Sizing up the Canes’ defensive roster, depth chart and where things stand before spring

The Miami Hurricanes haven’t released a depth chart in more than a year. But if there were such a document, here’s how it should read on defense heading into the start of spring practice on Monday:

DEFENSIVE END

This should be UM’s best position, a group headlined by Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor, Nyjalik Kelly and newcomer Elijah Alston. Bain is arguably UM’s best player, and Mesidor and Kelly are clear favorites for other spots in the top three.

Alston — based on his age, career body of work and experience playing for UM defensive coordinator Lance Guidry at Marshall — should have a clear edge for the No. 4 job. Early reviews have been positive on Alston in informal workouts.

But keep in mind that UM also can play Bain and Mesidor at defensive tackle some, too.

Mesidor and Kelly return after season-ending injuries in the third and fourth games, respectively. Mesidor was outstanding in 2022, with seven sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and four passes defended, then had a sack before the injury last season.

Kelly, a natural pass rusher, had four sacks as a freshman backup in 2022 and eight tackles (including one for loss) before his season ended prematurely last season. It will be fascinating to see if he can defend the run well enough to emerge into a top ACC starter; he certainly has the talent.

Bain was Pro Football Focus’ highest-rated freshman edge player after producing 7.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss and 45 pressures, which were most among all FBS freshmen last season.

Alston was a significant portal addition; he blossomed last season, finishing with 45 tackles, six sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. He also forced two fumbles and returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown against Old Dominion.

Pro Football Focus gave Alston a very strong 91.0 overall grade and 90.5 pass rush grade in 235 pass rush snaps last season. He had 36 quarterback pressures in addition to the six sacks last year. He has 101 tackles and 8.5 sacks over his last three seasons at Marshall.

Jayden Wayne played 135 snaps as a freshman and graded out by far the worst of all UM defenders in the Pinstripe Bowl, per PFF. But UM loves his upside.

It’s unclear what UM has in Anthony Campbell, who transferred from Louisiana Monroe before last season but then played just eight defensive snaps.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

CJ Clark, the North Carolina State transfer, is a favorite to start and a cinch to be in the rotation. His addition was critical after Leonard Taylor III opted to turn pro.

Jared Harrison-Hunte also very likely will retain his rotation spot, though Middle Tennessee transfer Marley Cook could provide worthy competition for a starting spot.

Those, on paper, seem like the top three.

Joshua Horton (32 defensive snaps last season), Ahmad Moten (129) and Thomas Gore (151) are the top options for the No. 4 job, at least to start the season.

But also keep in mind that Bain and Mesidor can play defensive tackle. So if UM’s No. 4 end (perhaps Alston) is far better than UM’s No. 4 tackle (which likely will be the case), we could see the Canes give significant work to only two or three of their natural defensive tackles (Clark, Harrison-Hunte and potentially Cook).

UM signed three talented defensive tackles — five-star prospects Justin Scott and Armondo Blount (who could end up at defensive end or tackle), and four-star defensive tackle Artavius Jones. 247 Sports rated them the third, ninth and 30th-best defensive linemen in this class. But those three will need at least some time to develop. Keep in mind Blount turned 17 this winter.

The Canes lose tackle Taylor, tackle Branson Deen and end Jahfari Harvey as rotation players from a front seven that helped UM finish No. 11 in the nation in rushing defense (105.6 yards allowed per game).

Clark, who’s 6-3 and 305 pounds, started at defensive end in the final five games of 2022 but played nose tackle this past season for the Wolfpack and had 22 tackles and one sack. He helped anchor an NC State defense that held opponents to 3.7 yards per rush, which was 31st best in the country.

Cook, who’s 6-1 and 298 pounds, had 22 tackles, 18 pressures and a sack in 12 games for Middle Tennessee State this past season. What’s more, he has 10.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss in 39 career games; that includes a sack and three pressures in Middle Tennessee’s win at UM in 2022.

That 2022 season was exceptional for Cook; he had 49 quarterback pressures that season, per PFF. It’s encouraging that Ohio State wanted to bring Cook in for a visit before he committed to Miami.

At this point, I would make Clark the favorite over Cook in the pecking order because of the ACC experience. But UM made two solid additions at a need position.

