UM’s Diaz encouraged despite big departures
BY BARRY JACKSON bjackson@miamiherald.com
Since signing six defensive players during the new early signing period on Dec. 20, UM has lost 11 defenders, including four to graduation, three to transfers, two to injuries and two early to the NFL.
And while UM added two high school defensive tackles (Nesta Silvera and Jordan Miller) and a cornerback (Nigel Bethel) this week, UM also was bypassed by five key defensive targets during the second installment of National Signing Day on Wednesday.
Still, defensive coordinator Manny Diaz indicated Wednesday that the sky is not falling and that he’s content with what UM has on the defensive line and at cornerback — areas where experienced depth is somewhat limited. Where UM stands:
• Defensive end: Even with Chad Thomas and Trent Harris graduating, DJ Johnson transferring, and Andrew Chatfield (UF) and Jamarcus Chatman (FSU) eschewing offers from UM, Diaz believes Miami has enough with a top five of Joe Jackson, Demetrius Jackson, Jon Garvin, Scott Patchan (who moved back from tight end) and December signee Greg Rousseau.
“A lot of people would trade for our position of what we return talent-wise at defensive end,” Diaz said. “We went from having an overload at that position to now, you almost have the number that you would expect.”
Is Rousseau ready to play immediately?
“Yeah,” Diaz said. “The great thing about Greg is in addition to his talent and his body type, he’s very intelligent. So we expect him to pick things up very quickly. There’s no doubt he will be a factor next year.” There’s not another scholarship player at defensive end beyond those five. But coach Mark Richt said he will add another defensive end only if a “great” grad transfer emerges.
• Defensive tackle: Even with Kendrick Norton and Richard McIntosh Jr. turning pro and Anthony Moten graduating, Diaz believes UM has enough with Pat Bethel, Gerald Willis, Jon Ford, new additions Silvera and Miller, plus a transfer he isn’t permitted to identify yet (Illinois’ Tito Odenigbo) and unproven Tyriec Martin. Four-star Keondre Co-burn chose Texas over UM.
“I still think our top end [d-tackle] talent is very good,” Diaz said. “Gerald is almost like a new signing. Nesta is a special guy … the disruptive tackle in the 4-3 defense, which is what the entire defense is predicated on. And Jordan Miller, it’s just hard not to watch his film and not see Kendrick Norton.”
On the front seven, Diaz said: “We had some some guys leave the program unexpectedly. Conversely, next year in the state is as loaded in front-seven positions as I can remember.”
• Cornerback: With Dee Delaney graduating and Malek Young’s career ending due to a neck injury, is Diaz at ease with having only three returnees (Michael Jackson, Trajan Bandy and Jhavonte Dean) and four freshmen (Bethel, Al Blades, Gilbert Frierson and D.J. Ivey)?
“It is,” Diaz said. “We have two seniors (Jackson, Dean). We have Trajan. This 2018 DB class we’ve been going after almost since we got the job here in Miami in 2016.”
He said, “When we rank guys, we say is this guy a one? A one is a top, top guy.” He said UM had Blades, Frierson and Ivey rated as ones. And “Nigel Bethel comes to seven-on-seven camp a year ago and just dominates.”
Diaz indicated there’s no thought to moving safety Sheldrick Redwine back to cornerback or freshman safety Gurvan Hall to cornerback. And DeeJay Dallas, who can play corner, remains a running back.
“The thing I’m excited about more this spring is let’s let these corners battle it out and see what they can do,” Diaz said, with Ivey and Frierson already enrolled.
There should be enough at linebacker (with Shaquille Quarterman, Zach McCloud, Mike Pinckney and decent depth even after Darrion Owens transferred and Jamie Gordinier retired). UM is in good shape at safety, with Jaquan Johnson, Redwine, Amari Carter, Derrick Smith, Hall and Robert Knowles.
• Losing out on five-star corner-backs Pat Surtain Jr. (Alabama) and Tyson Campbell (Georgia) was disappointing to UM corner-backs coach Mike Rumph, who previously coached at their school, Plantation American Heritage.
“We pushed as hard as we could,” Rumph said. “The kids aren’t the same as they used to be, man. … The game has totally changed. Kids want to go where they think they’ll have the best opportunity to win.”
