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This astounding defense has a major-minor problem in its lack of turnover creation. With context, all three interceptions have come up on the opponent’s late 4th quarter drives; against Wake Forest this was pivotal. The other two, not so much.
In the offseason, creating turnovers was an emphasis for the DB group. Yet, it hasn’t materialized on the field. Not having Lucas, OJ and Antoine is an excuse that cannot explain the situation. Antoine doesn’t have any interceptions yet. Lucas has two career interceptions, one in each of his first two seasons, and OJ’s sole INT was against Duke’s Malique Murphy in 2024. Obviously we need our best two lockdown cornerbacks back. Lucas was tied for seventh while OJ was tied for fifteenth in the ACC with their 8 and 7 PDs respectively.
I’m focused moreso on the lack of interceptions, however much could be said for a lack of forced fumbles as well. Obviously more turnovers do not equal more wins. I’m just personally inclined to loving interceptions, I’m a simple man. Last time we did not average at least one interception per game was 2023, although we were very close to ofc. The last years of Diaz
Key: ( INTs on the season; INTs + Defensive FRs :: INTs + Defensive FRs divided by number of games)
2026: 3 INTs; 6 :: 1.2/g (Wilson, JJ, and The Third w/ 1 fumble recovery each on the season)
2025: 16 INTs; 25 :: 1.56/g (second highest per Cristobal’s tenure at Miami)
- Meisdor 4 FF, Agent 0: 2 INT, 2 FF, 2 FR; and Jakobe: 5 INTs, 2 FF, and 2 FR.
So what’s changed? Or is just the odds, the laws of averages, haven’t been in favor yet and there will be return to the mean? Since 2022, which just so happens to be since Mario arrived, at least one player had 5+ INTs on the year. Obviously still possible to happen this season; especially with the playoffs.
‘22 + ‘23 = Kam Kinchens
‘24 = Mishael Powell
‘25 = Jakobe + Bryce
What I’ve learned is that playmakers reappear on this list, and pop early. In short, Jimmies and joes not Xs and Os; Players not plays.
We’ll see if Lucas, OJ and Antoine can help us, however, history shows it’s unlikely on the first two and TBD on Antoine, although Antoine’s history suggests he will.
Repeater Status?
Ahmad Moten had an INT in 2023 and Bain forced 3 fumbles that season. Bain had a FF and an INT last year. Ahmad showed up yesterday (FF); Lightfoot has the only other FF on the season. Wesley Bissainthe contributed to at least one takeaway each of his last three seasons (null, FR, INT, FF + INT in ‘25)
Of our starters, Scott (1 FR), Lucas (1 INT, 1 FF), Blount (1 FR), Chase (2 FR) and Poyser (1 FF, 2 FR) are likely to find the pigskin this season (2025 #s). Plus, Damon Wilson: 2024 (2 FF, 2 FR) & 2025 (1 INT, 1 FR).
Sleeping Giant(s)? I won’t repeat how I feel we are unilaterally disarming our nuclear weapon embodied by Bryce because that seems to be over as we head into a bye week. Lucas at full go should take Bryce off CB duty. TBD ofc, with Antoine being an unknown, as far as return date, and Dylan Day + JJ Dunningan playing really well, and Damari’s snaps continually decreasing. Omar’s play may demand Bryce moving to nickel for FSU.
Awaken the Beast(s)? Outside of Bryce, my conclusion is that Pruitt and Day can help us in this area. In 2024, Pruitt had 3 FR, 1 FF, and 1 INT in limited snaps.
So far, Dylan Day only has a forced fumble from his first season. However, the former utility baseball player is an excellent special teams player, hits hard, trusts his instincts, and return 5 INTs for touchdowns his senior season in HS.
Additionally, very good sign for the future that JJ got his first INT. He already has a FR so it aligns with the early play of KK, Jaquan, and Bryce in changing the tide of the game early in their careers. Ballhawks ball-hawk, you get what I’m saying?
Optimistic EOC can help us out here as he had 4 INTs 2024 at Wazzu.
On the sunny side, takeaways aren’t the only way to create turnovers. Which is why we are 32nd in the country with 1.5 takeaways per game; our defense has a 75% success rate (8 attempts) on 4th down; with Clemson and Wake Forest converting once on three attempts each. Stanford was 0/2. Moreover, we are 17th in the country with a turnover margin of +1 per game and ninth in the country with only .5 giveaways per game.
Will Harris is a superstar secondary coach, defensive passing game coordinator, and the early returns on Scary Terry are, well, scary (for opposing quarterbacks). Matt Birkett is Hetherman’s guy and his track record going back to JMU/Maine is inseparable from Hetherman’s own. Just want to discuss what others are seeing as to why this might be.
