Miami Hurricanes Player Profile: Jhavonte Dean

In 2017, Jhavonte Dean joined Dee Delaney as two big name non-D1 CBs to join Miami and fill out the depth chart. Delaney, when healthy, had a sizeable role on the defense but the junior college product Dean saw the field much less often. Stuck behind players that are now gone like Delaney and Malek Young, Dean now has a chance to seize a starting role in a cornerback group with more questions than answers.

Dean came to Miami as a highly-coveted junior college cover man. He was a 4-star from Blinn Community College and originally committed to Alabama. But it only took Mark Richt and company ten days to flip Dean to Miami. While playing in 12 games last season, Dean only accumulated 11 total tackles and one pass break-up. His enormous potential makes him the favorite to project outside but, considering his experience with D1 football is not great, he isn’t guaranteed to keep the starting job all season.

Dean will face competition from newcomers Al Blades Jr. and Gilbert Frierson. Dean does have the benefit of being the biggest CB on the roster at 6’2,” although MJ and the two freshman are listed not far behind at 6’1.” The Senior cornerback is also a tremendous athlete, posting a 4.38 40 yard dash at an Alabama camp in June 2017. Dean is going to have to prove that his athletic skillset transitions onto the field, especially after freshman Trajan Bandy passed him on the depth chart last season. Miami will need Dean, or one of the freshman, to step up and be a solid compliment to Michael Jackson if they expect to better shut down the passing game this season.