 sacks per game in 2024 and South Florida is 119th with opponents dropping the quarterback 3.5 times per contest this season. Miami should have dominant defensive performances in their final two non-conference games, led by Baron up front.