The final breakdown of the Miami Defense brings us to the DBs. This unit prides themselves on creating turnovers. They are going to be aggressive.

Let’s take a look at the Defensive Backs:

DBs
CB- Michael Jackson ... 6’2 195lb Sr. No, he’s not MJ reincarnated. Or maybe he is? He’s very talented. 2017 was his first real year of action where he started 10 games but played in all 13. He finished with 43 tackles, 4 INT, and 5 PBU. He recently garnered preseason All-ACC honors. He is their best corner.

CB- Trajan Bandy ... 5’9 180lb So. Not positive on his height, I’ve seen 5’9-5’10 listed on different sites. Bandy is the presumed starter opposite of Jackson, but he will be pushed for the job in fall camp. He’s undersized, but is said to be a “pit bull”. He is a versatile DB who shifts from the nickle to the outside depending on the situation. As a true freshman last year, he made 3 starts and appeared in all 13 games. He logged 25 tackles, 6 PBU, and 1 pick-6. He will look for an expanded role this upcoming season if he gets the starting nod.

S- Jaquan Johnson ... 5’11 190lbs Sr. At SS, Johnson is arguably the best player on the entire Miami defense and the undoubted Leader. He is known to be an instinctive player. Johnson is an elite talent that is a projected first rounder on many draft boards. In 2017, he started all 13 games and led the team with 96 tackles, 4 INT, 4 PBU, 3 Forced Fumbles, and 2 Fumble Recoveries. He has a knack for being around the ball. He earned 2nd team All-America this past season and is a preseason All-American for 2018.

S- Sheldrick Redwine ... 6’1 196lb Sr. Redwine is a CB converted S. He plays the FS position. In 2017, he started 12 games and posted 59 tackles, 6 PBU, and 2 INT. Miami returns both starting safeties.

**Names to know:
CB- Gilbert Frierson ... The Miami staff is supposedly really high on the freshman. They say he has really good length at 6’1 and think he will push for Bandy’s job.

S- Amari Carter ... The Sophomore is known to be one of the biggest hitters on the team. He logged 26 tackles and 2 Sacks as a freshman. Expect him to see a lot of PT in different packages. They like to use him as a blitzer.

Al Blades, Gurvan Hall, Robert Knowles, Jhavonte Dean, and D.J. Ivey are other notable DBs to watch for.

OVERALL GRADE: A
The Miami secondary has talent, experience, and lots of depth. I expect them to matchup well with our ultra talented WRs. It’s tough to say who will win the matchup, but it should make for a competitive game. Our WRs will have to create separation and Burrow will have to be sharp because they will play tight coverage all game long. As an offensive coordinator, it is hard not to notice Bandy’s height at 5’9. When you have the likes of Sullivan, Marshall, Davis, and Anderson all 6’4 and taller I would look to get a 1 on 1 matchup on the outside if the opportunity presents itself.

Hopefully this series of breakdowns shedd some light on what kind of defense we will be facing in week 1. The main takeaway I came away with is that this is probably one of the top defenses we will face all year long. That being said, if the offense doesn’t put up 40 points, it shouldn’t be the telltale sign of what kind of offense we truly have. I personally think LSU comes out with a W on opening day by putting up enough points to win. I think our defense is good enough to keep us in every game this year.