PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nYXJ0aWNsZS12aWRlbyc+CjxpZnJhbWUgYWxsb3dmdWxs
c2NyZWVuPScnIGZyYW1lYm9yZGVyPScwJyBzcmM9Jy8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUu
Y29tL2VtYmVkLzUtUnpEdS1zVGdvP3dtb2RlPXRyYW5zcGFyZW50Jz48L2lm
cmFtZT4KPC9kaXY+Cgo=
Miami fans can boastfully and rightfully say that the Hurricanes have produced the best linebacker of all time in Ray Lewis. Prior to Lewis, one of the more memorable trios of Michael Barrow, Darrin Smith, and Jesse Armstead helped Miami win championships in 1989 and 1991. During the early 2000s, Jonathan Vilma, and DJ Williams carried the "LBU" torch to help Miami win its 5th national championship.
In recent years, the trio of Shaquille Quarterman, Mike Pinckney, and Zach McCloud were productive but did not create the lore of the aforementioned linebackers.
In two years, Head Coach Mario Cristobal and his staff have revamped the linebacker room and it continues with the 2024 recruiting class. Miami's last commitment, Cameron Pruitt, fits the mold of what the staff is looking to create at the position group - big, physical, and versatile.
At 6'3" and 190 pounds, Pruitt can rush the passer and cover in space on a high level. Pruitt's ability to use his hands in both basketball and soccer as a goalkeeper makes him a quality prospect that Miami can mold into a top-tier college athlete. His best attribute - his physicality.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Much can also be said for Vincent Shavers, another physical linebacker with athletic versatility. Shavers played some running back prior to fully committing to linebacker so he has the ability to dart at ball carriers to make tackles.
Shavers also excels for one of the top seven-on-seven teams in the nation in Defcon1. His talent will be at the OT7 championships in California this weekend.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Miami is also making waves at linebacker via the transfer portal with the recent addition of KJ Cloyd. The 6'2" 229-pound backer is familiar with linebackers coach Derek Nicholson as both were at Louisville prior to arriving in Coral Gables. Cloyd was the 2nd-highest ranked outside linebacker in the nation coming out of high school in Mississippi.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Cloyd will join the team with projected starters Francisco Mauigoa and Wesley Bissainthe. That trio in itself will be a formidable group going forward as Bissainthe had an outstanding freshman season (appeared in 12 games and registered 30 tackles) and Mauigoa was arguably the best linebacker in the spring.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Miami also added high-level prospects in the 2023 cycle. Four-stars Malik Bryant and Bobby Washington impressed in the spring with their speed and athleticism and Raul "Popo" Aguirre and Marcellius Pulliam both have tremendous upside and will challenge for playing time in the fall.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The linebacker room suddenly has become a crowded one with veterans Corey Flagg and Keontra Smith also currently on the roster and athletic linebacker Chase Smith has yet to show what he can do as he battled injuries over the last year.
Miami is far from being referred to as "LBU" because the moniker resulted from putting linebackers in the NFL, but with the upgrade to the position group the Hurricanes have a great chance of reclaiming that title.
Quincy Roche (2021), Shaquille Quarterman (2020), and Denzel Perryman (2015) are the only linebackers drafted from Miami in the last decade.