Tag Archive for: Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes land Maryland transfer DL Darrell Jackson

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The Miami Hurricanes landed transfer defensive lineman Darrell Jackson on Tuesday. He made the announcement in a tweet on Tuesday evening.

Jackson most recently played at Maryland. He played in eight games in 2021, recording 22 total tackles on the year. He had six tackle outings against Illinois on September 17 and Virginia Tech on December 29.

One of the biggest things Jackson can bring to the Miami Hurricanes is size. He measures in at six-foot-six, 274 pounds. There is a common misconception when it comes to defensive lineman that they should be pass-rushers. However, Jackson should be viewed more as a space-filler which will help when it comes to defending the run game.

Jackson also has ties to the Florida area. He played his high school football for Gadsen  County.

When you look at the new additions that the Miami Hurricanes have made just in the last month or so, it is clear that the coaching staff wants to remake the defensive line. They were able to bring in Akheem Mesidor and Mitchell Agude within the last month. It is not as though the Hurricanes do not want to develop players on that side of the football at this time. They want proven impact players. This is exactly what the transfer portal is for, and Mario Cristobal’s  not afraid to use it.

Although Jackson’s statistics do not exactly pop off the page, he does bring ACC experience as well as a bit of playing time to his resume. He has the opportunity to be a force in the trenches for Miami. Jackson may be a bit more raw in comparison to some of the other commitments we have seen over the last month. However, the potential is there, and coaching staff is in place for him to develop and be an impact player.

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Miami Hurricanes land much-needed LB depth with Caleb Johnson

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The Miami Hurricanes picked up another player from the transfer portal on Friday, as UCLA linebacker Caleb Johnson committed to the program.

This is Miami’s second UCLA transfer in less than a month, as they picked up edge defender Mitchell Agude last month.

Johnson started in 17 games over the course of two seasons with the Bruins. He tallied 89 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, and 5.5 sacks. Before joining UCLA, he had a junior-college stint at Fullerton.

Last season, he had 45 tackles. His best game statistically came against Arizona on October 9. In that contest, he recorded seven tackles.

This is a big pick up for the Miami Hurricanes. As evidenced by the spring game, Miami still needs help at the linebacker position. Mario Cristobal is not afraid to use the transfer portal, and bringing in Johnson allows them to have additional experience at the position.

Miami continues to add to going to 2022 class via the transfer portal. In total, they have nine transfers in the class . The class itself ranks 13th overall nationally per the 247Sports Team Rankings.

The Miami Hurricanes addressed a depth problem with this latest news. Currently, they have Keontra Smith, Corey Flagg Jr., and Gilbert Frierson. Adding some experience is important for the position. Experience is a major weakness for Miami currently, and now this will help bolster it.

There is also some familiarity between coach and player. Cristobal extended an offer to Johnson while the coach was at Oregon.

Overall, this is a big get for the Miami hurricanes. We have seen throughout the offseason how this current and coaching staff is getting players they are familiar with be of the transfer portal. This is another case of that type of scenario. Johnson will give Miami some much-needed juice at the position.

 

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Miami Hurricanes fill big need with Akheem Mesidor pickup

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There was some major news for the Miami Hurricanes on Wednesday as they landed on West Virginia transfer defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor.

Mesidor was offered by the likes of Auburn, USC, and Tennessee, but the Miami hurricanes managed to beat those schools for his services.

Mesidor measures in at six-foot-two, 272 pounds. He played in 12 games last season recording 38 total tackles and a sack. His best game statistically came in the team’s opener against Maryland. He recorded nine tackles in that contest.

His numbers were a bit down from what was a solid 2020 season. That year, he appeared in 10 games and recorded 32 tackles. He was more of a pass-rusher, recording five sacks on the season.

What could he bring to Miami Hurricanes?

Mesidor brings experience to the Miami Hurricanes’ defensive line. This is something that they desperately need. The Hurricanes have the talent on the line, just not a bunch of experience. Jared Harrison-Hunte and Leonard Taylor are two players on the line that have talent. However, they are going to need to develop a bit more.

