The CaneSport On3: Analysis of Miami Hurricanes’ defensive depth leaves lingering questions

Depth is an often overlooked preseason aspect of any team, as fans tend to focus on the level of the starters and their potential. But, in the real world, as a season progresses a team’s success can rise or fall based on the play of the backups. Injuries happen on every team each season, right? And unless you’re a starting offensive lineman or the quarterback, you can expect to be subbed out quite a bit in order to remain fresh. Let’s look how that pertains to Miami’s defense, as we analyzed the offense yesterday.

On defense, per Pro Football Focus , the most used lineman played 74 percent of the time (Rueben Bain), the most utilized linebacker 83 percent (Francisco Mauigoa), the most used CB 77 percent (Jaden Davis) and safety 86.5 percent (James Williams). Other starters played less: CB Daryl Porter had 59.3 percent usage and Wesley Bissainthe 52.8 percent.

OFFENSIVE DEPTH ANALYSIS

Now let’s break down the projected defensive backups by position, including any standouts and deficiencies that need addressing:

DEFENSIVE END

Gone at end from last year’s team are Nyjalik Kelly and Jayden Wayne to the transfer portal, with key returners freshman All-American Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor. But Mesidor is coming off torn ligaments in both feet that cost him most of last season, and he missed this spring as well and requires special cleats to play. So his return to his 2022 form when he led the team in sacks is a question, and he could wind up playing more inside than end. It’s no surprise that Miami went to the portal for some end help given there are only the above two returners with experience. Picking up Tyler Baron from Tennessee is big – unless Mesidor is back at 100 percent he’s likely to start opposite Bain, and he had five sacks last season. Elijah Alston from Marshall will help as a pass rusher – he had 10.5 TFL and five sacks last year. After Bain, Mesidor, Baron and Alston there’s a guy like freshman Cole McConathy, who had some bright moments this spring and could help in pass rushing situations. Or perhaps another young player will emerge. So aside from Bain and Baron as every down ends, we see some question marks here depth-wise unless Mesidor is back full go. DEPTH GRADE: B

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

The depth chart here is, by our projection, 75 percent transfers that will be one-and-done at Miami. The likelihood is that CJ Clark and Simeon Barrow (who briefly left the program in late May before returning) will be your starters, with Clark arriving from NC State and Barrow from Michigan State. Depth here is most likely going to come from Middle Tennessee transfer Marley Cook, who has to adjust to a much different level, and then perhaps inexperienced redshirt sophomore Ahmad Moten or redshirt freshman Josh Horton. 5-star freshman Justin Scott could also have a say, although it’s going to be a tall order for a summer arrival interior defensive freshman to make a big impact. As noted in the defensive ends section of this analysis, Akheem Mesidor could also wind up mostly working inside depending on what kind of quickness he can generate off torn ligaments in both feet that cost him most of last season. As you look at the stats of the guys above that played meaningful reps last year, Clark had 22 tackles, four TFL and a sack, Barrow had 5.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks last year, and Cook had 22 tackles, 6.5 TFL and a sack. Even if you think Clark and Barrow are answers as starters, it’s hard to say with certainty that guys behind them will be difference-makers. DEPTH GRADE: C

LINEBACKER

Miami addressed its depth needs in the second portal window by adding Louisville starter Jaylin Alderman, who can push returning starter Wesley Bissainthe (44 tackles, 6.5 TFL and two sacks) at OLB. Alderman started every game for the Cardinals in 2023 (his first year starting) and had 58 tackles, seven for losses, with 1.5 sacks. He can play in the middle or outside. UM also, of course, returns standout MLB Francisco Mauigoa, who had 82 tackles, 18 TFL and tied Rueben Bain for the team lead with 7.5 sacks. So the 850+ combined reps missing with last year’s backups Corey Flagg, KJ Cloyd and Keontra Smith gone are at least partially addressed by adding Alderman to the equation in Lance Guidry’s 4-2-5 defense. After that you’re relying on guys with promise … but not much experience. This spring you saw Raul Aguirre emerge, but he played all of 38 reps on defense last year as a true freshman. Miami coaches are also high on Cam Pruitt, but he’s just a true freshman. The only other linebackers on the roster are oft-injured and inexperienced Chase Smith, redshirt freshman Bobby Washington and true freshman Adarius Hayes. So there will be a need for at least a guy or two who hasn’t really done it in college games before to provide some solid reps behind the main trio. DEPTH GRADE: B-

CORNERBACK

The Miami cornerbacks had all of three total interceptions last year – all from Te’Cory Couch. With Couch and nickel Jaden Davis gone, the Canes still don’t really have a solidified depth chart at corner other than Daryl Porter, Jr. returning at one starting spot (he had 23 tackles and 4 PBU last year and was solid in coverage). Nickel was filled by Washington transfer Mishael Powell in the spring (he had 38 tackles, 2.5 for losses, and three interceptions last year), but he was hit and miss there and could move to safety this fall (he played both for the Huskies). At boundary corner opposite Porter it’s probably Damari Brown (14 tackles last year starting the final four games) that has a leg up, but Marshall transfer D’yoni Hill will try to win that job (he had 55 tackles, 1 INT and 10 PBU last year). And it was hard to gauge Brown’s progress this spring, because he missed most of it injured. An unproven guy like Jadais Richard could also try to work in. If Powell moves from nickel you could see Brown work there, which would open up a starting corner spot for Hill or Richard. But there isn’t a lot of experience here outside of Porter, Brown (to some extent) and Powell. DEPTH GRADE: C

SAFETY

With Kam Kinchens and James Williams gone, Miami looked to add some safety help in the portal but didn’t get traction … although it’s possible Washington’s Mishael Powell could move here from nickel in the fall (as we mentioned above in the cornerback analysis). Otherwise the jobs here will likely go to Markeith Williams and Jaden Harris, who both have very limited experience and not a lot of production (although Williams had eight tackles starting in the bowl game when James Williams and Kinchens opted out). As it pertains to safety depth? Well, there are no other non-true freshmen on the roster beside Williams, Harris and Powell. So there’s every chance that true freshman Zaquan Patterson, who looked good in the spring, will get a long look at being in the two deep. DEPTH GRADE: C-

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