Anyone curious to what’s going on thru 5, lack of seizing opportunities, bad luck, inexperience, etc.?
In the offseason, creating turnovers was an emphasis for the DB group. Yet, it hasn’t materialized on the field. Not having Lucas, OJ and Antoine is an excuse that cannot explain the situation. Antoine doesn’t have any interceptions yet. Lucas has two career interceptions, one in each of his first two seasons, and OJ’s sole INT was against Duke’s Malique Murphy in 2024. Obviously we need our best two lockdown cornerbacks back. Lucas was tied for seventh while OJ was tied for fifteenth in the ACC with their 8 and 7 PDs respectively.
I’m focused moreso on the lack of interceptions, however much could be said for a lack of forced fumbles as well. Obviously more turnovers do not equal more wins. I’m just personally inclined to loving interceptions, I’m a simple man. Last time we did not average at least one interception per game was 2023, although we were very close to ofc. The last years of Diaz
Key: ( INTs on the season; INTs + Defensive FRs :: INTs + Defensive FRs divided by number of games)
2026: 3 INTs; 6 :: 1.2/g (Wilson, JJ, and The Third w/ 1 fumble recovery each on the season)
2025: 16 INTs; 25 :: 1.56/g (second highest per Cristobal’s tenure at Miami)
- Meisdor 4 FF, Agent 0: 2 INT, 2 FF, 2 FR; and Jakobe: 5 INTs, 2 FF, and 2 FR.
So what’s changed? Or is just the odds, the laws of averages, haven’t been in favor yet and there will be return to the mean? Since 2022, which just so happens to be since Mario arrived, at least one player had 5+ INTs on the year. Obviously still possible to happen this season; especially with the playoffs.
‘22 + ‘23 = Kam Kinchens
‘24 = Mishael Powell
‘25 = Jakobe + Bryce
What I’ve learned is that playmakers reappear on this list, and pop early. In short, Jimmies and joes not Xs and Os; Players not plays.
We’ll see if Lucas, OJ and Antoine can help us, however, history shows it’s unlikely on the first two and TBD on Antoine, although Antoine’s history suggests he will.
Repeater Status?
Ahmad Moten had an INT in 2023 and Bain forced 3 fumbles that season. Bain had a FF and an INT last year. Ahmad showed up yesterday (FF); Lightfoot has the only other FF on the season. Wesley Bissainthe contributed to at least one takeaway each of his last three seasons (null, FR, INT, FF + INT in ‘25)
Of our starters, Scott (1 FR), Lucas (1 INT, 1 FF), Blount (1 FR), Chase (2 FR) and Poyser (1 FF, 2 FR) are likely to find the pigskin this season (2025 #s). Plus, Damon Wilson: 2024 (2 FF, 2 FR) & 2025 (1 INT, 1 FR).
Sleeping Giant(s)? I won’t repeat how I feel we are unilaterally disarming our nuclear weapon embodied by Bryce because that seems to be over as we head into a bye week. Lucas at full go should take Bryce off CB duty. TBD ofc, with Antoine being an unknown, as far as return date, and Dylan Day + JJ Dunningan playing really well, and Damari’s snaps continually decreasing. Omar’s play may demand Bryce moving to nickel for FSU.
Awaken the Beast(s)? Outside of Bryce, my conclusion is that Pruitt and Day can help us in this area. In 2024, Pruitt had 3 FR, 1 FF, and 1 INT in limited snaps.
So far, Dylan Day only has a forced fumble from his first season. However, the former utility baseball player is an excellent special teams player, hits hard, trusts his instincts, and return 5 INTs for touchdowns his senior season in HS.
Some of the other guys who recorded stats in these 3 areas are still playing, just transferred like Popo who had 3 fumble recoveries against Louisville yesterday; and a FF against Vandy.
Additionally, very good sign for the future that JJ got his first INT. He already has a FR so it aligns with the early play of KK, Jaquan, and Bryce in changing the tide of the game early in their careers. Ballhawks ball-hawk, you get what I’m saying?
2024: 14 INTs; 18 :: 1.38/g
2023: 12 INTs; 18 :: 1.38/g
2022: 14 INTs; 22 :: 1.83/g
Crystal Balls in the Cristobal era
2021: 8 INTs; 11 :: 0.92/g
2020: 7 INTs; 15 :: 1.36/g
2019: 10 INTs; 19 :: 1.46/g
The odd thing about the Diaz regime is how turnovers dropped as he amassed more control under his totalitarian regime.
2018: 16 INTs; 25 :: 1.92/g
2017: 17 INTs; 30 :: 2.31/g
(Turnover Chain invention?)