Mesidor allows for the Hurricanes to have experience as they look to bridge the gap to the younger players. He is somebody that can play right away on the line, and it gives them immediate help at the position. For the Hurricanes, this is more of a question of having game-ready depth than not having enough depth at all.

With the addition of Mesidor the Miami Hurricanes have now added four defensive lineman via the transfer portal this offseason. This is an area that the program obviously wants to address, and they have done so to this point.

How it all shakes out is going to be the next question, but the addition of Mesidor looks very good on paper. He gives Miami some breathing room at the position.

 

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Miami Hurricanes: Transfer DL Darrell Jackson visiting this weekend

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The Miami Hurricanes are set to get a visit from transfer defensive lineman Darrell Jackson this weekend. This was first reported by Gaby Urrutia of InsideTheU.

Jackson played at Maryland in 2021. He appeared in 13 games, recording 22 total tackles. He had two stand out games in the 2021 season. The first one came against Illinois. In that contest, he recorded six tackles. His second big game came against Virginia Tech. He also recorded six tackles in that contest.

As of this moment, Jackson appears to be leaning towards Florida. Nevertheless, he is going to take a visit to Miami as he tours several schools.

What could he bring to Miami Hurricanes?

Jackson is a space-filler, something that could help Miami in terms of stopping the run. He measures in at six-foot-six, 274 pounds, making him an ideal size to fill gaps. Jackson’s athleticism could help Miami as they look to keep pace with the top teams in the ACC defensively.  In addition, he would give Hurricanes another speed piece on the defensive line.

Miami does have some talent on the defensive line. There are young faces such as Leonard Taylor and Nyjalik Kelly. There are also veterans at the position such as Jacob Lichtenstein and Jared Harrison-Hunte. The latter should be a key piece of the Miami Hurricanes defensive line for this year.

Miami has a nice mix of veteran pieces and young talent right now at the position. Bringing in a player like Jackson could give them a nice bridge piece as the upperclassman exit and the younger players develop.

Although it sounds like Miami is not the favorite in this scenario, it’s a positive development that Jackson is at least taking a visit to Coral Gables. We have all heard about head coach Mario Cristobal’s recruiting pitches. It sounds like he will have to make a strong one here.

 

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Miami Hurricanes emerging as top choice for 2024 RB Drew Pickett

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More recruits were on the campus Thursday for the Miami Hurricanes. One player in particular was impressed during his visit.

2023 three-star running back Drew Pickett was impressed with his visit to Miami, per a report from Matt Shodell of Canesport.com. As noted in Shodell’s report, Pickett indicated that UM was his “probably No.1 choice.”

Pickett is a three-star running back. He is the 41st overall running back in the 2023 class, and the 29th overall player in his class from the state of Alabama per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

His offer sheet includes Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Michigan State, and Ole Miss. It is worth noting that he was recruited by Kevin Smith  while the latter was at Ole Miss.

What could he bring to Miami Hurricanes?

Pickett measures in at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds. He is a one-cut running back. As soon as he finds a hole  he bursts through it and is able to find the open field. One of the things that was noticeable in the highlights I watched was his vision. He was able to cut quickly in order to find open space.

Pickett rushed for 1,352 yards and 11 touchdowns for Holtville High School last season.

Currently, the Miami Hurricanes 2023 recruiting class ranks 18th overall nationally and third overall in the ACC per the 247 sports team rankings. Most recently, the program was able to get a commitment from offensive tackle Frankie Tinlau.

This is another example where the Miami Hurricanes running back room is being remade. When you look at some of the new names at the position such as Henry Parrish and Tre’Vonte Citizen, this running back room is being set up for the future.

Kevin Smith wants to fill the running back room with impact playmakers. Pickett would certainly fit the bill. It will be intriguing to see where his recruitment goes from here, especially with Miami being a high-priority school.

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Miami Hurricanes: Mario Cristobal impressed with WR Brashard Smith

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With the spring game coming up on Saturday, Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal highlighted players that he thought stood out on Thursday. One of those players was wide receiver Brashard Smith, per David Lake of InsideTheU.com.

