UM assesses six key front-seven transfers and where they will play. And personnel notes

The Miami Hurricanes significantly upgraded their front seven with six key additions in the transfer portal, and several four-star players in the 2022 class.

Some feedback from UM coaches on those players on Tuesday, and clarity about where they will play, from defensive line coach Joe Salave’a and defensive coordinator Kevin Steele.

▪ UCLA transfer Mitchell Agude: “He is going to be both” a defensive end and outside linebacker, Salave’a said.

“He brings that elite twitch and strength. He has put on a pretty good mass with the short time he’s been here. I like the way he’s built. I like the way he sees football. You need as many Mitchell Agudes as you can get.”

Agude had 55 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, two sacks and four forced fumbles last season for UCLA.

▪ Akheem Mesidor - who played end for West Virginia in 2020 and defensive tackle and some nose tackle last year for the Mountaineers - will begin his UM career playing on the edge, at defensive end “with the ability to play inside,” Salave’a said.

“He’s dynamic. We’ll have the ability to put him in a couple of positions to highlight his motor, athleticism and explosive qualities. It speaks loudly when you see his film. He plays hard.”

Mesidor, who’s 6-2 and 272 pounds, had 38 tackles with eight for loss, 4.5 sacks and 33 quarterback pressures at West Virginia last season.

▪ Antonio Moultrie can play some end but will play “inside” at defensive tackle for UM.

“He’s played a lot of football,” Salave’a said. “There’s something to be said for that. He’s got a lot of great twitch.”

Moultrie missed the spring with a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

Moultrie had 62 tackles, including eight for loss, and two sacks for UAB last season, along with 14 quarterback hurries.

▪ Darrell Jackson, the 6-5, 303-pound defensive tackle, will play inside at tackle for UM, as expected.

He had 22 tackles as a freshman for Maryland last season.

“He’s a long player that can bend,” Salave’a said. “He has a lot of raw potential. A big guy with that size that can bend. And he’s got strength. You need those ginormous guys that are not stiff and have mobility and have good strength. I am excited to see him compete.”

▪ Jacob Lichtenstein, who played end and tackle at Southern Cal, has said UM is using him mostly at tackle.

“Jacob has position flexibility,” Joe Salave’a said. “Jacob has got length. He’s fluid with the techniques. We look forward to utilizing his length and intelligence.”

He had 28 tackles (six for loss) and four sacks at Southern Cal last season.

▪ Cyrus Moss, the four-star freshman, will play defensive end.

“Moss can go from 0 to 60 in a short time,” Salave’a said. “The kid can run like a deer. One of the greatest things is him being an early enrollee. He had the opportunity to get reps this spring. That gives him good momentum going into the fall camp.”

▪ Nyjalik Kelly, the other four-star freshman, also will play defensive end.

“What a talent,” Salave’a said. “He had to get healthy but during the summer he was one of the most explosive guys we had there. I like the fact he’s learning from some of the older guys. We can present some opportunities where we can get speed on the field and let him loose. He’s got length.”

With all these additions - coupled with the return of Leonard Taylor, Jahfari Harvey, Chantz Williams, Jared Harrison Hunte, Jordan Miller and others - does UM now have an upper echelon Power 5 front four?

“With a lot of work,” Steele said.

▪ Steele said UCLA transfer Caleb Johnson will be an inside linebacker. He will compete with Corey Flagg Jr. and others at middle linebacker.

“And this system can get both the two best ‘backers,” Steele said. “It doesn’t have to be in regular defense, it’s SAM, Mike, Will… We will get the two best guys on the field and will tweak our call. We are not going to make a call and have one of the best players on the field standing [on the sideline]. If we’ve got two Mikes better than any of the [outside linebackers], we’ve got to tweak things.”

Steele said Johnson “runs very well. He’s a smart, smart, smart guy.”

Johnson had 45 tackles and an interception in 11 games last season for UCLA. He had no sacks after producing 5.5 as a freshman in seven games in 2020.

THIS AND THAT

Four-star tight end Jaleel Skinner was asked why this staff is so good at pulling players away from Alabama (or at least Crimson Tide targets).

“Our coaches have got some real good charm,” he said. “They’re all good people and understand recruiting.”

Skinner has developed a relationship with former UM tight ends Greg Olsen, Jeremy Shockey and Jimmy Graham.

▪ UM never seriously considered moving safety James Williams to linebacker.

“He’s a safety and we’re still in the process of figuring out who’s what,” Steele said. “I don’t care if we call him lion, tiger, giraffe. We have to get the best 11 players on the field.. In the situation in the game.”

▪ Mario Cristobal said running back Don Chaney “has slimmed down” and freshman back TreVonte’ Citizens is “tough and physical” and doesn’t back down.

▪ Steele, on what he likes about his defense: “We can run. We’re a fast football team. [Strength coach Aaron] Feld has done a phenomenal job changing body mass of [players] - bigger, faster, stronger.”