2026 Defense Board

Hurricanes Football Recruiting
1

DT:
Big class 2 years ago, then 2 last year and those 2 weren’t really our top targets, with Simpson being young and more of a project type. 2 will be the minimum but with the portal give and take, and new roster limits, who knows? 3 is my best guess (I’m sure one may be a combo DE type that is expected to grow) with 4 not even out of the equation for Taylor/D.Lewis combo. I would expect this board to expand with D.Lewis now in the mix. As usual we will see some GA/Alabma kids listed here as those states really produce the position.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/18007979/James-Johnson TX Commit
Transferring from North Ft. Myers to Miami NW… Commits to GA on 6/28, and then Texas shortly thereafter. Big loss here as UM was said to lead for months, although that may have been exaggerated, being he has only been in Dade county a couple months. He has recently said he is still considering UM, but this seems to be one of those kids that is negotiating for every last dollar, and doing it well.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/17822470/Logan-Nagle (NJ) Pitt Commit
(DL)

https://www.hudl.com/profile/19319697/anthony-kennedy (AR) UM Commit
Big zero tech type that looks pretty light on feet for size. We don’t really have his type on the roster right now. Former Mizzou Commit.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/20467444/Tyson-Bacon (AL) UM Commit
(DL)

https://www.hudl.com/profile/18058829/Alister-Vallejo (TX) Mich Commit

https://www.hudl.com/profile/22691795/Frederic-Sainteus. UM Commit
Former FAU commit really started blowing up this summer with UF, MSU, Wisky offers as well as FSU, GA, and others interest. Looks every bit of 290, and has only played football for a couple of years.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/18898226/Nolan-Wilson (MS) Alabama Commit
(DL) Plays mostly end in high school…Fairly good chance he ends up inside. Canes considered biggest threat to Alabama pledge, but he’s from deep in the heart of SEC country

Others: Isaiah Broughton, Houston UNLV Commit… N.Telona, Concor CA Cal Commit… Gavin Neil, Chicago BC Commit…JD Hill Mission Viejo, CA Northern Arizona Commit… Bryce Perry-Wright (DL), Buford GA TAMU Commit

DE/Edge:
JT has cleaned up here the last 2 seasons, and for those who didn’t see the postseason stock of Hayden Lowe exploded and he ended up a high 4 and even 5 star on the sites. As late summer approaches the net was way too small this cycle imo, and I hope he has something up his sleeve late.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/16710131/Anthony-Tank-Jones (AL) Oregon Commit
(DL) Again, it seems like kids from SEC strongholds know how to play their cards and could just be driving up price for the hometown team. There was UM noise for a good while, but we weren’t even in the top 3 when he chose the Ducks. UPDATE: He visited for ND and UM is supposedly making another push.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/17978850/Asharri-Charles UM Commit
UM commit has put on some size and is one of the best DE in the state. Flirting with FSU here though and he has teammates there.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/19376810/Carter-Gooden (MA) UCLA Commit
(DL). Bruins’ slow start and subsequent Deshaun Foster firing has Gooden, originally from Canada looking around.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/17815296/DeAnthony-Lafayette LSU Commit
(LB/DE)

https://www.hudl.com/profile/19782434/Dre-Quinn (GA)

https://www.hudl.com/profile/18504958/KJ-Ford (TX) Florida Commit

Others: Daniel Norman, STA UO Commit….Ronelle Johnson (DL), Blue Springs MO Indiana Commit….

LB:
I think 3 is a safe number here based on only 2 last season…I would not surprised to see attrition either way at the LB position after spring ball though. Hetherman now doubling as LB coach…He is originally from the Northeast, and his jobs have all been there or in the mid-atlantic before Minny. Board seems to still be developing with the coaching change.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/16898420/Jordan-Campbell UM Commit
(ATH) Committed since after his frosh year at Hialeah then a 2 way standout at Carol City, and now at MNW Has played every position except DT on defense and also plays offense. Natural football player now up over 200 lbs.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/19588569/JJ-Edwards UM Commit

https://www.hudl.com/profile/16013057/Jacob-Curry
(S/LB) Former Northwestern commit now receiving bigger attention. Twitchy kid who plays mostly a box safety/OLB role in high school. I wouldn’t be shocked if UM takes him.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/16815829/DuyonDQ-Forkpa (MD)
From Georgia, to a few months at IMG, and now at St. Frances. UM among finalists, but may be behind.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/19484708/Kymani-Morales Georgia Tech Commit

Others: JD Mckinley, Corona CA Cal Commit…Tamarion Watkins (LB/S), Rock Hill, SC Tamu Commit
————

DB:
Two new DB coaches here and both are vets with proven recruiting ability. Harris brings west coast ties, and Etheridge has recruited the entire SEC county and Texas over the past decade from GA to Texas (Coached at Auburn and Houston, originally from Bama)… No idea on numbers, I don’t think it will be a “monster” numbers class but they want to keep the talent coming in after the portal upgrades. My best guess is 5 combined between corner/safety with a couple of combo or nickel guys in there. but more is definitely a possibility. Pure safeties seem to be the bigger need right now but alot of that will shake out this spring with possibly more in/out attrition and if any of the corners we brought in end up at nickle or safety.

