Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Hurricanes score grad transfer edge rusher
After sending their two starting defensive ends to the NFL draft, the Miami Hurricanes will be getting some transfer help on the edge.
Tennessee defensive end/outside linebacker Deandre Johnson, a Miami Southridge High grad, announced he will be transferring to Miami on Saturday night.
Johnson led the Volunteers with 4 ½ sacks in 2020. He was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after his game at South Carolina on Sept. 26 when he had career highs in tackles (six), tackles for loss (2 ½ ), and sacks (2 ½ ) while also forcing a fumble.
At 6 foot 3, 255 pounds, Johnson can play either defensive end or outside linebacker. As a junior in 2019, he appeared in all 13 games with two starts at outside linebacker, finishing with 13 tackles, 4 ½ for loss, 2 ½ sacks, four hurries and a forced fumble.
Johnson was part of Southridge’s fierce defense in 2016 that led the Spartans to a Class 8A state championship. He proceeded to graduate early to enroll in the spring semester of 2017 at Tennessee.
In his career with the Volunteers, he appeared in 40 games, making nine starts.
His veteran presence will help a pass rush that has defensive ends Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche heading to the draft — Roche is believed to be an outside linebacker prospect in the NFL. The Hurricanes also have Gregory Rousseau, who opted out of the 2020 season from the start, in the 2021 draft.
Miami’s 37-34 Cheez-It Bowl loss to Oklahoma State served as a preview for what UM is returning at defensive end. Redshirt freshmen Jahfari Harvey and Cameron Williams started, with Harvey recording a sack and Williams a tackle for loss.
Assuming linebacker Zach McCloud returns for a sixth college season, he may try to play defensive end, where he played off the bench in the bowl game. Redshirt sophomore Patrick Joyner also rotated in against the Cowboys.
The Hurricanes also have freshmen Chantz Williams, Elijah Roberts and Quentin Williams, who stand to make progress with an offseason of development, along with redshirt freshman Jason Blissett. He, Roberts and Quentin Williams could play inside or out on the defensive line.
In the 2021 recruiting class, UM is bringing in defensive ends Jabari Ishmael and Thomas Davis.