By their own admission, ESPN stated that new Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz helped the Miami rise in the rankings at this time last year. ESPN had the Hurricanes ranked 13th in 2018 and in the same spot in their recently published rankings for 2019. The focus is too much on what the Miami defense has lost.
In both 2018 and ’19, ESPN recognized that the strength of the Hurricanes defense in the return of the entire starting linebacker corps. Shaq Quarterman, Michael Pinckney and Zach McCloud all return for their Senior seasons and fourth year as starters.