CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 13: Sheldrick Redwine #22 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates with the turnover chain in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) Miami Football without player selected in first three rounds for first time since 2013 Miami Football without player selected in first three rounds for first time since 2013 by Alan Rubenstein Safety Sheldrick Redwine surprisingly became the first Miami Hurricanes player selected in the 2019 NFL Draft on Saturday. Redwine was the 117th pick overall in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns. Bernie Kosar’s team is becoming a landing spot for former Miami Hurricanes. Sheldrick Redwine joins Chad Thomas, Duke Johnson and Olivier Vernon and David Njoku with the Cleveland Browns. Redwine’s selection as the first Miami player taken in 2019 was shocking. Three other Hurricanes were projected to go ahead of him. Defensive tackle Gerald Willis and defensive end Joe Jackson continued to plummet in Saturday’s fourth round. Redwine’s partner at safety since pee-wee football Jaquan Johnson was ranked about equal with Redwine. Redwine has always played in Johnson’s shadow. Johnson led Miami in tackles the last two seasons. Redwine was projected to be selected much lower in the NFL Draft. The consensus had him being selected around the 180th pick. That would have been the seventh pick of the fifth round to the New York Giants. None of the projections of the four seven-round mock drafts Canes Warning examined had Redwine going to Cleveland. Redwine’s selection by Cleveland provides him a good opportunity to make the Browns roster. Cleveland has only three safeties currently on their roster. One of the Browns starters, Morgan Burnett is 30 years old. That bodes well for Redwine’s future. ESPN’s analysis ahead of the draft likes Redwine’s measurables, speed and ball skills. “Redwine has good height and length and excellent top-end speed, although he doesn’t play as fast as his timed speed. He has decent ball skills. Redwine takes sound angles and is a physical tackler in run support.” Redwine finished fourth on Miami with 64 tackles, added 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and tied for the Miami Hurricanes team lead with three interceptions. He also had a fumble recovery and forced fumble. Redwine contributed to a Miami pass defense that was dominant in 2017. The Hurricanes were by far the best pass defense nationally in 2018. Redwine, Johnson and cornerback Michael Jackson will be tough to replace for Manny Diaz and the Miami defense in 2019. All three were two-year starters. Redwine’s selection by Cleveland is the third year in a row the first Miami Hurricanes player selected in the NFL Draft went to the Browns. Thomas was the first Miami player selected in 2018 and Njoku in 2017. Going to the Browns is a good situation for Redwine. He joins a team on the rise and should play immediately.<doc-sep>NASHVILLE—Five Miami Hurricanes are expected to be selected by the time the 2019 National Football League Draft ends in Nashville this weekend. ESPN NFL Draft analysts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay both expected Gerald Willis and Joe Jackson to go as early as the third or even second round Saturday. But as the second day of the draft ends, zero players have been selected from the school that calls itself #NFLU in admiration, far removed from the turn of the century, when from 2001-04, UM lead all schools each year in first-round selections, with 19 players drafted in Round 1 over those four years and six in 2004 alone. Gerald Willis come off a monster senior season with 59 tackles in 2018, including 18 of those for a loss and four sacks. The defensive tackle was projected by McShay on Monday as a late first-round or second round pick and Kiper as a second or early-third round selection. But the third round has come and gone, with Willis still waiting patiently for his name to be called in Nashville’s Lower Broadway. “I love his leverage, I love Willis’ technique,” Kiper said about Willis on a conference call on Monday. “He gets into that backfield. He can get down the line. The way he uses his hands. He’s the kind of guy that could be a little bit underrated. When you look back three, four years from now, he may be an underrated prospect coming out of this draft.” Kiper said that Willis can be penciled into an NFL starting lineup, so a team may find a later gem on Saturday. He stands as the third highest-rated DT remaining according to the Draft Tracker on NFL.com. Joe Jackson is also waiting for a team to choose him, as the defensive end was considered likely before the draft to be taken by this point, in addition to Willis. While Jackson wasn’t considered a surefire Day 2 selection, it was certainly feasible for him to be on a plane to an NFL city at this moment. Possibly Jackson and Willis are victims of a deep class at defensive line, as McShay hinted at on the Monday conference call, specifically on Jackson. “To me he’s going to be a mid-round pick…third, fourth-round range. Good player. He’s not up there with the elite guys in this class and obviously it’s a very deep class.” As a junior in 2018, Jackson