Additions: Jahfari Harvey (2019 signee)
Departures: Joe Jackson (NFL Draft), Demetrius Jackson (Graduation), Terry McCray (Graduation)
For the past three years under Manny Diaz, the defensive end position has been the most talented and deepest position group on Miami’s roster and it does not seem as if that will change in 2019. The Hurricanes will lose 2018 starter Joe Jackson, who totaled 47 tackles and nine sacks, but they return four players and bring in one newcomer this spring.
Junior Jonathan Garvin, the lone returning starter at defensive end, is coming off an impressive 2018 campaign where he totaled 60 tackles, 17 TFL, and 5.5 sacks. It would be a safe bet to say that Garvin has one of the two starting roles locked down for 2019. This season could be a money year for Garvin; should he perform up to his potential, Garvin could enter the NFL draft following this season and be a 1st-2nd round draft pick.
Scott Patchan, who appeared in 10 games and took upon the main backup role in 2018, is a 5th year senior entering his last spring as a Miami Hurricane. Patchan was overshadowed by the two starters last season and only recorded 29 tackles and one sack on the year, however, also had the first healthy season in his Miami career. Patchan is not expected to open 2019 as a starter, but he could be a starter during the spring months and will battle for a starting role into the fall. Patchan is a guy that will be a veteran presence for a unit that will lack maturity this spring.
Last spring, Gregory Rousseau burst onto the scene with some dominating performances in scrimmages and got a lot of people excited about what he could bring to this unit. All of that excitement was put on hold when an ankle injury ended Rousseau’s season in just the second game. Now that the injury has healed, the redshirt freshman will have every opportunity to earn the second starting role across from Garvin and is probably the front-runner for the job during spring.
One of the early-season surprises last year was that Patrick Joyner, who was recruited as a linebacker, would end up first testing the waters as a defensive end. Joyner played defensive end in high school and led Dade County in sacks as a senior. However, Joyner is still trying to figure out where he fits in best at the collegiate level and spent 2018 bouncing back and forth between the two positions. This spring, the redshirt freshman Joyner is listed as a DE, but whether it's on the defensive line or at linebacker, Miami needs to use the spring to figure out where Joyner fits best.
The lone true freshman at defensive end this spring will be Jahfari Harvey from Vero Beach. Harvey was a four-star prospect coming out of high school and was viewed by many people as being one of the top pass rushers in the state. Harvey will use the spring to catch his game up to the college level, develop his body, and put himself in position to be in the rotation come August.
Although not participating in spring ball, Miami will welcome in three new players when the summer months roll around. These include Virginia Tech grad transfer Trevon Hill, UCLA transfer Jaelan Phillips, and 2019 signee Cameron Williams. Hill and Williams will both be eligible for 2019.
Bottom Line
Defensive end remains as one of the biggest strengths on the roster. This unit has a good mix of older experienced players and young talented players with tons of potential. Rousseau and Patchan’s battle for the second starting job during the spring will be something to watch before Trevon Hill arrives in the summer and throws his hat into the ring. Perhaps an even bigger storyline than that position battle will be how new defensive line coach Todd Stroud runs his unit. Stroud will look to make this group his own starting this spring and hope to keep the same level of play that Jess Simpson had this unit at to help UM lead the nation in TFL.
Departures: Joe Jackson (NFL Draft), Demetrius Jackson (Graduation), Terry McCray (Graduation)
For the past three years under Manny Diaz, the defensive end position has been the most talented and deepest position group on Miami’s roster and it does not seem as if that will change in 2019. The Hurricanes will lose 2018 starter Joe Jackson, who totaled 47 tackles and nine sacks, but they return four players and bring in one newcomer this spring.
Junior Jonathan Garvin, the lone returning starter at defensive end, is coming off an impressive 2018 campaign where he totaled 60 tackles, 17 TFL, and 5.5 sacks. It would be a safe bet to say that Garvin has one of the two starting roles locked down for 2019. This season could be a money year for Garvin; should he perform up to his potential, Garvin could enter the NFL draft following this season and be a 1st-2nd round draft pick.
Scott Patchan, who appeared in 10 games and took upon the main backup role in 2018, is a 5th year senior entering his last spring as a Miami Hurricane. Patchan was overshadowed by the two starters last season and only recorded 29 tackles and one sack on the year, however, also had the first healthy season in his Miami career. Patchan is not expected to open 2019 as a starter, but he could be a starter during the spring months and will battle for a starting role into the fall. Patchan is a guy that will be a veteran presence for a unit that will lack maturity this spring.
Last spring, Gregory Rousseau burst onto the scene with some dominating performances in scrimmages and got a lot of people excited about what he could bring to this unit. All of that excitement was put on hold when an ankle injury ended Rousseau’s season in just the second game. Now that the injury has healed, the redshirt freshman will have every opportunity to earn the second starting role across from Garvin and is probably the front-runner for the job during spring.
One of the early-season surprises last year was that Patrick Joyner, who was recruited as a linebacker, would end up first testing the waters as a defensive end. Joyner played defensive end in high school and led Dade County in sacks as a senior. However, Joyner is still trying to figure out where he fits in best at the collegiate level and spent 2018 bouncing back and forth between the two positions. This spring, the redshirt freshman Joyner is listed as a DE, but whether it's on the defensive line or at linebacker, Miami needs to use the spring to figure out where Joyner fits best.
The lone true freshman at defensive end this spring will be Jahfari Harvey from Vero Beach. Harvey was a four-star prospect coming out of high school and was viewed by many people as being one of the top pass rushers in the state. Harvey will use the spring to catch his game up to the college level, develop his body, and put himself in position to be in the rotation come August.
Although not participating in spring ball, Miami will welcome in three new players when the summer months roll around. These include Virginia Tech grad transfer Trevon Hill, UCLA transfer Jaelan Phillips, and 2019 signee Cameron Williams. Hill and Williams will both be eligible for 2019.
Bottom Line
Defensive end remains as one of the biggest strengths on the roster. This unit has a good mix of older experienced players and young talented players with tons of potential. Rousseau and Patchan’s battle for the second starting job during the spring will be something to watch before Trevon Hill arrives in the summer and throws his hat into the ring. Perhaps an even bigger storyline than that position battle will be how new defensive line coach Todd Stroud runs his unit. Stroud will look to make this group his own starting this spring and hope to keep the same level of play that Jess Simpson had this unit at to help UM lead the nation in TFL.
