With transfer additions and high school signees, Miami’s 2022 defensive line is more versatile

Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal understands that winning games at the highest level of college football begins and ends on the line of scrimmage. 

Whether it is via the transfer portal or through traditional high school recruiting, Cristobal has wasted no time improving the overall depth and talent on the defensive line going into the 2022 season. 

Going into this spring semester, UM has added veteran defensive linemen in Jacob Lichtenstein and Antonio Moultrie. 

Lichtenstein (6-6, 270) has played 745 defensive snaps and totaled 42 tackles and four sacks during his career. 

Moultrie (6-4, 265) has played 1,213 defensive snaps while totaling 116 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one interception. 

Those additions make Lichtenstein and Moultrie the two most experienced players on UM’s defensive line going into the 2022 season. 

Cristobal has also added impressive young talents via high school recruiting by adding Top 100 recruits Cyrus Moss, who is a twitchy edge rusher, and Nyjalik Kelly, who is a big framed defensive end with some twitch. 

UM is also firmly in the mix for five-star defensive line prospect Shemar Stewart down the stretch. 

During his early signing period press conference, Cristobal made it clear that he wanted to build up Miami’s position groups in the trenches. 

“We have to be about the trenches and the line of scrimmage, so we have work to do there in recruiting,” Cristobal said during his early signing period press conference. “We have some work to do to compliment the edges. We have to get at least one more really, really good and excellent edge player. At linebacker, what a blessing with Wesley and all the guys at defensive back that signed with us today. The front seven needs to look a certain way out there. I am talking about body types, depth, explosiveness, and physicality. I am excited about the trenches.”

Miami’s defensive line is going to look different in 2022 than it did in 2021. 

Read on for a look at how UM now has the personnel to be multiple up front with the improved depth and talent.