Pro Football Focus ranks Miami defensive line top 3 nationally

The remade Miami defensive line is the third-best in college football entering the 2024 season, per Pro Football Focus. Miami will be led by ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Rueben Bain on the line. Miami added three defensive tackles and two edge rushers in the transfer portal to the 2024 roster.

Transfer edge rushers Elijah Alston and Tyler Barron will team with Bain and Akheem Mesidor, who is returning from a season-ending injury in 2023, to provide Miami with an elite group. Simeon Barrow, C.J. Clark and Marley Cook are the projected top three defensive tackles after transferring to Miami during the offseason.

Miami also signed the top 2024 DL class. Five stars 2024 signees, versatile lineman Armondo Blount and tackle Justin Scott and four-star edge rushers Marquise Lightfoot and Booker Pickett Jr. are freshmen to watch for Miami on the DL in 2024.

Miami was 18th with 88 tackles for loss and 22nd with 35 sacks in 2022. Bain is the only returnee for Miami on the DL who received significant snaps in 2023. Mesidor suffered a season-ending foot injury after two games. Miami returns Anthony Campbell, Joshua Horton and Anthony Campbell as reserves on the DL.

Miami and Clemson are the only teams in the ACC who PFF ranked with a top 10 DL. The Clemson DL is eighth. Miami will not play a top 10 DL in 2024 per the PFF rankings. Notre Dame is the only other team outside the Big 10 or SEC with a top 10 DL. Ohio State and Michigan have the top two DLs per PFF.

Miami flipped Scott from Ohio State shortly before Early National Signing Day in December. The Hurricanes should have a dominant DL in 2024. Expect Miami to improve their TFL and sacks during the 2024 season. With an offense led by Cam Ward Miami should be ahead often. That will allow the Miami edge rushers to get after opposing QBs.