LINEBACKER

This is a group with one very good player, one decent one and lots of youth.

Francisco Mauigoa is the unquestioned starter in the middle after an exceptional season including 82 tackles (18 for loss) and 7.5 sacks and an interception.

Wesley Bissainthe is the clear front-runner at weak-side linebacker. He comes off a decent season (44 tackles and a sack), but more is expected.

UM — which lost Corey Flagg Jr. to the portal, KJ Cloyd to the NFL Draft and Keontra Smith (eligibility expired) — needs to either add veteran depth or hope that at least a couple among a half dozen young players blossom quickly.

The four freshmen in the 2023 class — Raul Aguirre, Marcellius Pulliam, Malik Bryant and Bobby Washington -- will all get a chance to earn meaningful snaps. But none of them played more than 38 defensive snaps.

Veteran Chase Smith remains on the roster, but his UM career has been marred by injuries.

Freshmen Adarius Hayes and Cam Pruitt could get a look if they impress in the coming months.

SAFETY

With Kamren Kinchens and James Williams NFL-bound, UM found a productive FBS starter in Washington’s Mishael Powell, who started all 15 games last season for a team that made the national championship game.

Per PFF, Powell yielded an excellent 82.4 passer rating in his coverage area last season, which was ninth best among all FBS safeties who were targeted at least 50 times. That passer rating against was far superior to Kinchen’s 118.4 last season.

And this was impressive: Powell, who’s 6-1 and 210 pounds, permitted just 8.8 yards per catch, which tied for fifth among all FBS safeties who were targeted at least 50 times. That was far superior to Kinchens’ 16.9.

Per PFF, Powell last season played 122 snaps as a deep safety, 165 snaps in the box, 477 snaps at slot cornerback and 34 as a boundary cornerback.

So UM appears in good shape at one safety spot.

As for the other starting job… Savion Riley, the Vanderbilt transfer, and Arizona transfer Isaiah Taylor (UM assistant coach Jason Taylor’s son) will compete with several young players — Markeith Williams (who started in the Pinstripe Bowl), Kaleb Spencer (good size), Jaden Harris (made a play against FSU in a defensive cameo last season) and Brian Balom, who played sparingly last year after UM persuaded him to remove his name from the portal a year ago.

And don’t discount four-star Class of 2024 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna safety Zaquan Patterson, who should push for immediate playing time. Recruiting analyst Larry Blustein says Patterson “could be another Kam Kinchens.”

Some metrics on the players competing to start opposite Powell:

Riley allowed 14 of 19 targets caught for 150 yards and two touchdowns — equal to a 131 passer rating in his coverage area. But he had 48 tackles in just seven games for Vanderbilt.

Taylor, out of St. Thomas Aquinas, played only 146 defensive snaps for Arizona last season, permitting five catches on seven targets for 65 yards and a touchdown. Taylor played 290 defensive snaps in 2022 but then lost his battle for a starting job with the Wildcats last August.

CORNERBACK

If the Canes aren’t a bit worried about this position, they probably should be.

Daryl Porter Jr. is a clear favorite for one starting job and promising second-year player Damari Brown has a good chance to snag the other boundary job or the STAR/nickel role.

But UM could use at least one more established veteran in the portal after losing Te’Cory Couch, Jaden Davis and Davonte Brown. The Canes likely will go looking for help when a new round of players enter the portal before or during the April portal window.

Among all UM cornerbacks, Porter had the best passer rating against during the regular season, an exceptional 64.2 (11 for 22 targets completed against him for 108 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions).

But there’s little proven depth beyond Porter, and that’s the biggest concern on the roster.

Competing for the other boundary job and in some cases, the STAR role: Former Vanderbilt player Jadais Richard (who allowed 11 of the 15 targets against him to be caught, for 160 yards, a 107 passer rating in 178 defensive snaps), Damari Brown (96 passer rating against in 280 defensive snaps) and two unproven commodities: Demetrius Freeney (the JUCO transfer played just one defense snap last season, per PFF) and Robert Stafford, who didn’t play at all as a freshman on defense.

Two three-star 2024 cornerbacks from Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas – Ryan Mack and Romanas Frederique - also will compete.

But it’s difficult to imagine UM entering the season without adding more veteran help at corner in the coming months.