The backstory of why UM added a backup linebacker who rarely played
Among the Hurricanes’ offseason transfer portal additions, K.J. Cloyd was among the most surprising because he played only 140 defensive snaps last season and started just one game in three seasons at Louisville.
So why did UM allocate a scholarship for a backup player on a Louisville team that went 11-15 in the Atlantic Coast Conference the past three seasons?
In large part because his position coach for those three years at Louisville has considerable faith in him. And that coach, Derek Nicholson, is now coaching linebackers at Miami.
Nicholson explained that Cloyd’s lack of playing time for the Cardinals was largely a byproduct of playing behind three older linebackers who are now in the NFL. And UM needed depth at the position.
“K.J. has always been a freakish athlete, ever since we signed him in 2020,” Nicholson said. “He’s a sub 4.5-guy. He can fly. He is right around the 230 range, every bit 6-2. He always had the physical attributes. He played defensive end in high school. Him playing off the ball was going to be a transition for him. Each and every year, he got a little better.
“He was behind [players who joined the Falcons and Bears and Jaguars], NFL guys. He learned from guys in front of him. I always said if the light switch ever clicked, ‘ooh, look out!’ You kind of saw that at the tail of last year. You saw it in workouts this summer. It’s clicked. We’re very excited to see him this fall camp.”
Cloyd’s quick scouting report of himself: “I can run and I can tackle.”
His career stats on defense are modest: 40 tackles (0.5 for loss) and no sacks or interceptions in 28 games.
Cloyd will offer depth behind Wesley Bissainthe and could even compete with him for the starting weak-side linebacker job.
Corey Flagg Jr. also is an option for the weak-side linebacker if Washington State transfer Francisco Mauigoa beats out Flagg for the middle linebacker job, as expected. Mauigoa opened fall camp as the starting middle linebacker.
Flagg and the other linebackers have cross-trained at multiple positions.
“I’m excited about Kiko,” Nicholson said of Mauigoa, who had an excellent spring at UM and was rated among the top linebackers in the Pacific 12 last season by Pro Football Focus. “The instinct part of his game and awareness you can’t teach. His biggest strength is his brain.”
Bissainthe, who graded out well against the run as a UM freshman last year, was average in the spring, but the four-star recruit has a high ceiling.
“From the season to the spring, he made some small leaps physically,” Nicholson said. “From the beginning of spring practice, when we installed a brand new defense, to the end of spring practice, he made quite a bit of a leap from an execution standpoint and understanding not only what his job is but to play his game and execute the defense at the same time.
“He’s going to continue to make strides. He really wants it.”
Bissainthe opened fall camp with the starters. But Nicholson said “the biggest thing in our room is a guy can be a first-teamer one day and can be on the fourth team the next day” if he doesn’t perform at practice.
Bissainthe said UM notified him before the Canes added Cloyd and admits that’s “setting a fire” under him.
“They want me to be more consistent,” Bissainthe said. “I could have done better [in the spring].”
Does he believe the weak-side linebacker job is his or does he believe he’s in competition with Cloyd and others (including Flagg potentially)?
“I’m going to take me every time,” Bissainthe said.
Nicholson, incidentally, followed Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield from Louisville during the offseason after three seasons on the Cardinals staff. But Nicholson then joined UM’s staff - before ever coaching a game at Cincinnati - after Charlie Strong left UM’s staff when he was bypassed for the defensive coordinator job that went to Lance Guidry.
This story was originally published August 2, 2023 at 10:41 AM.
