Position Group Superlatives
Wide receivers better come correct when they line up across from these guys. Miami’s cornerback room is full of guys who would love to welcome opposing receivers to their private islands. But I can’t guarantee they’ll be very hospitable. With the departure of Dee Delaney and the unfortunate loss of Malik Young, Miami’s cornerback room may not be quite as experienced as last year. However, with the addition of freshman like Frierson, Ivey and company alongside guys like Trajan Bandy, who is ready to take his game to the next level, this is the most talented group of Miami corners in recent memory. Oh yeah, they also have the premiere cover corner in the ACC and one of the best in the country, Mr. Michael Jackson himself. I am a cornerback at heart and this group just gets me giddy. When they say the sky is the limit, they lied. There are no limits, especially with this young fruitful bunch. Without further ado, let’s get in to some superlatives for this group of lockdown specialists.
Most Valuable- Michael Jackson
Miami doesn’t get too many guys from the state of Alabama, but this was one **** of a find. Father by day and lockdown corner by night, Michael Jackson is easily the best cover guy on Greentree and one of the tops in the nation. Not many people knew who he was before last year, but by the end of the year, he began to receive national recognition. This year he’s on the preseason Thorpe award watch list with teammate Jaquan Johnson. Jackson is a physically imposing corner at 6’2” 200 pounds and that’s what NFL scouts are looking for now. With a big senior year, he’ll solidify his place as one of the top corner prospects in next year’s draft. He has the ability to shut down one side of the field, which will give defensive coordinator Manny Diaz a lot of flexibility because he can trust that Jackson can hold it down by himself on an island. He showed great ball skills last year as he became real close with the Turnover Chain. My guess is QB’s will begin to shy away from Jackson in 2018 and may not have as many chances to get the chain. I just can’t wait to see if he can take his game up even another notch. He is definitely our most valuable cornerback and one of the cornerstones of the defense this year.
Fastest Man- Jhavonte Dean
This one isn’t really up for debate. Players, coaches and everyone around the program confirm that Jhavonte Dean is the fastest guy in the secondary and one of the fastest on the team. Dean is a **** of an athlete. If we did a combine, Dean would probably have some of the top numbers across the board. His problem is that he doesn’t always play to that speed. That’s usually a sign that the player is thinking too much, and it slows down their play. Dean has all the physical tools to be an incredible cornerback, but he just hasn’t seemed to figure it out yet. In his senior year, this is his last chance to prove that he’s not just a good athlete but a good cornerback. Solid play from Dean this year would be like a cherry on top for the secondary and add depth to a young, but talented group of corners.
Most Dynamic- Trajan Bandy
Trajan Bandy, better known as Muddy, is a fan favorite and a favorite for a defensive coordinator because there is so much that can be done with a player of his skillset. With what Muddy lacks in size, he makes up for with his dynamic skillset. We saw him at slot corner last year playing inside, and by the end of the year, he began to excel in that position. He’s also more than capable of playing on the outside, which I believe we will see a lot more of from Bandy this year. I think he could play any position in the secondary and excel at it. I know it’s the obvious comparison, but it’s just too fitting. Muddy Badger is our version of the Honey Badger, Tyrann Mathieu. Guys who may be undersized but no matter they line up to start the play, they’re going to make something happen by the time the whistle is blown. Expect to see Muddy inside, outside, blitzing off the edge, etc. It doesn’t matter. Bandy is a playmaker in its truest form.
Highest Upside- Gilbert Frierson
This was a toss-up for me between DJ Ivey and Gilbert Frierson. I believe Miami has a special duo for years to come with those two. I see both guys having potentially successful careers on Sunday’s. I find Ivey to be the more polished cover guy right now, but I gave the nod to Frierson because he has the slight edge in regards to the physical tools. I spoke a lot about Frierson’s freakish abilities in an episode of Freshman Friday. He has a similar build as Michael Jackson at around 6’1 200 pounds. His arms are as long as can be, and he just moves different from a lot of the corners I’ve seen. He’s just a different breed and the only thing I can point towards to describe it is the Frank Gore blood. Frierson seems to have taken well to the strength program and looks the part already. He got a little taste of the Turnover Chain in the Spring Game, but we can expect to see a lot more of that this fall. He’ll be playing early and often, and there’s no telling just how good he’ll really be when it’s all said in done. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Frierson be a first round pick in three years. Opposing receivers are going to soon dread playing Miami the next few years with the likes of Frierson and Ivey.
Most Slept on- Al Blades Jr.
Everybody has talked about freshman corners Ivey and Frierson, rightfully so. However, there’s a UM legacy who’s ready to show his worth too. Despite his famous last name in Hurricanes lore, Al Blades Jr. has somehow flown under the radar. Blades Jr. is a physical corner who has supreme confidence. He has good size at 6’0” tall, and he has excellent footwork for a young corner. My favorite part about Blades is his infectious personality. He always seems to be having a good time, and he has that kind of energy other guys can feed off of. He’s just an overall great addition to the locker room. Blades Jr. has the opportunity to work his way on to the field this year, and I think he’ll be one of our best defensive backs in due time. It’s just great to see another Blades running around in green and orange.
