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Miami Player Profile: Ladarius Gunter

In an effort to keep even the most hardcore Miami fan up to date on their favorite players, SOTU will be running a Player Profile series. In these posts, our writers will profile two players from each position that they think should get more face time. They will recap their previous year, or in some cases, preview what may be to come. That way, when the season get's here, you hopefully will have a new found love for the team on the field.

By Jerry Steinberg
Joel Auerbach

Ladarius Gunter


Senior - CB - 6'2 198 - Montgomery, Al

Last season Gunter produced 3 INT, 46 tackles, 2 TDs (1 FG Block Return, 1 INT) and generally played pretty solid football in 12 starts.

With good speed (4.5 range)  and well above average size, Gunter has the tools to be a very good corner. He's also a very sound tackler.  The emergence of Tracy Howard means he is likely to face most teams #2 WR,  but also that he will see more balls come his way.  Good thing he has pretty good balls skills.

Gunter reminds me a lot of former NFL CB Otis Smith (Jets, Patriots)  in that he has the capability to produce big plays but is not quite a true #1 lock down guy.  The key will be if he makes enough big plays to make up for the times when he is physically over matched.

Summary: I really like Gunter.  Over the course of a season in today's modern game you need a minimum of three good corners to sustain a good defense.  For UM, Howard is the man.  Gunter is somewhere between a good #2 and a guy who is keeping the seat warm for a future #1 in Artie Burns.  Nonetheless I expect 3 or 4 picks from Gunter and generally good but not great all around play, with some big plays mixed in.  The real challenge will be how he holds up when The 'Canes face big time receiving threats against Louisville and FSU among others.

Stay tuned for more player profiles as we count down to Labor Day Vs Louisville.