Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No. 12 Simeon Barrow
The Miami Hurricanes have massively reshaped the roster from a year ago with five primary offensive starters gone (QB Tyler Van Dyke, RB Henry Parrish, WR Colbie Young, OL Javion Cohen and Matt Lee) along with seven on the defensive side (DT Leonard Taylor, DT Branson Deen, DL Jared Harrison-Hunte, S Kam Kinchens, S James Williams, CB Jaden Davis and CB Te’Cory Couch).
50. RB JORDAN LYLE … 49. RB CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON … 48. DE COLE MCCONATHY … 47. S ZAQUAN PATTERSON … 46. TE CAM MCCORMICK … 45. NY CARR … 44. JUSTIN SCOTT … 43. OT Markel Bell … 42. RB AJAY ALLEN … 41. TE RILEY WILLIAMS … 40. OL MATTHEW MCCOY … 39. LB CAM PRUITT … 38. DT JOSHUA HORTON … 37. LB RAUL AGUIRRE … 36. S MARKEITH WILLIAMS … 35. S JADEN HARRIS … 34. QB EMORY WILLIAMS … 33. WR JOJO TRADER … 32. D’YONI HILL … 31. RAY RAY JOSEPH … 30. ISAIAH HORTON … 29. MARLEY COOK … 28. JAYLIN ALDERMAN … 27. JADAIS RICHARD … 26. SAMSON OKUNLOLA … 25. ELIJA LOFTON … 24. ELIJAH ALSTON … 23. DAMARI BROWN … 22. REESE POFFENBARGER … 21. ZACH CARPENTER … 20. SAM BROWN … 19. CJ CLARK … 18. ELIJAH ARROYO … 17. WESLEY BISSAINTHE … 16. DARYL PORTER, JR. … 15. DYLAN JOYCE … 14. MARK FLETCHER … 13T. TYLER BARON/MISHAEL POWELL
Which brings us to our annual series breaking down the top 50 players on the current roster. As we go along on this list you’ll get an idea of the overall depth of talent on Mario Cristobal’s team this year as he seeks Miami’s second 10-win season in the last two decades.
Today we are at No. 12:
NO. 12 DT SIMEON BARROW
Why He’s No. 12
A Michigan State graduate senior, DT Simeon Barrow has experience, talent, playmaking, you name it. And he comes in at a position of major need for Miami, with all the players that started games last year gone – Leonard Taylor, Branson Deen and Jared Harrison-Hunte. A 6-3, 296-pounder, Barrow started 10 games for the Spartans each of the last three years and had 36 tackles, 5.5 for losses with 3.5 sacks last season (he also blocked two field goals). In 2022 he had 40 tackles, nine for losses, with four sacks, and in 2021 as a redshirt freshman he ended with 34 tackles, four TFL and three sacks. He arrives at Miami as an immediate impact starter, likely opposite NC State transfer CJ Clark. As for Barrow’s Pro Football Focus grades? This past season in 469 reps he had a 72.2 overall grade (72.3 run defense, 74.3 pass rush, low 29.6 tackle grade). He was noted with 11 missed tackles and 17 QB hurries. His 2022 grade was 77.4 percent (76.4 run defense, 70.0 tackle, 70.1 pass rush) and he had just three missed tackles in 537 reps with 19 QB hurries. In 2021 he had a 71.5 overall grade in 442 reps (69.5 run defense, 70.9 pass rush, 51.7 tackle grade) with seven missed tackles and 17 QB hurries.
What he needs to do to move up this list
The Canes already have a transfer-laden defensive tackle room with the additions of NC State DT CJ Clark and Middle Tennessee DT Marley Cook, and DE Akheem Mesidor can also play inside. Along with Barrow, that gives Miami four pretty capable tackles … and there really aren’t any other interior guys on the roster with experience. So it’s important that Barrow really come on strong from the early portion of fall drills and show leadership and playmaking. That will help alleviate any concerns about the interior defense. Barrow also has to show he’s really bought into the system after leaving the team and heading home at one point before deciding to return and play for the Canes after all.
Realistic season objective
Barrow has the size, strength and athleticism to be an asset against the run while also pushing back the pocket and pressuring the quarterback. That’s what you want in a top level tackle, and we expect him to start and be disruptive. Something in line with 40 tackles and four or five sacks would seem about right for Barrow’s skillset in an aggressive Lance Guidry defensive system.