registered 47 total tackles, including 14.5 of them for a loss, and nine sacks. He also retuned his only interception of the season for a touchdown in the Canes’ 47-10 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels on September 27. Jackson also recorded six tackles and two-and-a-half sacks in the regular season finale against the Pittsburgh Panthers on November 24. He is currently the fourth highest remaining DE according to the Draft Tracker. Considering that Jackson gave up his senior season in Coral Gables to go pro, he must be waiting as patient as he can be, watching pick-by-pick unfold. Players who did return for his last year of eligibility last season included Safeties Jaquan Johnson and Sheldrick Redwine, along with CB Michael Jackson. Those three defensive backs were expected to be picked in the third day before the draft, however, so they aren’t necessarily seeing themselves fell, at least yet. And then there is RB Travis Homer, who should get picked in the seventh round if he is drafted. Homer left UM after his junior year, possibly to avoid having to learn another scheme from the new offensive coaching staff. Miami claims to be one college football’s premier pipelines to the pros, with catchy sayings such as #QBU or #DBU. After all, the Draft was owned the #TheU in the early 2000s. From 1995-2008, the Canes had at least one player choosen in the first round. But for fans to make bold statements about UM’s status as a football factory, players have to be selected by the time the second night of the draft ends.<doc-sep>A focal player of the Hurricanes defense has officially taken the next step in his career. On day three of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills selected Jaquan Johnson in the sixth round. We’ve drafted Jaquan Johnson with the 181st overall pick. Welcome to Buffalo, @AuthenticMade_Q! #GoBills pic.twitter.com/iMpCBoaNqX — Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) April 27, 2019 Background Information Height: 5’10” Weight: 191 lbs. Arm Length: 29 ⅝” Hand Size: 8 ¾” High School: Killian (Miami) High School Hometown: Miami, Florida Class: Senior NFL Scouting Combine Numbers 40-yard dash: 4.69 seconds Bench Press: 18 reps Vertical Jump: 33” Broad Jump: 121” Awards and Accolades 2017 All-ACC Second Team 2017 All-America Second Team 2018 All-ACC Second Team As much as the University of Miami gets credited with developing NFL-caliber talent, the school should also be known for its penchant at fostering leaders at the pro level as well. From Alonzo Highsmith and Ray Lewis to Ed Reed, Jonathan Vilma and Calais Campbell, Miami’s reputation precedes itself with its notable alumni. Senior safety Jaquan Johnson appears to be the next Hurricane poised to take the NFL by storm, both on the field and in the locker room. With a voice that has resonated in the Hurricanes’ locker room over the past four seasons, Johnson was one of the unquestioned leaders within the program. Holding himself and others to accountable to Miami’s standards, you could always count on Jaquan to provide a boost when the team needed him most. What grabs your attention about Johnson’s game is just how physical he is as a safety. Some pundits are critical because of his size, but that issue doesn’t show up on film. Based on his football IQ, Johnson maneuvers into advantageous positions to make a play on the ball. It’s part of the reason why he had eight interceptions during his Canes career. That anticipation paired with the range to break on the ball is what made Johnson a significant playmaker at the college level. Jaquan improved on his 40-yard dash at Miami’s Pro day, going from a 4.69 recorded at the NFL Scouting Combine to a 4.64. Whether the improvement will do much for his stock or not will be determined by where he’s selected in April. However, Johnson’s mobility in coverage has already won some teams over. Excelling close to the line of scrimmage or at an intermediate depth, Johnson thrives as a box safety. Let’s consider Johnson as more of a hybrid safety that can play the deep part of the field or slide into the box. At the pro level, Johnson is capable of covering tight ends and large-frame wide receivers. Despite not having top end speed, Johnson has a few tricks up his sleeves to force incompletions. Employing a timely punch, batting down a pass, or placing his body between ball and receiver, Johnson frequently finds a way to dislodge the ball from its intended target. Some experts have conveyed their concern over Johnson’s lack of height at safety. No. 4 measures in at 5’10”, and 190 pounds, yet plays like a man that is much taller than his measurables suggest. There’s little hesitancy in his game, shown by his willingness to launch himself into ball carriers and piles. Johnson’s aiming point does tend to be low when going in for the tackle, opting for a safer approach to secure the tackle than going for big hits. When the ball is in the air, Johnson is an opportunist capable of recovering any deflection or errant bounce. For those who overlook Jaquan Johnson purely for his measurables, you’re making a serious mistake. He won’t be the fastest player on the team, nor will he deliver the big hit that will cause the crowd