Hetherman, Hurricanes defense ‘going to create havoc up front’ in title game vs. Indiana
If there’s any team in the College Football Playoff that should have a proper understanding of the Miami Hurricanes’ defense, it’s probably the Indiana Hoosiers.
After all, UM defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman worked for three seasons under Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti when the two were together helping turn James Madison into a powerhouse at the Football Championship Subdivision level from 2019 to 2021, during which time they reached the FCS title game once and the FCS semifinals twice.
Four years later, the two are on opposite sidelines competing for a national championship as the No. 10 Hurricanes (13-2) play the No. 1 Hoosiers (15-0) on Monday at Hard Rock Stadium (7:30 p.m., ESPN).
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Corey,” Cignetti said Monday. “He did a tremendous job. I hated to see him go. I hold him in very high regard. He’s one of the best football coaches I’ve ever been around. His day-in-and-day-out intensity and his commitment to the game is unparalleled.”
Hetherman had two more stops after his three years at James Madison before landing at Miami. He served as the linebackers coach at Rutgers under Greg Schiano from 2022-23 and then was the defensive coordinator at Minnesota last season.
But at each of his stops, while the specific scheme might evolve, one constant remains with Hetherman.
“He’s going to create havoc up front,” Cignetti said.
That’s been the driving force of the Hurricanes’ success this season. The Hurricanes have forced 47 sacks and 96 tackles for loss this season. They are one of the best nationally at stopping the run, allowing the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game (86.47) and 10th-fewest yards per rush (2.95). And they use that chaos up front to generate turnovers on the back end, with Miami’s 25 total turnovers (16 interceptions, nine fumble recoveries) tied for the ninth most nationally.
Indiana should be prepared for it because it runs a fairly similar defensive approach under Bryant Haines, who was co-defensive coordinator with Hetherman at James Madsion, then took over the full-time duties when Hetherman departed and kept that role when he followed Cignetti to Indiana in 2024.
“I was fortunate to have Bryant Haines on my staff, who was ready to step into that role,” Cignetti said. “They’re a little different because they’re different people. And Bryant likes to do a lot of the different things, but we do them well. But the philosophy is still the same in terms of it all starts up front. Statistically, since Bryant’s taken over, it’s about like it was when Corey was the coordinator. We’re always in the top five in total defense, one or two against the run, very high in TFLs and sacks.
“But in terms of the schematics — you know, man, zone, the kind of blitzes, the fronts — we’ve changed a little bit. And I’ve seen Corey change based on what I’m seeing on tape.”
Hetherman pinpoints Miami’s success on defense to three fundamental factors: Physicality, swarming to the ball and communication.
“I think the group has continued to grow from April through the summer into August into preseason camp,” Hetherman said. “They continue to trust each other, they continue to play fast, and they’ve grown together as a unit.”
And he credits a lot of individual players for the buy in and being essentially extensions of the coaching staff on the field.
Like Akheem Mesidor, the Hurricanes’ leader the team in tackles for loss (15.5) and sacks (10.5), who pulled players together starting in the summer to make sure they were on the same page.
Like Rueben Bain Jr., the other half of Miami’s one-two edge rushing punch with Mesidor whose competitive drive starts on the practice field and extends to the film room, extra sessions with defensive line coach Jason Taylor and ultimately to the game.
Like Keionte Scott, who transferred in after spring ball had already ended and managed to make an instant impact with his work ethic and practice habits that have shown up all over the field — the nickel corner has two interceptions (both returned for touchdowns), 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and 61 total tackles.
Like linebacker Mohamed Toure, who played under Hetherman at Rutgers and had the firsthand knowledge of what is required for the defensive scheme to succeed.
The list keeps going.
“I think that’s pulled the entire defense off,” Hetherman said. “It’s just the belief in one another and their confidence.”
And now comes one of the defense’s toughest tasks in the Hoosiers, a team that enters the title game averaging the second-most points nationally (42.6) and has outscored its two playoff opponents thus far by a combined 94-25.
They play relatively mistake-free football on offense, giving up just eight total turnovers (seven interceptions and one lost fumble) and only allowing multiple giveaways once.
However, Indiana has given up 22 sacks and 60 tackles for loss, opening the door for UM’s defensive front to wreak that havoc that Hetherman loves to generate if it can execute.
And Cignetti is making sure Indiana is prepared for what’s to come.
“He’s going to attack,” Cignetti said. “The way he goes about it is a little different than the way he went about it at JMU. But the way we go about it offensively is a little different, too.”