With stars departed, the Miami Hurricanes turn to hungry transfers and homegrown talent as a flexible, violent defensive scheme molds its next generation of dominant pass rushers.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Although losing edge rushers Akheem Mesidor and All-American Rueben Bain Jr. was significant, the Miami Hurricanes weren’t left wondering who would fill the voids.
Departures result in opportunities for others to rise. Marquise Lightfoot, Armondo Blount, and Herbert Scroggins III are in-house products that developed behind the scenes and are now looking to blossom. Joining them is Damon Wilson II, who transferred from Missouri and is coming off a nine-sack season.
Different players bring different skill sets, strengths, and talents.
Last season, defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman turned the Hurricanes into a violent and physical monstrosity. The program ranked highly in a few defensive categories in the Football Bowl Subdivision:
- Scoring defense: Fifth best (14.8 points allowed per game)
- Rushing defense: Sixth best (89.3 rushing yards allowed per game)
Third-down conversion percentage defense: 11th best – 66 successful opposing third-down conversions on 211 attempts (31.3 percent)
Mesidor and Bain Jr. played meaningful roles in the Hurricanes’ success at stoppage. However, Hetherman elaborated on adjusting a successful system to the strengths and skill sets of new players taking on bigger roles:
“We’re never going to be the same team,” he told the media on Wednesday. “We’re always going to adjust, have different fronts and techniques, and different calls that fit this year better. Whoever the 11 guys on the field are. As the season goes on, guys get banged up, we always have to be able to adjust. I’m excited about the group of guys that we have.”
Lightfoot is projected to break out, following a limited season in a reserve role, but still showed flashes. In 15 games (one start), he logged 25 total tackles, 16 solos and nine assists, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Lightfoot is a speedy edge rusher who added muscle during the summer, which will better help in to stop opposing running backs.
Wilson II is similar to Mesidor and Bain Jr. in terms of power. Last season, the 21-year-old logged 23 total tackles, nine solos and 14 assists, 9.5 tackles for loss, and led the Tigers with nine sacks in 13 games (all starts). Wilson II joined the Hurricanes to walk in the same path to success as Mesidor and Bain Jr.
Blount is the program’s Swiss Army knife – capable of setting the edge and playing in the interior. He’s likely to see more snaps on the ends at the line of scrimmage rather than inside. Blount is explosive with a relentless motor.
Scroggins III could be the biggest emergence from the shadows. In 14 games, he logged four total tackles.
Mesidor and Bain Jr. refused to leave the field, but Hetherman could rotate the edges and present different personnel. There’s familiarity within the interior, linebackers, and secondary, but the pass-rushing unit has the most to prove.
The Hurricanes feel no phase of dropoff as fall camp reaches its conclusion and the season kicks off.
Anthony Aguirre covers the Miami Hurricanes, Miami Heat, and Miami Marlins for Roundtable Sports. Contact info for tips/info: [email protected] & 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
