The additions of Elijah Alston and Tyler Baron provide the Miami football program with depth and proven production at edge rusher to its 2024 roster. Alston and Baron have significantly higher rankings as transfers than they did as high school signees.
With Akheem Mesidor returning from a foot injury that limited him to two games in 2023, Alston and Baron provide Miami insurance entering the 2024 season. Miami defensive coordinator Lance Guidry had to pivot from his usual 4-2-5 alignment in 2023 to a 3-3-5 because of multiple defensive line injuries.
Miami should be able to continue playing a 4-2-5 defensive alignment in 2024, even if Mesidor continues to be limited by injury. The additions of Alston and Baron will allow Guidry to bring Mesidor along slowly in 2024 after not participating in spring practice due to his recovery from the foot injury.
Miami finished 18th nationally in 2023 with 88 tackles for loss and 22nd with 35 sacks. Miami returns ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Rueben Bain who led Miami defensive lineman with 12.5 TFLs and 7.5 sacks in 2023. Alston, Bain, Baron and Mesidor provide Miami with one of the most proven DLs entering the 2024 season.
Baron was the 118th signee, four strongside defensive end and fourth prospect in Tennessee out of Knoxville Catholic in the 2020 class. In four seasons with Tennessee, Baron had 101 tackles, 27.0 TFLs, 13.5 sacks, three pass breakups, one fumble recovery he returned for a TD and one forced fumble.
Baron was the 72nd-ranked 2024 transfer and 10th edge rusher. Baron had a long transfer journey since the end of the 2023 season before committing to Miami. After entering the portal in December, Baron committed to Mississippi, enrolled at Louisville and participated in spring practice with the Cardinals before committing to Miami.
Alston had a breakout season in 2023 as an edge rusher after beginning his collegiate career as a defensive tackle signee at Marshall. The Thundering Herd signed Alston as the 2,253 overall prospect, 148th DT and 44th player in Virginia in the 2019 class out of Chesapeake, Oscar Smith.
Alston was the 390th-ranked transfer and 31st edge rusher in the 2024 portal. After redshirting as a freshman, Alston had 107 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown, four pass breakups, one fumble recovery and four forced fumbles.
Alston had 45 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 6.0 sacks, the 85-yard pick-six, two PBUs and two forced fumbles. Under the tutelage of Miami DL coaches Jason Taylor and Joe Salave'a Alston can continue to improve. Alston and Baron both have the potential to be 2025 NFL Draftees.