30 key Miami Hurricanes for 2025 season: Will Armondo Blount take the next step?
The Miami Hurricanes kick off the 2025 season on Aug. 31 with a marquee matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium (7:30 p.m., ABC).
With the calendar officially flipped to August, the Miami Herald is counting down 30 of the most important players on the Hurricanes’ roster, one per day leading up to the season opener, to provide a closer look at the team heading into coach Mario Cristobal’s fourth season.
Today: The No. 26 player on our list, Armondo Blount.
What to know
Position: Defensive lineman.
Hometown: Miami.
Year: Sophomore.
How he got to Miami: 2024 signing class.
Key stats: 8 games played, two tackles in 2024.
In summary: Armondo Blount is still inexperienced at the college level, but the Hurricanes envision big things from him heading into his sophomore season. He was a standout in the South Florida high school ranks, first at Fort Lauderdale Dillard and then Miami Central, and is slated to be in Miami’s rotation on the edge along with expected starters Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. Teammates raved about his improvement during spring practices. Now, it’s a matter of showing it on the field when it matters.
What they’re saying
“My first season, I really just mainly watched the older guys that we had in front of me and was learning the game and expanding my knowledge with football overall. … I’m learning more about the run game, learning more about the passing game, learning more about coverages, knowing why the offense does certain things, learning keys about what the offense is going to do and things like that. It’s not just about [skills for] the D line. It’s so I can have a better football IQ.” - Blount during spring practices
“That man right there, Armando Blount, I’m gonna say it every time. He’s gonna stand out. He has the highest motor I’ve seen in a player. If you’re looking for a high effort guy who’s just gonna put it on the line, it’s him.” - Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor
“He turned 18 a few weeks ago. It’s crazy. He’s been here a year and just turned 18. He’s gotten bigger, stronger. He’s healthy. He loves contact. He’s violent as hell. All the things you want in a D lineman. He’s doing a good job of learning what we’re doing in the system. He likes the [system] because it’s less having to think about stuff and just butt heads with somebody. He’s played inside; he’s played outside. Armondo is going to be a really, really, really good player.” - Hurricanes defensive line coach Jason Taylor
The rest of the series
No. 27: Wide receiver Malachi Toney
No. 28: Defensive back Ethan O’Connor
No. 29: Linebacker Kamal Bonner
No. 30: Running back CharMar Brown
This story was originally published August 5, 2025 at 8:34 AM.
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