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2024 D-Line Possible Depth & Versatility

With the addition of Baron this defensive line could be dominate. The projected 3 deep is sick.

DE Rueben Bain SO 6-3 275 (2023 All-ACC Third Team)
3T Simeon Barrow RSR 6-3 296 (2023 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention)
NT C.J. Clark RSR 6-3 305
DE Tyler Baron RSR 6-5 260 (2023 All-SEC Third Team)

DE Akheem Mesidor RJR 6-3 280 (2022 All-ACC Honorable Mention)
3T Marley Cook RSR 6-2 2983 (2022 All-CUSA First Team)
NT Ahmad Moten RSO 6-3 325
DE Elijah Alston RSR 6-2 256 (2023 All-SBC Third Team)

DE Armondo Blount FR 6-4 275 (5 Star in 2024 class) or Cole McConathy FR 6-5 245
3T Josh Horton RFR 6-4 295
NT Justin Scott FR 6-4 310 (5 Star in 2024 class)
DE Malik Bryant SO 6-2 230 or Marquise Lightfoot FR 6-5 240 (5 Star in 2024 class)
 
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Hstokes1447 said:
With the addition of Baron this defensive line could be dominate. The projected 3 deep is sick.

DE Rueben Bain SO 6-3 275 (2023 All-ACC Third Team)
3T Simeon Barrow RSR 6-3 296 (2023 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention)
NT C.J. Clark RSR 6-3 305
DE Tyler Baron RSR 6-5 260 (2023 All-SEC Third Team)

DE Akheem Mesidor RJR 6-3 280 (2022 All-ACC Honorable Mention)
3T Marley Cook RSR 6-2 2983 (2022 All-CUSA First Team)
NT Ahmad Moten RSO 6-3 325
DE Elijah Alston RSR 6-2 256 (2023 All-SBC Third Team)

DE Armondo Blount FR 6-4 275 (5 Star in 2024 class) or Cole McConathy FR 6-5 245
3T Josh Horton RFR 6-4 295
NT Justin Scott FR 6-4 310 (5 Star in 2024 class)
DE Malik Bryant SO 6-2 230 or Marquise Lightfoot FR 6-5 240 (5 Star in 2024 class)
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That backup DT spot makes me nervous. Cook is small, moten and the others are unproven. Horton is the wild card.
 
AUcane said:
That backup DT spot makes me nervous. Cook is small, moten and the others are unproven. Horton is the wild card.
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The 1st DT taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, Byron Murphy II, is only 6-1 297. Cook is here to be a penetrating 3T and not a run stopper. As former 1st Team All-CUSA player, I am not concerned at all at what Cook can provide as a rotational DT.

Moten is now a redshirt sophomore who saw action in 11 games last season. Thats a lot of game time experience in addition he is in the same system for the 2nd season and has had the same DT coach since he arrived on campus. If Moten is not ready to contribute in a major way I would imagined he would have hit the portal after spring. Remember he plays NT a stat-less position, so what defines success for him will never show on the state sheet

Miami finished 12th in rushing defense in 2023 with 5-11 Gore as the backup 3T and redshirt freshman Moten as the backup NT. It's safe to safe that 2022 1st All-CUSA Cook and a year older Moten is an upgrade over what Miami had in 2023.


This is the D-line that led Miami to a top 15 run defense and #45 overall defense.

Leonard Taylor RSO 6-3 303
Branson Deen RSR 6-2 280
Jared Harrison-Hunte RJR 6-4 285
Jake Lichtenstein RSR 6-5 270
Ahmad Moten RFR 6-3 325
Thomas Gore RJR 5-11 270
 
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Hstokes1447 said:
The 1st DT taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, Byron Murphy II, is only 6-1 297. Cook is here to be a penetrating 3T and not a run stopper. As former 1st Team All-CUSA player, I am not concerned at all at what Cook can provide as a rotational DT.

