The Miami Hurricanes have built a powerhouse defense under head coach Mario Cristobal. Last year, the team allowed just 14.8 points per game — the fifth-fewest in college football — and racked up 50 sacks as a team, which led the nation. A lot of their top playmakers are gone now, notably star edge rushers Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr., but they still boast one of the country's best defenses, and that showed in Week 1, when they dismantled Stanford 45-6.
But as the Hurricanes prepare for Florida A&M on Thursday night, they'll have to do so without one of their top defenders: starting cornerback OJ Frederique. Cristobal told reporters this week that Frederique "suffered a pretty significant injury, so he will be down for quite a while." More news: NCAA Issues Major Rule Change After Michigan-Western Michigan Controversy More news: Mike Elko Weighs In on LSU-SEC Drama With Wild Analogy Frederique arrived at Miami in 2024 as a three-star recruit, flipping his commitment to join Cristobal's Hurricanes after previously pledging to West Virginia. He appeared in all 13 games as a freshman, recording 30 combined tackles, seven pass breakups, one interception and one tackle for loss.
Last season, he played in 10 games and recorded 19 total tackles and seven pass deflections. This year, he played just two snaps against Stanford before going down with a left shoulder injury. Junior cornerback Damari Brown, a former four-star recruit, stepped in for Frederique last week and will likely now be tasked with a much bigger role while Frederique is out, with no clear timeline for his return.
After Florida A&M on Thursday, the Hurricanes will travel to Wake Forest before games against Central Michigan, Clemson, Florida State, Pittsburgh, and North Carolina. Fortunately, that's a manageable stretch that Miami should be able to handle without Frederique, giving other players a chance to ease into bigger roles. More news: LSU Sends Clear Message to SEC, Calls Ex-NFL Player Controversy ‘Moot’
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