Miami Hurricanes’ defensive transformation gives them a chance for a championship
When Corey Hetherman arrived to the University of Miami in January to be the Hurricanes’ next defensive coordinator, UM coach Mario Cristobal called him a “star in the making.”
He was handed a massive task: Overhaul an entire unit that just a season ago struggled so much down the stretch that it kept a team with the nation’s top offense out of the College Football Playoff.
“You look at a guy that is really intentional, hard-working, great relationship and connection guy,” Cristobal said then. “... He is a guy that can certainly elevate the standard of our program defensively and from a cultural standpoint.”
Hetherman, who is one of five finalists for the Broyles Award given annually to college football’s top assistant coach, has exceeded almost any rational expectation that could have been placed on him. Miami’s defense has transformed into one of the most elite in all college football this season, making massive strides across the board.
It’s a big reason why the Hurricanes made College Football Playoff this season, sneaking in as the final at-large team into the 12-team field.
And it’s the reason the Hurricanes advanced past the first round.
No. 10 seed Miami beat No. 7 seed Texas A&M 10-3 behind a defense that produced seven sacks, nine tackles for loss and three turnovers while holding an Aggies team that averaged 36.3 points per game entering the game to just a field goal. Texas A&M had just 89 rushing yards, the ninth time in 13 games Miami held an opponent to fewer than 100 rushing yards.
It now has Miami (11-2) set up to face the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1) in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31 in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs. Kickoff from AT&T Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
“A year ago, we had a tough time stopping people on defense,” Cristobal said. “This was one of those games where we felt like we were holding good and knocking them back. The confidence that [the defense] brings is off the charts. They were the difference.”
They’ve been the difference — a needed difference — all season.
Miami knew it needed to make a change last season after the defense’s collapse as the 2024 campaign progressed. The Hurricanes finished the year ranked 68th nationally in scoring defense in 2024, allowing 25.3 points per game — a number that ballooned to 30.8 points per game in conference play. Miami ended the season losing three of its final four games after a 9-0 start, including giving up 42 points apiece in its final two games to Syracuse and Iowa State, which averaged 34.1 and 31.1 points per game respectively.
So out went Lance Guidry. In came Hetherman, who was coming off leading the Minnesota Golden Gophers to a breakthrough season defensively after having previous coaching stops as linebackers coach at Rutgers under Greg Schiano and three years as defensive coordinator at James Madison.
In, too, came an influx of talent. Miami hit the transfer portal hard to add needed experience on defense, bringing in a group that included both of its starting safeties (Jakobe Thomas and Zechariah Poyser), its starting nickel cornerback (Keionte Scott), two of its rotating players at outside cornerback (Xavier Lucas and Ethan O’Connor), a starting linebacker (Mohamed Toure) and a starting defensive tackle (David Blay Jr.). Returners in edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. and cornerbacks OJ Frederique Jr. and Damari Brown elevated their game. True freshman Bryce Fitzgerald became an integral piece of the puzzle, too.
The results? The Hurricanes are ranked in the top-15 nationally in points allowed per game (sixth, 13), rushing yards allowed per game (seventh, 87), yards allowed per play (eighth, 4.5), yards allowed per rush (ninth, 2.87), yards allowed per game (11th, 281.5) and opponent third-down conversion rate (13th, 31.43%).
“That defense is connected,” Hetherman said. “Now, they want to play for one another. They want to go out and compete every single series. They don’t want to let themselves down.”
His intensity was noticed instantly. The demand he was going to expect out of every player during every rep of practices and games became clear from the start. He preaches the phrase “ESV” — play with excitement, swarm to the ball, play with violence.
“He’s just always in a state of growth and development,” Cristobal said. “It’s really infectious. It’s permeated the room. ... He’s just extremely respected, not only for his knowledge and for his ability to make players better but because of his time invested. As time has gone on, our guys, our staff, everyone has gotten to realize that he’s not only an elite coach; he’s also an elite person.”
For Hetherman, growth and development are the staples that have fueled his two decades in coaching. At every stop, he made sure to pick the brains of everyone he was working with, constantly finding new ways to get an edge and make himself better.
That’s been the same since getting to Miami.
“Just learning from the style of play that our players have down here,” Hetherman said. “And then from our staff, stealing different things that we’ve done here in the past. ... Our guys re playing fast with the way we’re doing it right now.”
Hetherman’s system relies on simplicity so give players freedom to execute. He harps on three central production points, and Miami has excelled in all of them.
1.) Forcing turnovers. Miami has forced 23 this year (14 interceptions; nine fumble recoveries). That’s tied for the 15th-most nationally and is the second-most among the remaining eight teams in the playoff field, trailing only Texas Tech’s nation-leading 31 takeaways. Miami has forced multiple turnovers in eight of 13, including three three-turnover games (FSU, Syracuse, Texas A&M).
2.) Pressuring the quarterback. In addition to having 41 sacks (fourth nationally) and 88 total tackles for loss (tied for ninth nationally), UM is ranked as the second-best pass-rushing team nationally with a 92.2 grade by Pro Football Focus; only Texas Tech (92.4) is ranked higher.
3.) Limit explosive plays. The Hurricanes have given up just six total plays over 40 yards, which is tied for the sixth-fewest nationally. For comparison, Miami gave up 13 such plays (five runs, eight passes) last year.
“It’s amazing what coach Hetherman has done for not only the defense, but like the program just turning us around and the mindset he instills in us every day,” Bain said. “From the first snap to the last, the defense came to play. That’s just the way it’s going to be, especially when we’ve got someone like coach Hetherman coaching like that. It’s going to drive us every play.”
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