2016: 8 INTs; 18 :: 1.38/g
Richt’s Restoration
2015: 15 INTs; 25 :: 1.92/g
2014: 10 INTs; 23 :: 1.77/g
2013: 18 INTs; 24 :: 1.85/g
2012: 11 INTs; 12 :: 1/g (1 fumble recovery the whole year seems off but anyways that’s what’s there)
2011: 6 INTs; 13 :: 1.08/g
Dorito & Golden above
2010: 16 INTs; 23 :: 1.77/g
Shannon’s last run above
Blame sports reference for incomplete statistics; i Know more than 11 games were played
2002: 12 interceptions in 13 games
2001: 27 interceptions in 11 games
2000: 23 interceptions in 11 games
1999: 17 interceptions in 12 games
1993: 17 interceptions in 11 games, 18 interceptions in 1994,
1992: 18 interceptions in 11 games, 1991: 19 interceptions in 11 games, 1990: 14 interceptions in 11 games, 1989: 21 interceptions in 11 games
1988: 17 interceptions in 11 games, 1987: 15 interceptions in 11 games
1986: 21 interceptions in 11 games (Bennie has the modern record w/ ten in one season; Ed had 9 in 01), 1985: 19 interceptions in 11 games
1983: 15 interceptions in 11 games
2023: 12 INTs; 18 :: 1.38/g
2022: 14 INTs; 22 :: 1.83/g
Crystal Balls in the Cristobal era
2021: 8 INTs; 11 :: 0.92/g
2020: 7 INTs; 15 :: 1.36/g
2019: 10 INTs; 19 :: 1.46/g
The odd thing about the Diaz regime is how turnovers dropped as he amassed more control under his totalitarian regime.
2018: 16 INTs; 25 :: 1.92/g
2017: 17 INTs; 30 :: 2.31/g
(Turnover Chain invention?)
2016: 8 INTs; 18 :: 1.38/g
Richt’s Restoration
2015: 15 INTs; 25 :: 1.92/g
2014: 10 INTs; 23 :: 1.77/g
2013: 18 INTs; 24 :: 1.85/g
2012: 11 INTs; 12 :: 1/g (1 fumble recovery the whole year seems off but anyways that’s what’s there)
2011: 6 INTs; 13 :: 1.08/g
Dorito & Golden above
2010: 16 INTs; 23 :: 1.77/g
Shannon’s last run above
Blame sports reference for incomplete statistics; i Know more than 11 games were played
2002: 12 interceptions in 13 games
2001: 27 interceptions in 11 games
2000: 23 interceptions in 11 games
1999: 17 interceptions in 12 games
1993: 17 interceptions in 11 games, 18 interceptions in 1994,
1992: 18 interceptions in 11 games, 1991: 19 interceptions in 11 games, 1990: 14 interceptions in 11 games, 1989: 21 interceptions in 11 games
1988: 17 interceptions in 11 games, 1987: 15 interceptions in 11 games
1986: 21 interceptions in 11 games (Bennie has the modern record w/ ten in one season; Ed had 9 in 01), 1985: 19 interceptions in 11 games
1983: 15 interceptions in 11 games
Optimistic EOC can help us out here as he had 4 INTs 2024 at Wazzu.
On the sunny side, takeaways aren’t the only way to create turnovers. Which is why we are 32nd in the country with 1.5 takeaways per game; our defense has a 75% success rate (8 attempts) on 4th down; with Clemson and Wake Forest converting once on three attempts each. Stanford was 0/2. Moreover, we are 17th in the country with a turnover margin of +1 per game and ninth in the country with only .5 giveaways per game.
Will Harris is a superstar secondary coach, defensive passing game coordinator, and the early returns on Scary Terry are, well, scary (for opposing quarterbacks). Matt Birkett is Hetherman’s guy and his track record going back to JMU/Maine is inseparable from Hetherman’s own. Just want to discuss what others are seeing as to why this might be.
Anyone curious to what’s going on thru 5, lack of seizing opportunities, bad luck, inexperience, etc.?
Will Harris’ evaluations elsewhere are intriguing by themselves. Demetres Samuels Jr originally committed to Syracuse. Harrris flipped him to UF, he reclassified, then flipped back to Syracuse after UF started 2-2 and Syracuse started 3-1. Has 11 career PDs to date and 1 INT. Also utilized as a return man.
The other Will Harris evaluation that has made some noise is one he got to coach. Greg Smith III played under Harris in 2024 before transferring to UNC. The redshirt sophomore, at 6’4 215 lbs, has made many plays for the Tar Heels as he takes on a larger role for them.
The other Will Harris evaluation that has made some noise is one he got to coach. Greg Smith III played under Harris in 2024 before transferring to UNC. The redshirt sophomore, at 6’4 215 lbs, has made many plays for the Tar Heels as he takes on a larger role for them.
