Chase Smith knows what it feels like to be stuck on the outside looking in.
That’s what makes the sixth-year linebacker’s role in Miami’s rise so striking. After years of injuries and long stretches away from the field, Smith has gone from a player fighting through isolation to a steady piece of a Hurricanes defense that just authored a 41-13 win over Clemson at Death Valley (Memorial Stadium) last Saturday.
Against Clemson, Smith delivered one of his sharpest outings of the season: six total tackles, five solo stops and an assist, plus a tackle for loss. His biggest snap came on fourth-and-one, when he helped stuff the Tigers and force a turnover on downs.
The performance fit the broader arc of his Miami career. Smith stayed with the program through the coaching change from Manny Diaz to Mario Cristobal, and that patience paid off in 2025.
He played a meaningful part in the Hurricanes’ run to the National Championship game, working mainly as a reserve behind Toure and former program linebacker Wesley Bissainthe. Even in that role, he made himself useful everywhere: 31 total tackles, 15 solos, 16 assists, two passes broken up and two fumbles recovered.
He also appeared in all 16 games, setting new collegiate career highs across the board.
On a recent episode of the Greentree Made show, hosted by quarterback Darian Mensah, Smith talked openly about what those injury-filled years did to him.
“Definitely one of the hardest things I had to overcome,” Smith said. “I had a good group of guys and staff members around me to support that process.
It makes you feel isolated and that’s why I’m always talking to the guys that are in the training room now. They’re getting after it, trying to get back on the field.
It puts you in a place where you feel like you’re alone.”
That perspective hits home for a Miami team dealing with injuries of its own to open the season. The Hurricanes have already been without cornerback Xavier Lucas, cornerback Romanas “OJ” Frederique Jr., cornerback Ja’Boree Antoine, right guard Max Buchanan, running back CharMar “Marty” Brown and wide receiver Joshua Moore. Brown and Moore are both out for the season.
Smith has lived through that kind of grind, and it’s part of why his comeback carries weight inside the program. The injuries cost him time, but they also bought him more chances to play college football - and right now, those chances come with Miami still in National Championship contention.
For a player whose career once seemed defined by setbacks, the next stretch gives him a chance to keep proving that he belongs.
In Other News...
Camdin Portis Is Facing The Miami Pressure His Last Name Brings
Camdin Portis arrived at Miami with a familiar last name and the kind of attention that comes with it, but the freshman cornerback has gone about his business like a player trying to earn every snap. The son of former Hurricanes running back Clinton Portis picked Miami over other Power Four opportunities, and so far he has mostly found his footing on special teams while learning a defensive back room that includes several veterans.
For a young defensive back, there is both comfort and pressure in that kind of environment. Portis has embraced the legacy attached to his name rather than running from it, and he is working through the first stage of his college career with the expectation that more responsibility could come as the season moves along. Whether that next step arrives soon or later, Miami clearly has a player willing to live with the weight of the jersey and the history that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Can Show Just How Far FSU Has Fallen
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Now comes the part Miami fans will be watching closely, because the Hurricanes are next and the matchup says plenty about the two programs current tracks. Under Mario Cristobal, Miami has been trying to climb back toward relevance, while FSUs latest stumble has only deepened the conversation about how far the Seminoles have fallen and how much ground still has to be made up. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Is Getting The Hype Fans Have Been Waiting On
ESPNs College GameDay spent plenty of time on the heavyweight meeting between No. 2 Georgia and No. 6 Alabama, but the show also gave Miami something its fans have been waiting to hear. With both programs drawing attention for their strong starts, Kirk Herbstreit singled out the Hurricanes as the best team in college football, a stance that was echoed by former Alabama coach Nick Saban. It was the kind of national praise Miami has been chasing as it tries to turn an undefeated start into real respect.
For Miami, the hype is welcome, but it also comes with a familiar catch. The Hurricanes have not lost, and they have looked the part so far, but they still have yet to face a ranked opponent this season. That makes the coming weeks even more important, because the conversation around Miami is no longer just about whether it is winning, but whether it can back up the growing belief that it belongs at the very top. [Read more 🡒]