Where Does Miami's Defensive Line Recruiting Stand?
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Article photo of Artavius Jones; credit to Brian Smith
The 2024 Miami Hurricanes recruiting class has an excellent overall nucleus, and the defensive side of the football is closing in on being a complete group. From the defensive side of the football, the defensive line is an interesting recruiting study.
Mario Cristobal and the Canes are in an inviable spot at one position, while the other needs a lot of work.
The number inside parenthesis represents the best case total number Miami signs at a position.
Defensive End (2 or 3)
Commitments: Marquise Lightfoot, 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, Chicago (Ill.) Kenwood Academy, Elias Rudolph, 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Cincinnati (Ohio) Taft, and Daylen Russell, 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, Miami (Fla.) Columbus
After signing three talented defensive ends from the 2023 recruiting class, the Hurricanes might possess the best combination of defensive end recruiting hauls in college football.
Even if any one of the above three are a part of the 2024 class, there’s already Rueben Bain, Jr., Jayden Wayne and Collins Acheampong from the prior Miami class. An incredible job by the Miami staff to assemble this much talent within a two-year window.
Defensive Tackle (3)
Commitment: Artavius Jones, 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, Blountstown (Fla.) High School
With Miami’s 2023 recruiting class signing only one defensive tackle, Joshua Horton, that means at least two, and preferably three, defensive tackles sign with the 2024 class.
This position is probably the most likely to see new names down the stretch. A junior college player, a late riser from the 2024 class, and even a Transfer Portal addition.
In short, the Canes still want 5-star defensive tackle Aydin Breland from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei. They are battling Oregon, Texas A&M, and other programs for his signature.
Breland’s college decision could go all the way to National Signing Day, however. Needing three along the interior defensive line in this class, there needs to be another defensive tackle already in the recruiting fold prior to the Canes getting close to learning of Breland’s college choice.
This spot is a bit dicey at the moment. That’s not a secret. Still a long way to go, but Miami absolutely must sign, at minimum, two talented defensive tackles this cycle.
With it being such a critical position for determining the outcomes of games, Miami potentially missing on remaining targets and falling behind the defensive tackle numbers curve, diminishes the success of recruiting other positions like defensive end.
Another possible name to know (just speculating here), especially with him being from inside the Sunshine State, could be Tyreek’e Robinson.
Coming from Bradenton (Fla.) Manatee, he’s a traditional power player at 6-foot-1 and roughly 320 pounds. Robinson or someone else, Miami needs to add another true big body to the defensive tackle group. Robinson certainly fits the profile.
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