Additions: None
Departures: Gerald Willis (Graduation), Tito Odenigbo (Graduation)
If you were to point to one position on the defense that has the most questions for the 2019 season, I would say that it is the defensive tackle position. Miami loses All-American Gerald Willis and down-the-stretch starter in Tito Odenigbo, and lacks a ready-made difference maker at the position.
Miami runs a 4-3 defense that is predicated on attacking the gap in front of you and creating plays. This means that the “3-technique” DT is extremely important to making this defense go. Willis was the prototypical playmaking 3-technique for this defense and his loss will be felt this season. No one player can replace him, but Nesta Silvera will get the first crack at doing so this spring. Silvera finished his freshman year having appeared in seven games and making a total of 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss. He did not have a sack. Silvera started the bowl game against Wisconsin and had mixed results against a big and veteran OL. A plus athlete, Silvera has the requisite speed, motor, and tenacity to be a big contributor in this scheme.
Jon Ford is a rising junior who is expected to be ready to contribute important snaps this season. Generally, defensive tackles take longer than other positions to develop and Ford came to school an underdeveloped player who needed to add strength and show a better motor. The time is now for Ford to make good on the promise he showed as a 3-star recruit out of Dillard. Tall, and a bit high-cut, Ford should benefit from a new direction in the Strength & Conditioning program. Last year he appeared in five games, making eight tackles with two for loss.
The veteran in the room this spring will be rising senior Pat Bethel. Bethel came to Miami as a defensive end, but was moved inside after his freshman year and provided solid snaps for the team. At the end of last year, he was replaced as a starter by Odenigbo and more will be expected of him this season. Bethel struggles to anchor against double teams partly due to being undersized at 285 pounds. Last year, Bethel appeared in nine games and made 22 tackles with five for loss. He also contributed the only two returning sacks at the position on the team.
Jordan Miller will be asked to fill a role this year after redshirting this past season. The 6-4, 325-pounder has worked to reshape his body after coming in a bit heavier than the coaches would like. He has surprising quickness for a man of his size and may see his snaps increase as the season goes along.
Redshirt junior Tyreic Martin will serve as depth this season. He saw action last season versus Savannah State.
The team signed several DT’s in the 2019 class, but none will participate in spring ball. Miami added Jason Blissett, Jared Harrison-Hunte, and Jalar Holley from the high school ranks and then added Chigozie Nnoruka as a graduate transfer from UCLA. Nnoruka could push for a starting spot if he picks up the defense quickly this summer.
Bottom Line
Miami has to replace 84 tackles, 23.5 of which went for losses, and four sacks at the position. Gerald Willis is too talented to be replaced by one player but there are some talented players left this spring. Bethel and Nesta are expected to see the majority of snaps in spring practices but keep an eye on Ford to see if the light has finally come on for him. With the talent at the defensive end position, do not be surprised if Miami employs more packages that use three DE’s and only one DT on passing downs (or even no DT’s). This is a way that they can reduce the need for impactful DT’s while getting their best pass rushers onto the field more frequently.
Departures: Gerald Willis (Graduation), Tito Odenigbo (Graduation)
If you were to point to one position on the defense that has the most questions for the 2019 season, I would say that it is the defensive tackle position. Miami loses All-American Gerald Willis and down-the-stretch starter in Tito Odenigbo, and lacks a ready-made difference maker at the position.
Miami runs a 4-3 defense that is predicated on attacking the gap in front of you and creating plays. This means that the “3-technique” DT is extremely important to making this defense go. Willis was the prototypical playmaking 3-technique for this defense and his loss will be felt this season. No one player can replace him, but Nesta Silvera will get the first crack at doing so this spring. Silvera finished his freshman year having appeared in seven games and making a total of 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss. He did not have a sack. Silvera started the bowl game against Wisconsin and had mixed results against a big and veteran OL. A plus athlete, Silvera has the requisite speed, motor, and tenacity to be a big contributor in this scheme.
Jon Ford is a rising junior who is expected to be ready to contribute important snaps this season. Generally, defensive tackles take longer than other positions to develop and Ford came to school an underdeveloped player who needed to add strength and show a better motor. The time is now for Ford to make good on the promise he showed as a 3-star recruit out of Dillard. Tall, and a bit high-cut, Ford should benefit from a new direction in the Strength & Conditioning program. Last year he appeared in five games, making eight tackles with two for loss.
The veteran in the room this spring will be rising senior Pat Bethel. Bethel came to Miami as a defensive end, but was moved inside after his freshman year and provided solid snaps for the team. At the end of last year, he was replaced as a starter by Odenigbo and more will be expected of him this season. Bethel struggles to anchor against double teams partly due to being undersized at 285 pounds. Last year, Bethel appeared in nine games and made 22 tackles with five for loss. He also contributed the only two returning sacks at the position on the team.
Jordan Miller will be asked to fill a role this year after redshirting this past season. The 6-4, 325-pounder has worked to reshape his body after coming in a bit heavier than the coaches would like. He has surprising quickness for a man of his size and may see his snaps increase as the season goes along.
Redshirt junior Tyreic Martin will serve as depth this season. He saw action last season versus Savannah State.
The team signed several DT’s in the 2019 class, but none will participate in spring ball. Miami added Jason Blissett, Jared Harrison-Hunte, and Jalar Holley from the high school ranks and then added Chigozie Nnoruka as a graduate transfer from UCLA. Nnoruka could push for a starting spot if he picks up the defense quickly this summer.
Bottom Line
Miami has to replace 84 tackles, 23.5 of which went for losses, and four sacks at the position. Gerald Willis is too talented to be replaced by one player but there are some talented players left this spring. Bethel and Nesta are expected to see the majority of snaps in spring practices but keep an eye on Ford to see if the light has finally come on for him. With the talent at the defensive end position, do not be surprised if Miami employs more packages that use three DE’s and only one DT on passing downs (or even no DT’s). This is a way that they can reduce the need for impactful DT’s while getting their best pass rushers onto the field more frequently.
