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 GA Commit
Transferring from North Ft. Myers to Miami NW… UM lean may also be strengthened because he had ties with Damione Lewis because Colorado was recruiting him heavily being he was from Deion’s HS. Commits to GA on 6/28. Big loss here as UM was thought to lead for months now

https://www.hudl.com/profile/15232231/Kaleb-Mills (AL) Miss State Commit
(DL)

https://www.hudl.com/profile/17822470/Logan-Nagle (NJ) Pitt Commit
(DL) Like this kid’s tape alot and Charlie Partridge is a very good DL coach so I trust his eye.

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/17906740/Ami-Moala (AL) UNC Commit

https://www.hudl.com/profile/22691795/Frederic-Sainteus FAU Commit

Others: Bryce Perry-Wright (DL), Buford GA TAMU Commit… N.Telona, Concor CA Cal 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
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.

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/19522197/Daniel-Norman Oklahoma Commit
Local kid from STA whose stock is rising after big junior year. Has added height and weight recently and UM and JT showing interest.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/18996888/Jaquez-Wilkes (AL) Auburn Commit

https://www.hudl.com/profile/17815296/DeAnthony-Lafayette LSU Commit
(LB/DE) Undersized kid that is a wrecking ball off the edge. Maybe in the role of Jerome Mcdougal. JT supposedly likes this kid as a pass rusher, but not sure he can commit at the moment.

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/17961872/Adam-BalogounAli

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

https://www.hudl.com/profile/16815829/DuyonDQ-Forkpa
IMG by way of North Georgia. Canes have moved up recently in his recruitment and are battling FSU/UF with the Gators supposedly in the lead.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/16357783/Lekhy-Thompkins Louisville Commit
(ATH)

OTHERS: Izayia Williams, Leesburg FL Ole Miss Commit… Jamichael Garrett, New Orleans…Karon Maycock, Central FSU Commit

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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/18049300/CJ-Hester UF Commit
(DB)

Others: Chauncey Kennon, Sarasota FSU Commit

Safety:

https://www.hudl.com/profile/13605083/Blake-Stewart (GA) Clemson Commit
(DB)Big year for DB in GA, and UM is all over a few of them. Great track times and appears to be versatile enough to play safety, nickle, or even corner. Returns kicks as well. Commits to Clemson 7/12 as they continue their success in the greater ATL area, and Dabo usually doesn’t have may recommits.

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 nowhere near 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/16232908/Tyriq-Green (GA) GA Commit
(ATH)

https://www.hudl.com/profile/17787799/Jowell-Combay (GA)Tenn Commit
My favorite pure safety of the 4 new mid July offers. All from the greater Atlanta area, where we landed Redding but came in top 3 and lost out for couple other studs already this year.

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

https://www.hudl.com/profile/22890754/Tony-Forney-Jr (GA) Mizzou Commit
(DB)

https://www.hudl.com/profile/18336537/Jamar-Owens (GA) Indiana Commit

https://www.hudl.com/profile/17955822/Justice-Fitzpatrick
(DB) UM hoping to get back in this with his brother Minkah going back to the Dolphins. UM supposedly likes him at safety but not positive on that.

OTHERS: D’Montae Tims (ATH), Sefner Armwood… Zech Fort, IMG GA Commit…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
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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.