Linebacker AJ Mathis Provides Much Needed Depth to Miami’s Roster

Miami was able to beat out Florida State, Oregon, Florida, and other Power 5 schools on the recruiting trail. Diaz and his staff know they need to build depth at the linebacker position — landing Mathis is a prominent step in the process.

Miami’s proficient linebacker corps, consisting of Shaquille Quarterman, Michael Pinckney, and Zach McCloud, will all be graduating after this season — leaving Miami’s coaches with a lot of work to do.

Diaz and company will have their recruiting skills tested, in addition to their ability to coach raw, young talent — as the ‘Canes will need numbers, and game-ready players heading into 2020. They’ve done a wonderful job thus far, as the recruiting class ranks as the nation’s 4th-best, but the lack of depth at one of the most important position groups is concerning.

Nonetheless, Mathis is a nice addition to the class, and will hopefully be part of a fully-reloaded linebacker group in the coming years.