New defensive linemen called on for depth

The Miami Hurricanes lost five key contributors off their defensive line from last season, including three starters and the team leader in sacks.

That doesn’t leave Miami without hope on that side of the ball — there are still talented players with some experience who figure to make an impact. What the offseason departures do mean, though, is that there are spots for new faces to get on to the field.

Freshman defensive end Gregory Rousseau, an early enrollee in the spring, seems to have positioned himself to contribute early, and freshmen Jordan Miller and Nesta Jade Silvera could be in the mix, too.

“I think I’m really getting there,” Rousseau said at the Hurricanes’ media day on Monday. “College is way faster. It’s really way faster. And the big difference for me, in high school you go against players who are decent and stuff, but in college you’re gonna be going against somebody that’s elite, like, every play.”

The speed is the biggest thing for young players to overcome, so much so that it’s become a bit of a cliché. It can mean different things.

For some, the speed transition comes with what Rousseau mentioned: the players on the field are much faster and better than high schoolers. For others, it’s the complexity of the playbook and the short amount of time a player is given to learn it.

In any case, the transition to the college level can be helped along with guidance from more experienced players who have been through it themselves.

“If I’m not coaching, those old guys will be coaching,” said defensive line coach Jess Simpson on Monday. “They’ve done a really good job of trying to warn them and trying to show them the Miami way and how we do things and why we do the things we do and how those things are connected to us being successful. So I’ve got a really good room, some really good leadership, and we’re excited about the old guys and the young guys.”

Tito Odenigbo, a graduate transfer from Illinois, is unique, in that he is on both sides of the experience coin. This is his first season with the Hurricanes, and he’s a big body who can help on the interior of the line, having played four seasons of college football already.

But he too has some things to learn, though he says the Fighting Illini’s defensive scheme is similar to Miami’s, which is one of the reasons he decided to come to Coral Gables.

In Odenigbo’s case, the biggest learning experience was figuring out where he fit in among the other players, schematically and otherwise. Since then, he seems to have figured things out, as his coaches praised Odenigbo for what he’s brought to the table.

“He’s done a super job, really been a fast learner,” Simpson said. “Very physical guy, tough guy, plays hard, got a really good motor. He’s really fit in well in our room, and I can see him having a really big role for us this fall.”

In all, it’s not like Miami’s defensive line has a dearth of talent. The starters, in particular, should have experience and skill that many teams around the country don’t have.

For the young players, sure, there could be some growing pains, especially early in the season. But defensive coordinator Manny Diaz says that isn’t abnormal, and he expects the likes of Rousseau, Miller and Silvera to come along throughout the season, following in the footsteps of past freshmen.

“If you look at our history of developing freshmen over the last two years, you’ve seen a lot of guys who maybe not in September we’re featuring, but by October, November,” Diaz said. “I don’t really remember Jonathan Garvin last September, but I remember his plays against Tech and Notre Dame in November.

“There’s always a rush to see what’s gonna happen in the first game, especially against a high-quality opponent. But we pride ourselves on player development, and that never ends.”

“I’ve got a really good room, some really good leadership, and we’re excited about the old guys and the young guys.” Jess Simpson, defensive line coach