Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
STEPPING UP
Young DTs look to contribute more than their dance moves
When Miami Hurricanes fans think of the team’s three redshirt freshmen at defensive tackle, their first thought may be Jalar Holley’s sideline dance moves that became a phenomenon last season.
Holley provided energy with his elaborate gyrations during what was UM’s best stretch of an otherwise disappointing 6-7 season when the Hurricanes won three straight against Pittsburgh, Florida State and Louisville.
Now, after he, Jason Blissett and Jared Harrison-Hunte spent their first college season on the sideline, they’re looking to dance around some opposing offensive linemen and catapult themselves into on-field contributions.
At least one of them can emerge behind more experienced defensive tackles in senior Jonathan Ford, junior Nesta Silvera and redshirt sophomore Jordan Miller.
“Jalar, he is a pass-rush machine,” said Silvera. “That dude can do any move you want him to do. We call Jalar ‘Drill Dude’ because he will do every one of those [drills] perfect.
“Jared’s been strong and he’s very twitchy. He definitely really has both. Once he hones in on his craft, he’s going to be a force.”
Both Holley and Harrison-Hunte weigh 285 pounds. With Blissett checking in at 6-foot-4 and 262 pounds, he has seen work both inside and outside at defensive end during fall camp.
“Bliss, inside and outside, he definitely brings that quickness that you have on the outside,” Silvera said. “When he comes inside, he definitely brings that strength that tackles aren’t used to seeing when he goes outside.”
The Hurricanes, who graduated Pat Bethel and Chigozie Nnoruka at defensive tackle last season, like to go deep into their rotation of defensive linemen.
“Overall, with that position, we have a lot of depth. You’ll see a lot of guys play,” defensive coordinator Blake Baker told 560-AM earlier this week. “A lot of competition in that room, and those guys, they have really created a bond with each other. … Every single one of those guys brings a little bit of something different to the table, so I think you’ll see a good rotation there on the inside for us.”
Silvera, who was an AllAmerican as a high school recruit out of American Heritage, is bound to start for the first time at UM after he had 19 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery in nine games last season.
“He’s been excellent this whole camp,” said Ford, who totaled 18 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble last season. “Everybody knows he has the power and he’s real strong. His movement has really improved on the field.
“I’m really excited to see how he comes out and delivers against UAB because I know he’s excited. It’ll be his first time starting on the college level. He’s going to be real excited. I can’t wait to see him play.”
Ford now becomes the unit’s leader after watching Bethel fill that role last season, Gerald Willis the year before and the combination of R.J. McIntosh and Kendrick Norton in 2017.
“Those guys took the game real serious, especially when they knew it was their time,” Ford said. “Just seeing how they prepared themselves throughout the week, it was just something that you just had to take heed to and had to really look up to because it was just a different type of feeling. You couldn’t just come to the building and be average.
“Me just being a senior this year, I try to take that same approach into practice and practice hard with my team.”