After being the #1 passing defense in America in 2018, the Miami Hurricanes need to rebuild the defensive secondary. The Canes lost 3 starters from the secondary, including both starting Safeties: Jaquan Johnson and Sheldrick Redwine. Johnson, an All-ACC pick, led the team in tackles, while Redwine finished 4th. The pair combined for 5 interceptions, and were steady, heady starters for one of the best defenses in America.

Enter Gurvan Hall. A blue chip recruit in the 2018 recruiting class, Hall made a name for himself with his sideline to sideline speed and destructive hitting power. See him destroy a receiver from his HS days (yes, I know this is targeting now, but this shows Hall’s range AND hitting ability):

At 5’11” 210lbs, Hall is well built for the Safety position, and his combination of instincts and athleticism make him stand out even among the best competition. Hall worked with the first team defense in the spring, and looks to take a big step forward in a much larger role in his sophomore season.

While there are other top end talents on the roster at Safety — Amari Carter and Bubba Bolden (who will likely enroll at Miami after fall camp has started) — Hall can, and will, hold his own against any of them. As a freshman in 2018, Hall appeared in 12 games with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams. He totaled 8 tackles — 5 solo, 3 assists — in the action that he saw. But, behind 2nd team and Honorable Mention All-ACC players Johnson and Redwine, and another Safety who was a year older in the program — Amari Carter — it stood to reason that Hall’s snaps would be limited.

However, that was then, and this is now. Absent an injury, Hall will almost surely be a starter in the Canes secondary and look to showcase his immense talents on one of the best defense in the country.

2019 Outlook

Like I said, Hall is going to start, and rightfully so. A stat line of 50+ tackles with some havoc plays (TFLs, Sacks, PBUs, INTs) sprinkled in should be easily attainable for a player of Hall’s skills.

As long as he’s not ceding snaps to other players who shouldn’t be on the field, Gurvan Hall should be among the most improved players on Miami’s roster, and take a big step forward in his development this season.

Go Canes