Key defensive minds depart the Miami Hurricanes for NFL opportunities, leaving coach Mario Cristobal to rebuild a crucial unit for National Championship aspirations.
The Miami Hurricanes were successful in revamping the roster with transfer portal additions and retaining key contributors. However, the coaching staff will look different in certain areas. The program already lost tight ends coach Cody Woodiel, who's currently in the SEC with the Ole Miss Rebels, and running backs coach Matt Merritt to the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals. Despite coming off a National Championship appearance, they've taken career-boosting opportunities.
Merritt won't leave for the West Coast alone, as it was reported on Friday that defensive pass game coordinator Zac Etheridge will be the next cornerback coach for the Cardinals. He played a massive role in the Hurricanes' turnaround, especially on the defensive side of the field.
The Cardinals are cleaning house, especially with the hiring of Mike LaFleur as head coach, after serving a couple of seasons as an offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams. The team ranked among the league's worst defenses, allowing 28.7 points per game.
The Hurricanes' job will be an attraction for candidates in college football. They retained key secondary pieces in OJ Frederique, Damari Brown, Zechariah Poyser, Xavier Lucas, and Bryce Fitzgerald.
Plus, the addition of safety Omar Thornton from the transfer portal. He's coming off an excellent season with the Boston College Eagles: 82 total tackles, 56 solos and 26 assists, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, four forced fumbles, one pass defended, and an interception in 12 games.
Despite losing veterans Keionte Scott and Jakobe Thomas to the NFL draft, the Hurricanes have a ton of exciting players looking to step up.
Also, former Oregon State Beavers safety Conrad Hussey joins the program after a down season. He only appeared in three games, recording five total tackles, three solos and two assists, and 0.5 tackles for loss. However, the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native was a four-star recruit coming out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School and had a consistent role with the Florida State Seminoles. Hussey recorded 40 total tackles, 25 solos and 15 assists, three passes defended, two forced fumbles, and an interception in 24 total games throughout two seasons.
The Hurricanes' secondary was a weakness in the National Championship 27-21 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers. Whether it was missing tackles or getting exposed on the back-shoulder pass, the defense wasn't holding up beyond the line of scrimmage. Plus, there was a unique circumstance with Lucas missing the entire first half due to a targeting call in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl semifinals against the Ole Miss Rebels.
Regardless, coach Mario Cristobal is strategic with hiring his staff. It will be an interesting situation to observe once candidates are reported.
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