Smith is in line for a bigger role in the 2022 season. As a freshman, he recorded 14 catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 14.2 yards per reception last year. At 5-foot-10, 194 pounds, he is not the tallest receiver. Nevertheless, he is explosive.

Smith showed that explosiveness in two games in particular last season. He caught five passes for 91 yards and a touchdown against Central Connecticut State University on September 25. He also caught two passes for 90 yards and a touchdown against Virginia Tech on November 20.

Although he did not put up major numbers last season, Smith showed a little bit of what he could do. One statistic that really stood out was his yards per catch. He averaged 14.2 yards per reception last season, showcasing his ability to spread the field. That number ranked sixth among all Miami Hurricanes pass-catchers.

Head coach Mario Cristobal believes that Smith has been able to progress at a high level. As noted in a report from Lake, the head coach believes that Smith has been able to turn a corner this spring.

Following Thursday’s practice, Cristobal highlighted slot receiver Brashard Smith for his strong play: “A guy that is worth mentioning is Brashard Smith. The last three or four practices he has turned a corner and I told him that when he was going off the field because it was noticeable with the difference he made for the offense. He is a physical, tough guy.”

The importance of Smith’s progress should not be understated. Especially if the outside wide receivers are struggling over a course of the game, a slot receiver is a quarterback’s best friend. Particularly on third and long situations, slot receivers can help move the chains and gain those crucial yards after the catch.

If Smith can continue to work on his physicality and explosiveness, he could be yet another weapon for quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. Last season, we got a small chance to see what Smith could do. This year, he could have a chance to make a big impact.

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Miami Hurricanes land key offensive lineman in Jonathan Denis

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The Miami Hurricanes were able to land a commitment on Saturday evening. Interior offensive lineman Jonathan Denis committed to the program.

Denis has four seasons of eligibility remaining. He made his commitment announcement on Twitter Saturday evening.

As a prospect, Denis was a four-*recruit. He was the 14th overall offensive guard in his class, and the 53rd overall player in the 2020 class from the state of Florida per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He committed to Oregon on July 27,2019.

A good get for Miami Hurricanes

This is another example of the coaching staff getting one of their guys. Denis was recruited by Alex Mirabal at Oregon. Denis has the ability to strike as soon as the ball is snapped. In particular, his ability to stand firm while pass-blocking should be an asset for the Hurricanes.

Not only does he block, he finishes them with force. That type of physical play style will be helpful to Miami in terms of the running game especially. In terms of pass-blocking, this allows him to give a clean pocket to the quarterbacks.

This marks the second Oregon offensive lineman that the Hurricanes have landed from the transfer portal. Miami was also able to grab Logan Sagapolu in January.

This is certainly a good depth get for Miami. The Hurricanes have experience on the line for 2022. D.J. Scafie Jr. Jakai Clark, Jalen Rivers, Justice Oluwaseun and, Zion Nelson, and John Campbell should all be a huge part of the line. Denis should add depth to the group, and he gives the coaching staff another player they are familiar with.

Overall, this is a strong get for the Miami Hurricanes. As they continue to build the program, the coaches  added some familiarity to the roster. Depth is the name of the game in college football. The Miami Hurricanes recognize that.

 

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Miami Hurricanes: Four-star QB Jadyn Davis impressed with program

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The Miami Hurricanes have been busy on the recruiting trail over the past couple of days. With several big-time visitors coming to campus, we are beginning to hear their impressions of Coral Gables. One of those prospects is quarterback Jadyn Davis.

Davis is a five-star recruit. He is the second overall player nationally in the 2024 class. He is the top quarterback in his class, and the top player from the state of North Carolina per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Davis has an extensive offer sheet. Boasting 24 offers in total, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and Texas are among the schools that have offered him. Miami has also extended him an offer as well.

What could he bring to Miami Hurricanes?

