Miami Football - DEFENSE Depth Chart BREAKDOWN

[Music] good stuff with Brad toah breaking down the roster for us going through the two deep on both sides of the football offense and now the defensive line yep and again this uh maoa number with not just the seven and a half sacks but the the 18 tackles for loss that's a crazy number that's usually a pass rush Edge guys number and that's a serious number for those guys as well so he obviously was amazing last year and that's and and mark That's a transfer that's a transfer linebacker that really had to get equated with the Miami atmosphere the Miami defense and now he changed his number to number one the first player under Mario Chris Ball on the defensive side of the ball to wear that number and he is finally getting comfortable with where he's at and now he's a leader of the defense he's not a guy that is you know a quiet guy that has to come in and just kind of lead by example on the football field he's kind of cemented himself as a guy that a lot of people in the program can look up to him um and I think he he's really taking on that leadership role uh and I think that was one of the key things that made him really want to come back to the program because from a number standpoint and what he did over at Washington State and now at Miami he is a guy that could have definitely went into the NFL draft but this is one key guy that we really were able to bring back that I think would have bit us you know in in the butt you know years ago um so being able to keep a guy like Francisco was very key for Miami and this is also a young man that was able to play with our starting quarterback in cam Ward these guys were teammates over at Washington state for a lot of people that don't remember so in sizing up the rest of the linebacker core what do you see there you know from a linebacker standpoint you lost Corey flag who ended up transferring to Missouri um and then when you look at currently the guys that are currently there uh KJ Cloyd obviously ended up leaving the program um you have Wesley Bain who in his third year coming out of Miami Central this is a linebacker that I think from a a fan base standpoint a lot of people have some expectations for him this year I think him and Francisco go um will probably be your Mike and will to start the season um but I also think we have the flexibility to put other guys in rotation you have Ru popo Agera who has been playing Mike and will um he's a guy that's has the flexibility to play either position but because Francisco has been out all spring um popo has been getting all the first team reps at that mic position um which should definitely help throughout the you know without it should really help throughout the football season um when we do need to give you know Kiko some rest we're able to bring a guy like popo in and he has the athletic ability to run sideline to sideline um and so do all these linebackers that we're going to bring up I think Chase Smith is another name to watch out for this is a guy that's been at Miami for several years and he's finally fully healthy um he is going to be a player to watch because I think he's wanting to prove that he can end his career at Miami and be a a very good contribution to the linebacker room um and he's another guy that is very athletic he's probably the most athletic linebacker in the room um and from a sideline to sideline standpoint I don't think you can find anybody better than Chase Smith and in last practice on Saturday he made the biggest hit of practice from people I've heard around the program so he's really lighten it up in practice as well and that's what you want to see from a guy that's been battling injuries and has been kind of buried behind the depth chart um but you also got Marcel's pulum Bobby Washington uh cam puit is another name that you need to watch out for he's a young incoming freshman uh that has been balling all throughout spring he's a guy that can be used at safety at linebacker um he's going to be a guy that's gonna be a lance gidry chess piece in this defense and cam PR is gonna you know be able to play right away um and contribute very early to this defense but from a transfer standpoint Mark I think linebacker wise um I don't really see any linebackers leaving um I think maybe the only one that would be a shock to me is maybe Bobby Washington um again I mentioned Robbie Washington so maybe both of them may want to go elsewhere just because there's other guys ahead of them but I personally don't see that happening um but I did skip the defensive line position and I just want to mention two guys uh Thomas Gore and Anthony Campbell um if I had to think of two names on the defensive line position that may go elsewhere just because you know the opportunities of other guys coming into that position group those would be two names I would look out for just so if we're trying to get closer to that 7 to 10 Mark like I mentioned we were at five on the offensive side of the ball going to the defensive side of the ball that adds another two so now you're at your seven um and we haven't even gotten to the secondary yet so we right where we need to be BR to ha is here everyone from K's Insight uh we have dropped a link in the chat so it's easy just to click on that get on over to K's Insight instantly there you see the um the X handle and the URL right there for Kane's Insight on the screen as well we appreciate Brad filling in this week Brad knows he's welcome anytime so you just don't even need the invite for a Wednesday night Cam couldn't make it tonight but Brad you know uh we will talk college football we will talk Miami with you anytime absolutely man it's it's a pleasure to always talk some ball with you guys and um yeah man over at K's Insight we're doing some