How Miami Hurricanes’ defense depth has shown up amid multiple key injuries
The Miami Hurricanes’ defense has managed to remain one of the top units in college football in Year 1 under new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman despite dealing with an assortment of injuries.
That’s due in no small part to Miami’s improved depth across the board on that side of the ball.
The Hurricanes have been without starting cornerback OJ Frederique Jr. for four weeks, at least one starting defensive tackle (first Ahmad Moten Sr., then David Blay Jr.) for four weeks and have been without star nickel cornerback Keionte Scott for two weeks and will be without him again when Miami (9-2, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) finishes its regular-season schedule at Pittsburgh (8-3, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) on Saturday (noon, ABC). Safety Jakobe Thomas also missed most of Miami’s win against Virginia Tech after sustaining an arm injury early.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal said Monday said he is optimistic that everyone except for Scott could be available when the Hurricanes play the Panthers at Acrisure Stadium.
But UM is certainly grateful for how so many players stepped up and handled bigger roles when key players were absent and the limited dropoff that came with it.
Here’s a look at some of those younger players who have helped the Hurricanes defense continue to shine.
Justin Scott and Armondo Blount
With one of Moten or Blay out each of the past four games, the Hurricanes have turned to sophomore Justin Scott to take over in the starting lineup at one of the defensive tackle spots.
He has delivered.
Scott has 10 tackles, including a whopping five-and-a-half tackles for loss, during this four-game stretch while playing a total of 155 snaps on defense — he had just 126 total snaps in the first seven games. He also has seven total quarterback pressures in that span after having only two prior to that this season.
Meanwhile, Blount, also a sophomore, has seen additional reps along the defensive line as well during the past month. He has played 128 defensive snaps during the past four games, primarily at defensive tackle but also occasionally getting snaps on the edge. He has seven quarterback pressures, five tackles and a sack.
The Hurricanes anticipate Blay returning this week against Pittsburgh, which would give Miami its full arsenal of interior defensive lineman for the regular-season finale.
Bryce Fitzgerald and Dylan Day
Fitzgerald, a true freshman, impressed in a limited sample size early this season. He had three interceptions through his first five games while rotating onto the field in select packages.
The Hurricanes have needed him for much more as of late.
With Keionte Scott sidelined, Fitzgerald has started the past two games at nickel corner. However, he had to move back up to primarily play safety for most of the Virginia Tech game following Thomas’ injury. He played a season-high 64 snaps against the Hokies after not playing more than 38 snaps in any other game this season. Of his 289 snaps, 166 have been at free safety, 66 have been in the slot, 54 have been in the box (primarily to support in run defense) and three have been on the line of scrimmage.
Meanwhile, Day played a career-high 44 snaps against Virginia Tech after logging just 63 total defensive snaps on the season before Saturday. Of those 44 snaps, 31 came at nickel corner following Thomas’ injury which forced Fitzgerald to move up to safety.
Raul ‘Popo’ Aguirre and Chase Smith
While the Hurricanes have been relatively healthy at linebacker all season, Hetherman has been able to rotate a pair of relatively inexperienced players in to occasionally spell veterans Mo Toure and Wesley Bissainthe.
Aguirre, a junior, has a career high 32 tackles and two tackles for loss this season while averaging about 22 snaps per game.
Smith, a redshirt senior who dealt with injuries throughout his career, has a career-high 24 tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries while averaging about 17 snaps
Damari Brown, Ethan O’Connor and Xavier Lucas
Cornerback depth — or lack thereof — was a major contributor to UM’s defensive demise last season.
This year? The rotation has been a strength, even with 2024 Freshman All-American Frederique sidelined with injury the past four games.
The trio of Brown, O’Connor and Lucas — all sophomores like Frederique — have provided quality play this season. According to Pro Football Focus, the three have been targeted a combined 76 times this season and have allowed just 41 catches (a 53.9% completion rate) for 510 yards and one touchdown with six pass breakups and an interception.
Frederique, for what it’s worth, has allowed just 10 of 21 targets against him to be caught for 168 yards and a touchdown with three pass breakups in his seven games played.
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