Moten is now a redshirt sophomore who saw action in 11 games last season. Thats a lot of game time experience in addition he is in the same system for the 2nd season and has had the same DT coach since he arrived on campus. If Moten is not ready to contribute in a major way I would have imagined he would have hit the portal after spring.

Miami finished 12th in rushing defense in 2023 with 5-11 Gore as the backup 3T and redshirt freshman Moten as the backup NT. It's safe to safe that 2022 1st All-CUSA Cook and a year older Moten is an upgrade over what Miami had in 2023.


This is the D-line that led Miami to a top 15 run defense and #45 overall defense.

Leonard Taylor RSO 6-3 303
Branson Deen RSR 6-2 280
Jared Harrison-Hunte RJR 6-4 285
Jake Lichtenstein RSR 6-5 270
Ahmad Moten RFR 6-3 325
Thomas Gore RJR 5-11 270
Click to expand...
My hot take. DT position will be deep and elite this year. I agree totally on Moten
 
Mikesmith29150 said:
My hot take. DT position will be deep and elite this year. I agree totally on Moten
Click to expand...
That is actually a WHITE HOT take right there. Lol. Our DT rotation on paper looks ridiculously scary. Mesidor will definitely have to help out there at times. To have to depend on Moten to hit that 3rd year stride is risky. But we have no other choice. (Or we get lucky two years in a row and Justin Scott pulls a "Reuben Bain" on us and goes ape$hit in Year 1)
 
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Hstokes1447 said:
The 1st DT taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, Byron Murphy II, is only 6-1 297. Cook is here to be a penetrating 3T and not a run stopper. As former 1st Team All-CUSA player, I am not concerned at all at what Cook can provide as a rotational DT.

Moten is now a redshirt sophomore who saw action in 11 games last season. Thats a lot of game time experience in addition he is in the same system for the 2nd season and has had the same DT coach since he arrived on campus. If Moten is not ready to contribute in a major way I would imagined he would have hit the portal after spring. Remember he plays NT a stat-less position, so what defines success for him will never show on the state sheet

Miami finished 12th in rushing defense in 2023 with 5-11 Gore as the backup 3T and redshirt freshman Moten as the backup NT. It's safe to safe that 2022 1st All-CUSA Cook and a year older Moten is an upgrade over what Miami had in 2023.


This is the D-line that led Miami to a top 15 run defense and #45 overall defense.

Leonard Taylor RSO 6-3 303
Branson Deen RSR 6-2 280
Jared Harrison-Hunte RJR 6-4 285
Jake Lichtenstein RSR 6-5 270
Ahmad Moten RFR 6-3 325
Thomas Gore RJR 5-11 270
Click to expand...

You're focused too much on scale numbers and it would be a mistake to compare Cook to one of the elite DTs in CFB last year. That's like saying "Aaron Donald is only 6-1" as proof that Cook can be successful at his size. The reality is that he was underwhelming in the spring and tended to easily get swallowed up inside.

I understand Moten's role but he has been underwhelming. We are better than last year, for sure, but a big part of the defense's success last year was due to coaching especially when he started changing scheme around and using less DTs.

This will be a position to watch for, imo.
 
AUcane said:
You're focused too much on scale numbers and it would be a mistake to compare Cook to one of the elite DTs in CFB last year. That's like saying "Aaron Donald is only 6-1" as proof that Cook can be successful at his size. The reality is that he was underwhelming in the spring and tended to easily get swallowed up inside.

I understand Moten's role but he has been underwhelming. We are better than last year, for sure, but a big part of the defense's success last year was due to coaching especially when he started changing scheme around and using less DTs.

This will be a position to watch for, imo.
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When did you see Cook get “swallowed” (pause) inside and by whom? One random poster said Cook is small now he can’t play??? I will hold my judgement until the season and live action.

What I do remember of Cook in live action is him living in the backfield against Miami at hard rock stadium.
 
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