As Ahmad Moten Sr. and Justin Scott crack PFF’s top-10 rankings, these interior powerhouses prepare to anchor the Miami Hurricanes' defense and fuel a historic title run.
Miami, FL. – The Miami Hurricanes will be without edge rushers Akheem Mesidor and All-American Rueben Bain Jr., both of whom were first-round selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the football program retained a new potential star duo within the interior. Defensive tackles Ahmad Moten Sr. and Justin Scott are projected to take a jump in production, potentially elevating both’s futures on the field.
In PFF’s 2027 Big Board, both Hurricanes' interior talents are ranked among the top 10 for defensive tackles:
- Moten Sr.: No. 6 | 55 overall rank
- Scott: No. 9 | 95 overall rank
Both prospects will have a heavier spotlight on them ahead of next season, especially after the latest departures. However, it presents an opportunity for them to display all the hard work from behind the scenes and talents on the field.
Moten Sr. is currently a fifth-year senior, redshirting in 2022 as a freshman. The 22-year-old is coming off a career season, the first as a full-time starter: 31 total tackles, 20 solos and 11 assists, nine tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks in 14 games. He battled through injuries in the College Football Playoffs, limited to 52 snap counts in the National Championship game.
Spring practices concluded on April 18, but Moten Sr. did not participate due to offseason recovery. The expectation is that the veteran defensive tackle will be fully ready ahead of fall camp.
Scott played both as a starter and reserve as a sophomore, showing strong production: 26 total tackles, 15 solos and 11 assists, 6.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, a pass broken up, and a pass defended, appearing in 15 games, including nine starts. As David Blay Jr. departed the program for the 2026 NFL Draft, signing with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent, there is a clear pathway for the 20-year-old to be a full-time starter.
The Hurricanes are the early favorites to win the Atlantic Coast Conference, which would be a first in program history. If the team manages to take care of business, they will have a strong chance of returning to the College Football Playoffs, potentially carving out another National Championship run.
Moten Sr. and Scott are likely to play expanded roles, which will directly result in the Hurricanes’ success for next season. If both manage to live up to projected productions, the program will likely send another pair of defensive linemen to the NFL draft with first-round potential.
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