McCloud’s joke turns into serious move for defense

Zach McCloud’s switch from linebacker to defensive end could bolster an inexperienced group. D-line coach Jess Simpson said he’s one of the Hurricanes’ ‘surprises of spring.’

One of the Hurricanes’ biggest “surprises of spring so far” — in the words of

Jess Simpson — started off as little more than a joke at the end of last season.

Zach McCloud was still with the linebackers for most of practice leading up to the 2020 Cheez-It Bowl, and the redshirt senior sat in a meeting while Miami went over its third-down package.

“I can do that,” McCloud quipped as the Hurricanes talked through a defensive end’s responsibility. He was “just kind of like being cocky,” McCloud said. “I was making a joke.”

Coach Manny Diaz “perked up,” McCloud said. Miami’s two star defensive ends weren’t going to suit up for the Cheez-It Bowl, instead opting to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft, and it left the Hurricanes with a massive void at a former position of strength. A new experiment began.

McCloud practiced at defensive end that day and has been there every day since. He came off the bench as a defensive end in the bowl game and spent the entire offseason planning around a full-time position change, adding about 25 pounds throughout the winter and studying NFL edge rushers “with a similar body profile” to his 6-2 frame.

With Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche gone to the NFL, Miami is holding open competition at both end spots, and Simpson said McCloud has been one of the biggest surprises.

“He’s just connecting the dots at defensive end, and I really think it suits his skill set,” the new defensive line coach said. “I’ve seen him do stuff in pass rush the last two