Miami football: PFF Grades Elijah Alston highest transfer edge rusher

Pro Football Focus graded Elijah Alston as the top transfer edge rusher for 2024. Alston joined the Miami football team from Marshall for the 2024 season. The 91.4 grade Alston received from PFF leads transfer edge rushers by a wide margin. Nic Scourton of Texas A&M is second with an 82.8 grade.

Alston adds depth to an already extremely deep group of Miami edge rushers in 2024. Miami returns 2024 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor and Nyjalik Kelly return from injury in 2024. Miami also has sophomore Jayden Wayne and signed an elite group of edge rushers in the 2024 class.

Alston had 108 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, one interception, five passes defended. four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in four seasons at Marshall. Alston had his best season in 2023 with 45 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, six sacks, one interception, three passed defended and two forced fumbles.

Alston projects as the fourth edge rusher in the 2024 Miami rotation behind Bain, Kelly and Mesidor. After playing four games during the 2020 Covid year, Alston has one season of eligibility remaining in 2024. Per David Lake of Inside the U, Alston had 37 quarterback pressures and a 90.9 pass-rushing grade in 2023.

Alston was impressive in games versus ACC opponents North Carolina State and Virginia Tech in 2023. Against Virginia Tech, Alston had three tackles, one TFL, four QB hits and one pass defended, Alston had four tackles, one TFL, one sack and one QB hit versus North Carolina State.

Alston was second on Marshall in TFLs and sacks. Marshall was 21st nationally with 87 TFLs and 22nd with 35 sacks. Miami finished 18th with 88 TFLs and tied with Marshall and five other teams for 22nd with 35 sacks. Alston provides Miami with an experienced, productive pass rusher and needed depth at edge rusher.