Davis has a unique skill set. In addition to being able to throw the ball down the field, he can also roll out of the pocket and make accurate throws. He stands strong in the pocket, identifies his target, and gets rid of the ball quickly. His decision-making was evident on his highlight tape. He did not hesitate, he identified the open receiver and got rid of the ball quickly.

The quick throws and accurate decision-making are two of his best qualities.

The quarterback was impressed by his visit to Miami. He has Miami high up on his list per a report from Matt Shodell of Canesport.

Currently, the Miami Hurricanes do not have anybody in the 2024 class. Right now, a lot of the focus is being put on 2023. With the way this coaching staff can recruit, the 2024 class could have a chance to be special as well.

As the Miami Hurricanes continue to build momentum in recruiting, this news regarding Davis is promising. Miami seems to want to get an impact quarterback, and that is needed to be successful in today’s brand of college football.

 

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Miami Hurricanes, Alex Mirabal pushing for Indiana OL commit

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The Miami hurricanes are going after offensive lineman, as they continue their quest to build the program. William Larkins has been hearing from the Miami Hurricanes “ all the time” according to a report from Matt Shodell of Canesport.

Larkins is currently committed to Indiana. He did so on March 31. However, he continues to hear from  offensive line coach Alex Mirabal quite frequently.

During the recruiting process, he also had offers from Florida Atlantic and Michigan. He was rated as a three-star lineman, and went to Chaminade-Madonna Prep.

What could he bring to Miami Hurricanes?

In watching some of his highlights, it was evident that he was a versatile lineman. He has the ability to stand firm with defensive lineman, and provide adequate pass protection. However, that was not the only thing he was able to do successfully. His agility was extremely noticeable, and it helped him get out in front on screen plays.

This is the type of lineman that this coaching staff wants to recruit. Not only do these lineman have to be solid pass-protectors. They have to assert their dominance physically on their matchup, and they have to be solid all-around athletes. Larkins certainly fits the bill here.

Currently, the Miami Hurricanes 2023 recruiting class ranks 19th nationally and third overall in the ACC per the 247Sports Team Rankings. This is a class that they are going to continue to build out. We have seen several visitors on campus over the past couple of days. With Larkins already working to plan his visit, he could be yet another talented recruit to check out the Coral Gables campus.

Although Larkin is already committed to Indiana, it would be difficult to count the Miami Hurricanes out of any recruiting battle. The program is on a roll, and it will be intriguing to see if Larkin will be a part of it.

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Miami Hurricanes: RB Cedric Baxter Jr to visit campus Wednesday evening

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The Miami Hurricanes will have a visitor on campus Wednesday. 2023 four-star running back Cedric Baxter Jr. will be on campus Wednesday. this was first reported by Gaby Urrutia of 247Sports.

Baxter is the second overall running back in his class and the seventh overall player in his class from the state of Florida per the 247Sports Rankings.

Baxter has an extensive offer sheet. He has offers from Florida, Miami, and Florida State. In addition to those three, he also has offers from the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Texas. With 52 offers in total, he is a sought-after player.

He rushed for 1,718 yards and 26 touchdowns for Edgewater High School last fall. He also played a small role in the passing game, catching seven passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

Baxter is as explosive as running backs him. He can get to the second level quickly, as well as burst through the holes. He has good vision as a runner, and that allows him to explode on edge running plays. If a hole is not open in the middle of the line, he can bounce to the outside quickly without hesitation.

He would bring an immediate impact to the Miami running game. He has been compared to Alabama Crimson Tide running back Brian Robinson. The comparison is noticeable, given that Baxter has the same type of speed burst. He also brings the same type of north-south game to the table.

Currently, the 2023 Miami Hurricanes recruiting class has four commitments. The class itself ranks 19th nationally and third overall in the ACC per the 247Sports Team Rankings. If he were to commit to the program, Baxter would be the highest-rated commitment in the class.

Mario Cristobal and his coaching staff are recruiting at a torrid pace. It seems like every day, there are talented recruits visiting the campus. That probably won’t change anytime soon.

 

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