great stuff anyone that's not aware um we are now one of the official Partners um with Kane's connection which is the official nil uh program for the University of Miami and our student athletes so we do you know personal player interviews um with the current players on the team we'll have some coach interviews we'll also have some special events for our K's connection members uh during and after the spring game on April 13th so we're constantly bringing in uh new and hot content every single day so make sure you check out you know everything me D Money Peter re and and the of the team are doing at canesinsight.com and also on our YouTube channel Falconer coming back with this one I miss George where's George well uh George was in the Florida state show the previous hour so he threw out some 63- threes so you guys would have enjoyed that uh Falconer coming back with this one love Brad he is the goods in the stats can he sing are you a singer Brad not a singer I I got got I got a few bars every now and then I can I can sure wrap a little bit when whenever I get get into the move but n no singing no singing for this guy all right well in the secondary uh they hope that they won't be hearing uh the opposing teams striking up the band too often uh coming up this fall so let's start at corner yeah so the secondary is going to be a very uh key position group to watch watch not only at the end of the spring on these last five practices but also entering fall and possibly who we go after in the transfer portal uh me in my opinion besides the running back position this is going to be a very key position group that I think Miami needs to be very picky at um with guys that enter the transfer portal um I don't think you need to get another rotational guy um I think we have plenty of those type of players and guys that can easily uh fit in the mix I think you need a stand out defensive player whether it is a corner boundary corner or nickel corner or safety you need a player that can literally be the quarterback of the defense and really you know be timid on to that quarterback on the opposite side of the ball um when you lose a guy like Cam kitens and James Williams you have to make sure that the next guys that come in really could Implement and seize that opportunity you've already brought in multiple transfer portal guys and Savon Riley uh out of van Bel and also meech pal out of Washington um those were two labeled safeties that came into the University of Miami that you would think that would you know just fill in those role of James Williams and cam kitens has done for the program but actually now that spring has been upon us and 10 practices are under our belt it seems like in particular Mech pal out of Washington is a guy that has really cemented himself at that nickel spot for Miami um as we know with Lance G he likes to run a lot of multiple defensive fronts but for the most part that guy at the nickel spot is going to be a key guy that they're going to want to use as a chess piece all throughout the defense and me Po has really found him found himself very comfortable in that spot and I think most of the time you're going to want Mech pow at that nickel spot um and when that does happen your safeties currently is Savon Riley vanderbelt transfer and Jaden Harris um who is in his third year now and is really gonna have to take himself to in the next level to really establish himself as that next starting safety spot and then you also have zaquan Patterson who's a true freshman at of Shaman Madonna who's really turning a lot of heads but I think you still need one more guy in that room I would probably look more at the safety position um Than The Corner Spot because looking at the corners currently you got darl Porter Jr on one side you got Jas Richard another vanderbelt transfer on the other side of the ball and you also got uh Devonte Brown as well um who was a big time recruit out of American Heritage who has a freshman last year really did some good stuff for Miami and I think this will be a good opportunity for for him to really submit himself and possibly being a starter quarterback cornerback on this football team this year so between those three guys I think you actually have a good solid foundation of guys that you can maneuver around at the cornerback spot it's that safety position in my opinion where I think it really gets a little interesting because guys like Brian B Mar Keith Williams um even a guy like Isaiah Thomas who's a incoming freshman that's been battled through injuries um and Jaden Harris who I mentioned um those are going to be guys that are really going to have to take themselves to the next level in order to get some playing time this year um and that's not even to mention a guy like Isaiah Taylor who I think someone asked about earlier Jason Taylor's son um who's really getting himself established at Miami as well but at the end of the day I think you need another safety in my opinion um and that's going to be a position to look out for in the transfer portal but we were at seven names you know I think someone like Brian balum markei Williams uh Demetrius freeny who's a cornerback a Joo guy that we got last cycle I think between those three guys maybe two guys lead the program even a guy like Caleb Spencer maybe possibly um so out of the four names maybe two leave so now you're at nine to 10 players right there so you're right at the number of what I talked about at the beginning of the show what you're trying to hit and that allows you mark to go into the transfer portal and at least get three key contributors to bring on this football team to really elevate it to the next level and me personally I think it's got to be a running back a wide receiver and a safety okay so much to look out for here in 12 