Wide receivers better come correct when they line up across from these guys. Miami’s cornerback room is full of guys who would love to welcome opposing receivers to their private islands. But I can’t guarantee they’ll be very hospitable. With the departure of Dee Delaney and the unfortunate loss of Malik Young, Miami’s cornerback room may not be quite as experienced as last year. However, with the addition of freshman like Frierson, Ivey and company alongside guys like Trajan Bandy, who is ready to take his game to the next level, this is the most talented group of Miami corners in recent memory. Oh yeah, they also have the premiere cover corner in the ACC and one of the best in the country, Mr. Michael Jackson himself. I am a cornerback at heart and this group just gets me giddy. When they say the sky is the limit, they lied. There are no limits, especially with this young fruitful bunch. Without further ado, let’s get in to some superlatives for this group of lockdown specialists.
Most Valuable- Michael Jackson
Miami doesn’t get too many guys from the state of Alabama, but this was one **** of a find. Father by day and lockdown corner by night, Michael Jackson is easily the best cover guy on Greentree and one of the tops in the nation. Not many people knew who he was before last year, but by the end of the year, he began to receive national recognition. This year he’s on the preseason Thorpe award watch list with teammate Jaquan Johnson. Jackson is a physically imposing corner at 6’2” 200 pounds and that’s what NFL scouts are looking for now. With a big senior year, he’ll solidify his place as one of the top corner prospects in next year’s draft. He has the ability to shut down one side of the field, which will give defensive coordinator Manny Diaz a lot of flexibility because he can trust that Jackson can hold it down by himself on an island. He showed great ball skills last year as he became real close with the Turnover Chain. My guess is QB’s will begin to shy away from Jackson in 2018 and may not have as many chances to get the chain. I just can’t wait to see if he can take his game up even another notch. He is definitely our most valuable cornerback and one of the cornerstones of the defense this year.
Fastest Man- Jhavonte Dean
This one isn’t really up for debate. Players, coaches and everyone around the program confirm that Jhavonte Dean is the fastest guy in the secondary and one of the fastest on the team. Dean is a **** of an athlete. If we did a combine, Dean would probably have some of the top numbers across the board. His problem is that he doesn’t always play to that speed. That’s usually a sign that the player is thinking too much, and it slows down their play. Dean has all the physical tools to be an incredible cornerback, but he just hasn’t seemed to figure it out yet. In his senior year, this is his last chance to prove that he’s not just a good athlete but a good cornerback. Solid play from Dean this year would be like a cherry on top for the secondary and add depth to a young, but talented group of corners.
Most Dynamic- Trajan Bandy
Trajan Bandy, better known as Muddy, is a fan favorite and a favorite for a defensive coordinator because there is so much that can be done with a player of his skillset. With what Muddy lacks in size, he makes up for with his dynamic skillset. We saw him at slot corner last year playing inside, and by the end of the year, he began to excel in that position. He’s also more than capable of playing on the outside, which I believe we will see a lot more of from Bandy this year. I think he could play any position in the secondary and excel at it. I know it’s the obvious comparison, but it’s just too fitting. Muddy Badger is our version of the Honey Badger, Tyrann Mathieu. Guys who may be undersized but no matter they line up to start the play, they’re going to make something happen by the time the whistle is blown. Expect to see Muddy inside, outside, blitzing off the edge, etc. It doesn’t matter. Bandy is a playmaker in its truest form.
Highest Upside- Gilbert Frierson
This was a toss-up for me between DJ Ivey and Gilbert Frierson. I believe Miami has a special duo for years to come with those two. I see both guys having potentially successful careers on Sunday’s. I find Ivey to be the more polished cover guy right now, but I gave the nod to Frierson because he has the slight edge in regards to the physical tools. I spoke a lot about Frierson’s freakish abilities in an episode of Freshman Friday. He has a similar build as Michael Jackson at around 6’1 200 pounds. His arms are as long as can be, and he just moves different from a lot of the corners I’ve seen. He’s just a different breed and the only thing I can point towards to describe it is the Frank Gore blood. Frierson seems to have taken well to the strength program and looks the part already. He got a little taste of the Turnover Chain in the Spring Game, but we can expect to see a lot more of that this fall. He’ll be playing early and often, and there’s no telling just how good he’ll really be when it’s all said in done. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Frierson be a first round pick in three years. Opposing receivers are going to soon dread playing Miami the next few years with the likes of Frierson and Ivey.
Most Slept on- Al Blades Jr.
Everybody has talked about freshman corners Ivey and Frierson, rightfully so. However, there’s a UM legacy who’s ready to show his worth too. Despite his famous last name in Hurricanes lore, Al Blades Jr. has somehow flown under the radar. Blades Jr. is a physical corner who has supreme confidence. He has good size at 6’0” tall, and he has excellent footwork for a young corner. My favorite part about Blades is his infectious personality. He always seems to be having a good time, and he has that kind of energy other guys can feed off of. He’s just an overall great addition to the locker room. Blades Jr. has the opportunity to work his way on to the field this year, and I think he’ll be one of our best defensive backs in due time. It’s just great to see another Blades running around in green and orange.