to swoon. What Johnson can do for you is be a dependable player and teammate, with the potential to grow into a leader regardless of the situation. With availability being a crucial element at the NFL level, Johnson has missed just two games to injury in his four years at Miami. An unquestioned leader while at UM, Jaquan Johnson exceeds any checklist regarding character and work ethic required to be successful in the NFL. It’s going to sound cliche to say that any player should be measured by their heart. However, there’s no questioning the love that No.4 has for the game of football, and the passion that he has played with throughout his Hurricanes’ career. Armed with the versatility, instincts and determination, Johnson possess the traits to be an invaluable starter at the next level. When asked to describe his mentality during draft preparation, Johnson provided insight into his daily motivation: “For me, it’s like fourth and inches everyday, that’s what my coach tells me everytime.” One fortunate team will draft this gem and receive a hard worker who will bust his tail to make his team better. “I’m a competitor, you’re going to get the best out of me regardless.” Pro Comparison Eric Weddle - Los Angeles Rams One man that knows what it’s like to be dismissed despite having impressive college production is former 2nd round pick out of Utah, S Eric Weddle. Granted, Weddle’s time is much faster than Johnson’s when you line up their 40 times side-by-side, yet I feel both players work at the same speed between the whistle. Weddle has carved out a 13-year career in which a couple teams felt that he was either too slow or over the hill to be brought back on with a new deal. Each year, the NFL vet applies his knowledge to put himself in the most favorable position to make a play on the ball. As Johnson adapts to the nuances of the pro game, the studious Hurricane should ascend to become a savvy vet in short order. State of the U would like to congratulate Jaquan Johnson on his accomplishments at Miami and his future endeavors in the NFL. IT’S ALWAYS ABOUT THE U!<doc-sep>
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - NOVEMBER 24: Joe Jackson #99 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates after a sack against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) The Miami Football program went without a player selected in first three rounds of the NFL Draft for the first time since 2013. A pair of Hurricanes defensive lineman have tumbled below their third round projection. Defensive tackle Gerald Willis and defensive end Joe Jackson were both projected to be taken by the third round of the Friday night’s NFL Draft. The 2019 NFL Draft is the first time since 2013 that the Miami football program did not have a player selected in the first three rounds. Defensive back Brandon McGee was a fifth-round selection of the St. Louis Rams that season. Running back Mike James was a sixth-round selection of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the only other Hurricane to be selected in 2013. Six or seven Miami football alums are expected to be taken in the 2019 NFL Draft. Joe Jackson was the consensus 90th pick in NFL Mock drafts and Willis was 104th. Including compensatory draft picks, 102 players have been selected through the first three rounds on Thursday and Friday. Three of the four NFL Mock Drafts that Canes Warning examined earlier this week had Willis being selected between 91st 110th overall in the draft. The lowest projection had him being selected 136th overall. Willis has plummetted from where most prognosticators projected him during the season. Even through some lean years of late, the Hurricanes have managed to get at least one player drafted in the first three rounds every year since 2013. That streak ended tonight. Would expect Gerald Willis and Joe Jackson to go early tomorrow and on down the line. We’ll see. — Christy Chirinos (@ChristyChirinos) April 27, 2019 NFL teams are likely questioning the disciplinary issues Willis had earlier in his collegiate career and that he only had one productive season in college. Jackson is a bit harder to understand. He seemed like a solid third-round pick. Jackson has only currently fallen 12 spots below where he was projected to be selected. It’s too early to panic. Jackson is still within the range he was projected to go and the draft will resume on Saturday exactly where the consensus on Willis projected him to be selected. The other Miami players were not projected to be taken in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft during the most recent mocks. Only cornerback Michael Jackson was projected to be a third-round pick by one of the outlets Canes Warning examined this week. Jackson had been projected as high as the 94th overall pick in the third round by NFL.Com. The wait will continue through the third day of the NFL Draft to see a Miami player taken. This year will mark only the second time since the NFL expanded the draft to three days that Miami football fans have to wait until the final day to see a Hurricanes player selected. There should be a flurry of Miami players taken Saturday. Safeties Jaquan Johnson and Sheldrick Redwine are also expected to be taken.