CORAL GABLES — When Damari Brown arrived on Miami’s campus as a touted four-star cornerback prospect last year, he had time to settle in, learn the defense and get acclimated while several veteran defensive backs took on starting roles.
As Brown begins his sophomore year, much more is expected from him. Miami lost all but one of its starting defensive backs, and Brown will have a much bigger role on this year’s team.
“(My mindset is) to kind of takeover,” Brown said. “A lot’s expected from me this year. Not a baby anymore. I’ve got to take on this Year 2 role, being a starting corner or defensive back. Just got to perform at a high level, set the bar.”
After losing two starting cornerbacks, Te’Cory Couch and Jaden Davis, to the NFL, the Hurricanes’ secondary is in a state of flux. Veteran Daryl Porter Jr. returns to anchor one outside cornerback position, but everyone else is either new to UM (such as the case of D’Yoni Hill, a veteran who transferred from Marshall) or taking on bigger roles after learning under the departed veterans.
Miami doesn’t just have an influx of new defensive backs. The Hurricanes also have a new cornerbacks coach, Chevis Jackson, who came to UM from Marshall.
“The way he coaches brings the confidence out of you,” Porter said. “(He) makes sure that you’re playing fun, doing whatever you’ve got to do to make plays. I feel like he’s going to be a really good coach for the guys that are younger than me.”
Porter, an American Heritage alum who transferred from West Virginia to Miami before the 2022 season, became a full-time starter last year and posted a solid season. Although he is one of the top returning cornerbacks in the ACC, he was left off postseason award lists last year and preseason watch lists this season.
“I wake up with a chip on my shoulder every morning, man,” Porter said. “I feel like I should be an All-American. I feel like I should be on these draft boards high. But things happen. But I feel like things will change after this year.”
Being one of the few veterans in the group, Porter said he has taken on a bigger leadership role.
“I feel like I have to turn into a coach sometimes, telling them everything I know from experience on and off the field,” Porter said. “I feel like I have to do more outside of football.”
Brown could play outside cornerback, though defensive coordinator Lance Guidry said Brown will likely spend a lot of time at nickelback. Last year, Brown played 68 snaps at slot corner and 228 at wide corner.
“Damari’s a great player, and so is everyone that lines up in the nickel,” wide receiver Xavier Restrepo said.
The Hurricanes also bring back Jadais Richard, a former Vanderbilt transfer who is versatile in the secondary. He played 187 defense snaps and can move between outside cornerback, nickelback and safety if needed. The Hurricanes added Hill, who followed Jackson from Marshall to Miami. Hill had 55 tackles, 10 pass breakups and one interception last season.
“When we played Florida State, we started Damari and we started (Jadais Richard), and they played pretty well,” Guidry said. “We still have Richard. We’ve added Dyoni Hill, who played for us at Marshall when me and Chevis were there. He’s a Gainesville kid, so he’s a Florida kid.”
Robert Stafford, a redshirt freshman, was a touted prospect coming out of high school but did not play a defensive snap last year. That will likely change this season.
“I learned that the weight room is very important, and the playbook’s very important,” Stafford said. “You can’t just go off talent at this level. That’s what I learned.”
The Hurricanes added freshman cornerbacks Ryan Mack and OJ Frederique Jr., both out of Fort Lauderdale powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas. They were part of a five-man defensive back class in UM’s 2024 recruiting class.
“Those guys are talented,” Brown said. “OJ kind of reminds me of myself from last year. Came in, competed early out the gate. Doesn’t shy away from anything. Same with Ryan. Just got to stay healthy. Those guys are good. They’re out there. They’re competing.”
Miami’s coaches have about a month to evaluate the cornerbacks on the roster to see who the best group is to take on Graham Mertz and the Gators on Aug. 31.
“We’ll see,” Guidry said. “We have to develop to where we have five corners, at least, to feel good. You definitely got to have four. I think we’re in a better spot this year than we were last year.”