:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62813258/1064934538.jpg.0.jpg)
Coming into 2018, the defensive end position was one of the question marks for Miami, due to the loss of Chad Thomas and Trent Harris to the NFL, also losing D-line coach Craig Kuligowski to Alabama.
However, under the direction of first-year defensive line coach Jess Simpson, defensive ends produced the same great results for Miami. Joe Jackson and Jonathan Garvin kept the high-level of play alive, both having tremendous years on one of the best defenses in the country.
Jackson, junior, has been a nonstop impactful force on Manny Diaz’s defense ever since he came to UM as a freshman in 2016. This fall, Jackson truly outdid himself, and had his best year as a Hurricane.
#99 finished 2018 with 8.5 sacks (team leading), 14.5 TFLs and also recorded his first career interception with a memorable play against North Carolina. He also was an honorable All-ACC mention.
Joe Jackson has declared for the NFL Draft after a stellar 2018 season. You can check-out all the early draft entrants with the link below. https://t.co/tn4XEipCJY pic.twitter.com/l1coPhaVhQ
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 3, 2019
Following the 2018 season, Jackson announced that he would forego his senior season at Miami, and officially declared for the NFL Draft. Jackson finished his stellar three-year career at UM top-five in Miami’s history with sacks (24).
Opposite side of Jackson, sophomore Jonathan Garvin had himself an incredible season as well. The second-year man out of Lake Worth topped his already impressive freshman campaign the year prior, and followed it up by recording 5.5 sacks and an outstanding 17.0 TFLs.
In the same September game against North Carolina, Garvin also made a trip to the end zone for the first time in his Miami career.
Garvin’s jaw-dropping 17 TFLs was the most by any Miami defensive end since Calais Campbell in 2006.
Aside from Jackson and Garvin, you also had players like Scott Patchan and Demetrius Jackson adding to the high-level of play at the position. Patchan, junior, had his best season as a Hurricane and should be a force in 2019.
Long journey happy for U @scott_patchan pic.twitter.com/KOpBqiU8UP
— Steve Feinberg (@canesthing) September 9, 2018
This defensive end unit potentially could've even been better, if not for the early-season injury to talented true freshman Gregory Rousseau following week-two of the year.
Not only do Garvin, Patchan, Rousseau return in 2019, but also look for incoming freshman Jahfari Harvey and Cameron Williams as well, and expect another standout season for this group.