Chantz Williams: DL depth breeds competition and makes the team better

The Miami Hurricanes are expected to have a heavy defensive line rotation under new coordinator Kevin Steele. One returning end who should have a role … even with UM bringing in experienced transfers Mitchell Agude and Akheem Mesidor … is Chantz Williams.

Last season, in his first real action at UM, Williams had 17 tackles playing in every game off the bench (with Zach McCloud and Deandre Johnson the primary starters). Williams ended with 2.5 sacks, two QB hurries and two pass breakups. With the Canes bringing in Agude and Mesidor, and with Jahfari Harvey another experienced end returner, there should be a solid end rotation and depth.

“I try my best every day, in and out working,” Williams said. “`Make the days count,’ that’s what we’re saying to everybody. Just working.”

As for the DL rotation? Williams says he’s not getting any hints on just who might fit into what role yet. But what he does know is that “We’re going to have a nice heavy rotation. We’re trying to get a lot of guys in. With the group of guys we have, any and everybody can play at any position they want. We’re going to be very deep this year. … (The competition) makes the team better. Each and every one of us are getting better every day.”

Will Williams start?

That remains to be seen.

Certainly he has a lot of athletic ability and should get plenty of reps regardless. Last year in 299 reps of work, Williams graded out at 59.2 percent overall per Pro Football Focus, with 70 considered very good (58.1 run defense grade, 61.0 tackling and 61.8 pass rush).

Williams is working at the same spot as Mesidor in practices.

“Akheem is a very good pass rusher, he brings that to his game,” Williams said. “Also he’s strong. At West Virginia he played a little bit of nose, so he’s an older guy who does what he has to do, very versatile.”

Asked about Agude, Williams said, “Mitch is a hard worker. He’s running to the ball, a vet. He’s teaching us the ins and outs of what he knows, has seen. We know each and every day what we’re getting with Mitch – a hard worker, somebody who is very attentive.”

In addition to the end depth, there’s plenty of tackle talent, including the team bringing in three transfers to complement returners Leonard Taylor and Jared Harrison-Hunte.

One of those transfers, Darrell Jackson, was referred to by Williams as “the man-child.”

“Darrell Jackson is coming in every day putting in the work, is very physical and is plugging the run, does what he can,” Williams said. “He’s learning the pass rush, is just working like everybody else. He said it’s different from Maryland, and we were like, `Okay, we didn’t know, we just thought everybody worked.’”

Williams added that “I feel like all the D tackles, I’m getting a good chemistry with them. We’re mixing up the line any way we can. We’re getting a lot of reps in in practice every day.”

The line will get its next chance to show what it can do in a game-like situation on Saturday when UM will hold its second fall scrimmage.

“What we tell ourselves every day is `yesterday has to be our worst day,’” Williams said. “We are always trying to build and capitalize on any and every mistake because we know we’re not perfect. Right now we’re trying to clean up (mistakes) so we can just play and let loose.”

*Asked about freshman DL Nyjalik Kelly, Williams said, “He’s very young but definitely a freak of nature. Great bend, very strong, very explosive. I see Nyjalik making some noise sooner than most people expect.”