The Hurricanes have to replace the dominance of their edge rushers from 2025, and they might have the next pair to do it.
The Miami Hurricanes
took the College Football Playoff by storm last year, winning three straight games over Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Ole Miss to reach their first national championship game in almost a quarter of a century.
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One of the engines of that run was a dominating defense that was powered by unquestionably the best pass rushing duo in the nation in Rueben Bain, Jr. and Akheem Mesidor
. Both men were selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft after combining for 22 sacks and 150 quarterback pressures.
With that pair now playing on Sundays, some have questioned if Miami
will be able to replace that production. But could Miami have another dynamic duo on their front waiting to pounce in 2026? Perhaps, and this time the dominance might be coming more from the interior.
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ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid sees Miami's formidable defensive tackle pairing of Justin Scott and Ahmad Moten, Sr. both being first round picks. Reid has Scott at No. 29 to the Seattle Seahawks
and Moten to the Baltimore Ravens
one pick later.
Miami Hurricanes defensive linemen Justin Scott and Ahmad Moten, Sr. taken in first round of ESPN 2027 NFL mock draft
That's a smart rung to hang your hat on when you're talking about strong points for the Hurricanes this fall. Although Bain and Mesidor rightfully got plenty of praise, Moten in particular was a monster in the middle all season long.
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Pro Football Focus credits Moten with 27 QB pressures in 255 pass rushing snaps, which is a healthy ratio from an interior rusher. He finished with 4.5 sacks last year. Scott and Mesidor both had PFF run defense grades above 70.0 and helped the Hurricanes lead the ACC in fewest rushing yards per game allowed.
The Hurricanes have plenty of potential on the edge this year as well, with highly-sought Missouri transfer Damon Wilson II ready to step up with Armondo Blount and Marquise Lightfoot this year. But if Miami repeats its success from 2025 this year, it will be in large part to its big men in the middle of Corey Hetherman's defense.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft has 2 Hurricanes tabbed in the first round, and it would answer a big question for Miami in 2026
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