CBS Sports Names Three Miami Hurricanes Defenders Among College Football’s Most-Feared Players

On Friday morning, CBS Sports writer Brad Crawford released his own list of the most feared defenders in college football, where he was very high on the Miami hurricanes including three players.

Crawford included tres Hurricanes among the 26 players featured on his list: No. 26 Bryce Fitzgerald, No. 19 Ahmad Moten, and No. 6 Damon Wilson.

Bryce Fitzgerald was one of the best defensive backs in college football last season leading the Hurricanes with six interceptions as a freshman. Ahmad Moten is projected to be a first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft, while Damon Wilson is just a straight up badass after 9.0 sacks last season in the SEC at Missouri.

All three Miami defenders are expected to play big time roles for the Hurricanes this upcoming season. Check out what Crawford had to say about each of them below.

26. Bryce Fitzgerald, S, Miami​

Tied for the second-most interceptions nationally last season (6) as a freshman, Fitzgerald has a nose for the football and came up with two game-changing plays during the Hurricanes' first-round playoff win at Texas A&M. Fitzgerald quickly processes everything happening in front of him, and despite Miami's depth in the secondary, Fitzgerald is the clear quarterback of the defense at the back end for coordinator Corey Hetherman.

19. Ahmad Moten, DL, Miami​

In the middle of the Hurricanes' reshaped defensive front stands this 6-foot-3, 325-pound run stopper who took a backseat to multiple first-round picks at the edge spots last fall despite an impactful campaign. A near-unanimous choice to be a Day 1 selection in early 2027 mock drafts, Moten's primary strength is his brute strength and initial club against guards and centers trying to disrupt his forward momentum.

6. Damon Wilson II, EDGE, Miami​

In search of a true closer off the edge after losing Rueben Bain Jr. and Akeem Mesidor, Miami didn't just dip into the portal -- it made a statement by landing this former Missouri standout. Wilson tripled his previous career-best total with nine sacks last fall, establishing himself as one of the SEC's top players on defense. Wilson provides exactly what Miami needed, given its talent losses -- a pass rusher with elite bend, an explosive first-step acceleration and the ability to win both around and through tackles. In a transfer cycle defined by roster churn and short-term fixes, Miami secured a rare luxury: a high-floor, high-ceiling pass rusher who fits a playoff-ready roster rather than a rebuilding project in the trenches.