With a breakout star sidelined, veteran leaders and hungry underclassmen like Cam Pruitt must step up to solidify the Miami Hurricanes' defensive rotation.
MIAMI, Fla. – Along with the major injury news to running back CharMar “Marty” Brown and wide receiver Joshua Moore, Miami Hurricanes sophomore linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin Jr. will be sidelined for “a few weeks” with a lower-body injury, head coach Mario Cristobal announced on the Joe Rose Show on Monday.
The 19-year-old was on pace for a breakout season. In three games (35 total snaps), he logged nine total tackles, three solos and six assists, and a tackle for loss. Marcelin Jr.’s absence will require others to step up. Eighth-year Mohamed Toure and sixth-year Chase Smith are the clear starters, but who backs them up?
Junior Cam Pruitt likely has the best chance to push for an expanded role. In the first three games of this season, he’s logged just 32 snaps. Pruitt has a 61.3 overall defensive grade, according to Pro Football Focus, which is higher than Toure (47.5) and Smith (54.5).
The Theodore (Ala.) native has been with the Coral Gables program for three seasons now, officially joining in 2024 as a three-star recruit. In the previous two years, Pruitt logged 21 total tackles, 11 solos and 10 assists, two tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a pass broken up, and an interception in 28 games.
Redshirt junior Kamal Bonner is another prime candidate to emerge from the shadows. He only appeared in nine games last season, mostly on special teams. Bonner was productive for North Carolina State in 2024: 56 total tackles, 23 solos and 33 assists, seven tackles for loss, and a sack in 13 games (seven starts).
The Moultrie (Ga.) native currently has the best run-defense grade (81.9) and is tied for the best tackling grade (82.5) with sophomore Kellen Wiley Jr., who is another candidate to crack the Hurricanes’ linebacker rotation. Last season, he appeared in nine games, primarily on special teams. Wiley Jr. was a four-star recruit coming from Armwood High School in Seffner (Fla.).
Alongside them, three freshmen (Justin “JJ” Edwards, Jordan Campbell, and Karsten Burch) make up the Hurricanes’ linebacker room. Cristobal doesn’t discriminate against whoever deserves to play meaningful snaps. However, every player has to prove it on Greentree Practice Fields and the Carol Saffor Indoor Practice Facility.
The Hurricanes will have to navigate through several injuries, both major and minor, ahead of Saturday’s matchup against Central Michigan at Hard Rock Stadium. Afterwards, the schedule consists of seven Atlantic Coast Conference opponents and a primetime road trip against Notre Dame.
Anthony Aguirre covers the Miami Hurricanes and Miami Heat for Roundtable Sports. Contact info for tips/info: [email protected] & 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
