Jahfari Harvey is "the voice" of this Miami D, says he's very confident in Kevin Steele, this defense
Following Miami’s Wednesday practice this week, DE Mitchell Agude singled out one fellow lineman for praise: Jahfari Harvey.
“Jahfari, we call him `The Voice’ because he’s always loud, telling people run to the ball,” Agude said. “He’s the type of guy people can lean on if you’re tired, need any adjustments on the field.
“He’s one of the leaders that just shows everyone the standard, how the Miami Hurricanes are supposed to be.”
After Thursday’s practice, it was Harvey’s turn to weigh in. And he says he’s happy with what he’s seen from the play up front this fall.
“There’s a lot of trust in coach (Kevin) Steele, we’re very confident in him,” Harvey said. “We know he knows what he’s doing… so we trust him very much. My favorite thing is he knows where to put you. He knows how to use his personnel. We have a lot of fun out there, you don’t have to think too much you just go out there and play.”
Harvey knows there will be a heavy rotation up front, and Kevin Steele could use as many as 8-10 linemen in games. Steele is preaching that no one should consider themselves THE starter, that they are all co-starters.
“It’ll help keep us fresh,” Harvey said. “Fresh legs rolling in and out. Different personnel for different things, it’ll help about.”
A 6-4, 252-pound fourth-year redshirt sophomore, Harvey has started six games in his career. He arrived at UM in 2019 and played in four games off the bench, then in 2020 played in 10 games and had one start, ending with 18 tackles, five for losses and 1.5 sacks.
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This past season he played in all 12 games, starting five, and had 26 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks as well as an interception return for a touchdown against North Carolina.
“I feel like turnovers will come naturally when you’re pounding them in the run game they gotta throw it,” he said. “That’s when turnovers come in play. Tip throws and overthrows, gotta get those. I feel like just flying to the ball, knocking that ball out, hats to the ball, that’ll cause turnovers.”
While the tools are all there, Harvey got plenty of chances last season and just never really made a consistent splash. Last year’s Pro Football Focus grades also show he needs to make a jump from good to elite – he graded out last year at 65.2 percent as a pass rusher and 66.9 for run defense (70 is considered very good).
Regardless, after last season it was presumed he’d be the next guy in line to start with Zach McCloud and DeAndre Johnson gone. But Miami coach Mario Cristobal upped the level of competition with transfer additions. And Cristobal also upped the general attitude and focus of the entire team.
An overall takeaway from Harvey with the season kicking off next Saturday?
“We’re very excited to focus on somebody else other than ourself,” he said. “I feel like the summer flew by like it always does, but we’re real excited about the first game.”
