Miami football hosting FCS all-american DL D.J Coleman

Gaby Urrutia of Inside the U reported that FCS All-American defensive lineman D.J. Coleman from Jacksonville State visited the Miami football program on Wednesday. During the spring 2021 season, Coleman had 54 tackles, had 12 tackles for loss and was second nationally with nine sacks.

The 6’6, 245 pound Coleman was third-team All-American in 2019 and second-team in spring 2021. Coleman had 56 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, five sacks and 26.5 quarterback hits during the 2019 season. Jacksonville State signed Coleman over FCS program Central Arkansas and FBS East Carolina Troy, and Western Kentucky.

Coleman had 55 tackles, 5.5 TFLs and three sacks during the 2021 fall season. Jacksonville State transitioned from the Ohio Valley Conference to the Atlantic Sun in 2021. After winning the OVC during spring 2021, the Gamecocks finished 5-6 overall and 3-3 in the Atlantic Sun-WAC challenge standings in fall 2021.

Coleman is potentially the fourth transfer DL Miami could add during the 2022 offseason. Mitchell Agude from UCLA, Jacob Lichtenstein from USC and Antonio Moultrie from UAB all joined the Hurricanes over the last few months. Agude projects to compete at DE, Moultrie as a backup DT and Lichtenstein as a swing DL.

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal stated in his introductory press conference that the Hurricanes were going to make the line of scrimmage a priority. Since Cristobal was hired in December, the Miami football program has added three offensive linemen and five DL through the transfer portal and high school signees.

Coleman would provide depth and experience for Miami while competing with Agude and returnees Jahfari Harvey and Chantz Williams for first-team. In three years with Jacksonville State, Coleman played in 39 games with 24 starts. Miami needs to improve the pressure they put on the quarterback in 2021.

Miami was 37th nationally in 2021 averaging 2.75 sacks per game. The importance of improving the play on the DL is clear with the additions Miami has made through the transfer portal and 2022 signees Nyjalik Kelly and Cyrus Moss. Cristobal has been aggressive in adding talent to the Miami roster in his first four months.