BY BARRY JACKSON bjackson@miamiherald.com
Since signing six defensive players during the new early signing period on Dec. 20, UM has lost 11 defenders, including four to graduation, three to transfers, two to injuries and two early to the NFL.
And while UM added two high school defensive tackles (Nesta Silvera and Jordan Miller) and a cornerback (Nigel Bethel) this week, UM also was bypassed by five key defensive targets during the second installment of National Signing Day on Wednesday.
Still, defensive coordinator Manny Diaz indicated Wednesday that the sky is not falling and that he’s content with what UM has on the defensive line and at cornerback — areas where experienced depth is somewhat limited. Where UM stands:
• Defensive end: Even with Chad Thomas and Trent Harris graduating, DJ Johnson transferring, and Andrew Chatfield (UF) and Jamarcus Chatman (FSU) eschewing offers from UM, Diaz believes Miami has enough with a top five of Joe Jackson, Demetrius Jackson, Jon Garvin, Scott Patchan (who moved back from tight end) and December signee Greg Rousseau.
“A lot of people would trade for our position of what we return talent-wise at defensive end,” Diaz said. “We went from having an overload at that position to now, you almost have the number that you would expect.”
Is Rousseau ready to play immediately?
“Yeah,” Diaz said. “The great thing about Greg is in addition to his talent and his body type, he’s very intelligent. So we expect him to pick things up very quickly. There’s no doubt he will be a factor next year.” There’s not another scholarship player at defensive end beyond those five. But coach Mark Richt said he will add another defensive end only if a “great” grad transfer emerges.
• Defensive tackle: Even with Kendrick Norton and Richard McIntosh Jr. turning pro and Anthony Moten graduating, Diaz believes UM has enough with Pat Bethel, Gerald Willis, Jon Ford, new additions Silvera and Miller, plus a transfer he isn’t permitted to identify yet (Illinois’ Tito Odenigbo) and unproven Tyriec Martin. Four-star Keondre Co-burn chose Texas over UM.
“I still think our top end [d-tackle] talent is very good,” Diaz said. “Gerald is almost like a new signing. Nesta is a special guy … the disruptive tackle in the 4-3 defense, which is what the entire defense is predicated on. And Jordan Miller, it’s just hard not to watch his film and not see Kendrick Norton.”
On the front seven, Diaz said: “We had some some guys leave the program unexpectedly. Conversely, next year in the state is as loaded in front-seven positions as I can remember.”
• Cornerback: With Dee Delaney graduating and Malek Young’s career ending due to a neck injury, is Diaz at ease with having only three returnees (Michael Jackson, Trajan Bandy and Jhavonte Dean) and four freshmen (Bethel, Al Blades, Gilbert Frierson and D.J. Ivey)?
“It is,” Diaz said. “We have two seniors (Jackson, Dean). We have Trajan. This 2018 DB class we’ve been going after almost since we got the job here in Miami in 2016.”
He said, “When we rank guys, we say is this guy a one? A one is a top, top guy.” He said UM had Blades, Frierson and Ivey rated as ones. And “Nigel Bethel comes to seven-on-seven camp a year ago and just dominates.”
Diaz indicated there’s no thought to moving safety Sheldrick Redwine back to cornerback or freshman safety Gurvan Hall to cornerback. And DeeJay Dallas, who can play corner, remains a running back.
“The thing I’m excited about more this spring is let’s let these corners battle it out and see what they can do,” Diaz said, with Ivey and Frierson already enrolled.
There should be enough at linebacker (with Shaquille Quarterman, Zach McCloud, Mike Pinckney and decent depth even after Darrion Owens transferred and Jamie Gordinier retired). UM is in good shape at safety, with Jaquan Johnson, Redwine, Amari Carter, Derrick Smith, Hall and Robert Knowles.
• Losing out on five-star corner-backs Pat Surtain Jr. (Alabama) and Tyson Campbell (Georgia) was disappointing to UM corner-backs coach Mike Rumph, who previously coached at their school, Plantation American Heritage.
“We pushed as hard as we could,” Rumph said. “The kids aren’t the same as they used to be, man. … The game has totally changed. Kids want to go where they think they’ll have the best opportunity to win.”
