Rousseau departure? He’s a ‘freak,’ but remaining Miami defensive linemen are ‘ballers’
With all the talk about University of Miami’s national phenom defensive end Greg Rousseau opting out of the season to eventually declare for the NFL Draft, there’s been plenty of talk about how the Canes’ defensive line will compensate.
The Hurricanes’ defensive tackles, who were heard from Tuesday on Zoom, are plenty confident about the line, which will have the nation’s former top recruit in Jaelan Phillips on one side and fellow star transfer (Temple) Quincy Roche on the other, with redshirt freshman end Jahfari Harvey expected to be a force in the rotation.
Nesta Jade Silvera, a 6-2, 305-pound junior tackle out of Plantation American Heritage, missed the first four games of 2019 after undergoing foot surgery, but is expected to make his first career start (in place of graduated senior Pat Bethel) in the Sept. 10 season home opener against Alabama-Birmingham (UAB). He has 32 tackles in two seasons, with a blocked punt and fumble recovery.
Jon Ford, a towering 6-5 and 318-pound senior out of Fort Lauderdale Dillard, started all 13 games last season, totaling 18 tackles with 3 1/2 tackles for loss and three sacks in 2019.
Ford said that during the spring when players were back home with their families quarantining, he pulled his hamstring “a little bit.’’
“It was like a little tweak,’’ he said. “I came back and got back in the building and I was working in the training room and working with the strength staff. Everything [is] pretty good. My progress — nothing really fell off.”
Ford expounded on the two starters who will anchor the the line.
“We can be incredible this year,’’ Ford said, “just with the guys off the edge. Those guys, the poise they bring to practice every day — you know, everybody is sleeping on Jaelan Phillips, and he’s a great player. And he’s a big body. He can run, move.
“And then Quincy, he’s a baller. Also, knowing the game. I’ve learned so much from him just playing next to him. With the guys inside, we come off the ball and we penetrate.
“The bond we have as a unit is unmatched. I’m real excited for this group.”
Silvera spoke about younger defensive tackles who have made a positive impression this camp. They include redshirt freshmen Jared Harrison-Hunte, Jalar Holley and Jason Blissett (who was recently moved inside from defensive end).
“Jared is very strong and very twitchy,’’ Silvera said. “Once he homes in on his craft, he’s going to be a force.’’
“And Jalar, he is a pass-rush machine. That dude could do any move you tell him to do. We call him a drill dude because he is going to do every one of those perfect.
“And Bliss, inside and outside, he definitely brings that quickness that you have on the outside when he comes inside; And he definitely brings that strength that tackles aren’t used to seeing when he goes outside.’’
Silvera weighed in on the loss of Rousseau.
“Losing Greg was obviously a tremendous loss because that’s a freak of nature out there. But we have a lot of depth. We got Jaelan — super long, super quick; Quincy is just a savvy vet. He knows football. Jahfari and [end] Cam [Williams], he made a complete 360 since March — since our first few spring practices became a dude.
“And Holley, Jordan Miller of course — those guys behind [us] are really going to help. It’s going to be something fun to watch.”
This story was originally published September 2, 2020 at 11:16 AM.