days everyone April 16th is the date uh which is I actually think it's the 15th Mark I I could be mistaken but I thought it was the 15 15th I think it's the 15th oh you know what yes yes it is the 15th the 15th is I was thinking the 15th is Sunday the 15th is Monday so it is Monday April 15 absolutely and um that's about halfway through of course the month of April and the spring games are all in the month of April across college football so it creates this very odd situation with not most teams but there will be players that are going to be entering the transfer portal while they're still in Spring practice absolutely and I mean we're already starting to see you know we're what 12 days away from it officially opening and we're already starting to see guys you know through thirdparty sites and others already write articles of some guys already entering the transfer portal and visiting other program so when you're able to do things like that just like the first wave of transfer portals when it hit you saw about a week week in a half before it officially opened these names were already starting to come out that they were going to enter the portal so that's where back channeling and having a good staff in place that is very good at communication and being able to be upfront and honest and having a specific Board of needs of what you're looking for really comes in handy and that's where Miami and Mario are really good at capitalizing you also have a coach and Andrew Rogers who is known for getting good transfer portal guys you saw what he did a few years ago at Michigan State that one season of really getting in a big Powerhouse of guys to come into to Michigan State so I expect something very similar with Miami but they're they're going to be very specific and picky on who they bring um which is why I'm very surprised about the ralo height situation but again from a numbers and stats standpoint and guys that we are hoping to contribute to the program it does make sense to possibly look at another pass rusher this year because you can never get enough pass rushers just like offensive lineman and running backs we've got about 160 folks online and some of you are watching on Facebook and Twitter so just keep in mind that you can jump on YouTube in future weeks if you catch us on X or on um Facebook let's say U to ask questions and make comments you get to join us on YouTube We love you checking us out wherever but just keep in mind comments and questions you got to be here on YouTube and we've got our guy Demetrius who wants to know if you have any clue as to whether either side of the line of scrimmage looks more impressive through 10 workouts here you know the the o line dline has been very similar to the wide receiver cornerback battles all throughout spring it's really iron sharp sharp iron there's been some key you know matchups I think um someone like Ruben Bane you know going head-to-head against Zack Carpenter in practice at times is really helping Zack Carpenter um you know Iron and sharpen his game because he's the guy that transferred from Indiana um who has not played in the ACC yet and having a guy like Ruben Bane to go up against him and practice every single day um is going to be something to watch you also have you know Jaylen Rivers who has obviously been our one of our best offensive lineman at the University of Miami and has really cemented himself at that left tackle position you have some young guys like you know Maris Lightfoot Elijah Austin the transfer I brought up from Marshall those are two guys in particular who's really able to get that iron sharpen iron with someone like Jaylen Rivers who is probably gonna be the best tackle they face all football season so that's another good battle to watch out for um and then ANZ Cooper ANZ Cooper has probably had one of the most consistent Springs of this football season and he he just continues to reshape his body I mean it's it's incredible the night and day um not only statistic wise but from just a body frame uh standpoint of how he really transformed his game and body from his freshman year to to now um it really goes to show you the commitment that a guy like ANZ Cooper has really been able to bring but um on the defensive line I would say some other guys that probably have stood out at times other than Elijah Austin um Harrison hunt um has had a couple practices as well that has been pretty good um Marley cook a transfer um as well from metal Tennessee he's a young man that I've uh been able to talk to several times um he is an incredible young man off the football field but he's been doing a lot of good stuff on the football field uh I expect him to be one of the the top three Tech defensive tackles we have on this program this year uh so I think he's been doing well um but I'm also excited for some other guys that will be coming into the program very shortly uh guys like Justin Scott um artavius blunt um is another one between those two guys um you're really bringing in I'm sorry Armando blunt and artavius Jones I put the two names together so those three guys right there um have not entered the program yet and when those three get in there you're really going to see from a measurable standpoint these are three guys that we just don't have in the in in in the D tackle room uh most of our guys that from a physical standpoint look like the three guys I just mentioned they're they don't have it height-wise they're either they're either short and stocky or they're tall and not as big these three guys they got the both uh both the best Best of Both Worlds and they're all true freshman and guys that every school in the nation wanted um so I think those three guys I think one or two can easily be key contributors right away maybe a Justin Scott um or amond blunt