Despite key departures, OJ Frederique Jr., Xavier Lucas, and Damari Brown return, bolstering a shutdown secondary ready for the challenge.
The Miami Hurricanes will be missing a few key secondary pieces next season in Keionte Scott and Jakobe Thomas due to not having eligibility. Both were part of the 2025 recruiting class that would impact the program tremendously. They played massive roles in the National Championship run, even earning Defensive Player of the Game in separate College Football Playoff matchups.
As Scott and Thomas have declared for the upcoming NFL draft, plus the acquisition of Omar Thornton from the Boston College Eagles through the transfer portal, it's time for others to step up. It was reported on Sunday that cornerbacks OJ Frederique Jr., Xavier Lucas, and Damari Brown are set to return for next season.
They played crucial roles for the Hurricanes' secondary, which ranked first among ACC programs with a 14.91 percent forced incompletion rate, fifth in fewest yards per catch with 11.7, third in fewest yards allowed per snap in coverage with 0.71, the lowest catch rate allowed at 58.7 percent, and first in passer rating when targeted with 70.9.
Lucas played the most out of the three returning players, 16 games, recording 45 total tackles, 30 solos and 15 assists, two tackles for loss, one sack, and an interception, with both coming against the Stanford Cardinal.
He missed the first half of the National Championship game due to an infamous targeting call against the Ole Miss Rebels in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl semifinals.
Brown has been with the program the longest, joining in 2023, but missed all College Football Playoff games due to injury. The Hurricanes felt the 20-year-old's absence, especially in the National Championship.
Frederique Jr. had a productive season, recording 19 total tackles, 12 solos and seven assists, seven passes broken up, and seven passes defended.
The addition of Thornton strengthens the Hurricanes' secondary, as he's coming off an outstanding season with the Eagles: 82 total tackles, 56 solos and 26 assists, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, and four forced fumbles in 12 games, including 11 starts.
A couple of other returning key pieces are Bryce Fitzgerald and Zechariah Poyser.
The Hurricanes' defense as a whole has a chance to be better this past season, despite the departures of edge rushers Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr. taking their talents to the NFL.
Mario Cristobal and the team seek to remain competitive, not only in the ACC but against the best in the nation.
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