- CORNERS

https://www.hudl.com/profile/19132238/Jaelen-Waters UM Commit
Awesome nickname “Seat Belt”. Gives 3rd commitment (FSU, UF) to the Canes. Liked UM early on, but committed to now UM DB coach Will Harris at UF. Had two teammates become Canes last year, who would have thought Armwood High would become a UM pipeline? Really smooth for a long, rangy kid. Looks like a big-time corner prospect, top 100 kid.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/14959292/Jontavius-Wyman (GA) UM Committ
(ATH) Big flip here for UM…Former Georgia commit excellent tape in all 3 phases of the game.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/16781676/Camdin-Portis UM Commit
(DB) Clinton’s son started HS career in SC, but now plays in Charlotte. I think he projects best as a big nickle, but could see him all over the secondary and possibly staying outside. Wasn’t sure on speed but now posted 10.97 100m this spring, so that’s good to see.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/17868245/Brody-Jennings UM Commit
The last Jennings brother had a mediocre career at UM before transferring out. Michigan Flip with very smooth back pedal and turn for a tall, rangy corner

https://www.hudl.com/profile/19435027/Kenton-Dopson-III UM Commit
His reclassification sounds like a done deal. Best CB in Sofla for a few years now, maybe even back to Surtain and Campbell. North Carolina smoke and it sounds like they are throwing a major bag at him. I’m not sure with UM’s good young corners and now an excellent CB class already coming in if UM matches it. I do think they will at least make it competitive, as this kid is very good.

Others: Kosci Barnes (DB), Greensboro NC South Carolina Commit

Safety:

https://www.hudl.com/profile/13605083/Blake-Stewart (GA) Clemson Commit
(DB) Natural safety but great track times and appears to be versatile enough to play nickle, or even corner. Commits to Clemson over UM on 7/12 as they continue their success in the greater ATL area, and Dabo usually doesn’t have may de-commits. UPDATE: UM still recruiting him late September…Maybe gets interesting with Clemson struggles?

https://www.hudl.com/profile/17769440/Jett-Washington (NV) Oregon Commit

https://www.hudl.com/profile/19533797/Cortez-Redding (GA) UM Commit
Teammates with UM corner commit Wyman and joins him as as commit here in late July…Real nice tape, tenacious with an excellent break on the football. Supposedly shorter than the listed 6’0 though which is why he was more of a backup plan behind Green, Stewart, Jackson. Still a good get though, and could see him at nickle if he’s just too small for safety.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/17955822/Justice-Fitzpatrick GA Commit
Minkah’s younger brother that UM continues to recruit despite GA pledge. The word is he is at least listening, and his brother is back in Miami with the 'fins.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/16232908/Tyriq-Green (GA) GA Commit
(ATH)

https://www.hudl.com/profile/18627958/Markell-Taylor (GA) Cincy Commit

https://www.hudl.com/profile/18336537/Jamar-Owens (GA) Indiana Commit
UM paying him a visit and he is one of the kids they appear to be on for that last safety spot. Hoosiers are really doing something right with their evals right now and the tape is pretty good, he’ll thump ya.

OTHERS: Devin Jackson, Orlando First Academy Oregon Commit…Tedarius Hughes, Miami NW FSU Commit…

2

I’m not as up on the players as you are but we were really good when we had a good 3 deep rotation with 2 DT and 2 DE on the line. No doubt Damian remembers those days! I think we need some space eaters up front so at least 2 of the 6 DT spots would be the Wilfork types.

3

Some recent updates

4

UM flips DB Wyman from Georgia

1 Like
5

Realistic (long shot ok, extreme long shot not included) Top of Defensive Board Targets, jmo

DT- Johnson/Cleveland
DE- Wilkes/Jones
LB- Campbell*/Ebenhart
CB- Waters*/ Kennon/ Benjamin
DB/S- Fitzpatrick/Fort

6

We keep missing on top DT talent. We seem to do well on the DE side but DT seems very weak in recruiting minus a hit or two here and there. Not sure why? Hopefully Lewis can fix this. As long as Georgia keeps putting out top DT talent…well:)

LB is such an influx position these days, isn’t it? Our scheme usually has 2 on the field most times. Would love to see better recruiting on this position and develoopment as well.

DB/S…let’s hope this year is the beginning of a HUGE/MAJOR turn in the right direction. Can’t cover the Jeremiah Smith’s with what we had last year.

We all yearn for the glory days but that 2000-2002 teams were LOADED! We were strong in all positions…I think Mario of course knows this and it working his way that way.

My biggest concern for Mario is the game day coaching decisions that he makes. Needs to be better there and we need to keep getting better at developing our players. Kids will stay where they are being groomed for the next level!

7

2 years ago the DT class was very good…But some of that was assuming Blount ends up inside which may or may not happen. They need to hit this year though for sure.

Also early reports on Simpson are good, which would be a real nice hit on an eval.

8

Yeah, I hear ya on the 2 years ago but I keep harping on the development side of things. Let’s hope the Lewis hire begins to change that

9

Some defensive updates here heading into 5/30 visit weekend.

10

Little bit of everything in this 6/4 update. New names, clean up, and status updates.

11

Added the new round of safety offers into the hulls…All are from greater Atlanta area, where we already have two commits, but also missed out on a couple of kids that Etheridge really wanted.

Will add a couple of new DT offers in at some point as well. I don’t believe a big enough need was cast at either of these positions this cycle, as the staff was really fooled into believing they were landing some of these SEC area DT/DE in particular

12

NEW DL Names added after what seems like many misses.

13

Cleaned up after some formatting issues. Couple new names and tidbits

14

Mainly DL Updates…Some new names floating around and old names re-surfacing