Damon Wilson II didn’t take long to turn a noisy start into something far more convincing for Miami.
The edge rusher was everywhere against Clemson in Week 5, racking up 11 quarterback pressures and 2.5 sacks in a 41-13 win. He spent so much time in the Tigers’ backfield that Tait Reynolds probably felt like he’d signed a long-term deal at Memorial Stadium.
Wilson’s breakout against Clemson earned him Defensive Player of the Week honors, and it came with 2.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss in the road win.
For Miami, that kind of disruption is exactly why Wilson arrived. He was the program’s major transfer portal addition on defense, brought in to help replace the pass-rush production that went out the door with Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor to the NFL, while Hayden Lowe’s time in the program was already expected to be short.
The beginning, though, was bumpy. Wilson was listed with the second team, even if he functioned more like a co-starter, and the impact just wasn’t there early.
The burst wasn’t showing up. He was having trouble separating from blockers.
And in the instant-gratification world of college football, that was enough for some to label him a bust after only a couple of games.
Then came Wake Forest.
Wilson picked up a sack against the Demon Deacons and also drew a holding call in the end zone that led to a safety. That outing changed the conversation. Instead of asking whether Miami had whiffed on the move, the focus shifted to whether he could keep stacking performances.
He has done exactly that. Against Clemson, Wilson wasn’t just winning with speed - he was blowing through double teams, too. That’s the part that makes him so dangerous when everything is clicking.
His game has multiple layers. The first step jumps off the screen, and he can convert speed into power mid-rush. He can win from a wide alignment by bending around the edge, or he can come tighter to the tackle and use that quick burst inside, forcing the blocker into awkward footwork.
The timing matters here, too. Miami’s next three opponents are FSU, Pitt, and North Carolina, and Wilson could be set up for more damage. Ashton Daniels struggles to see the field in the passing game, Pitt will be using its backup quarterback for the rest of the season, and North Carolina’s Billy Edwards is a turnover waiting to happen the second he feels a pass rush.
After a few weeks of figuring out his surroundings, Wilson looks like he’s found his groove. Miami has a pass rusher playing with confidence now, and that’s a bad sign for the teams coming next.
In Other News...
Miami Just Sent A Clear ACC Message Before Florida State
Miamis win over Clemson came at exactly the right time, because the ACC race is already tightening into a handful of serious contenders. Florida State followed with a convincing showing against Virginia, Pittsburgh survived a scare against Virginia Tech even after losing starting quarterback Mason Heintschel to a torn ACL, and Louisville has stumbled through back-to-back losses while Wake Forest keeps looking like a team that can hang around longer than expected.
For Miami, the message was less about style than standing its ground in a league where only three teams remain unbeaten in conference play. The Hurricanes now head toward Florida State with real momentum and a clearer sense of where they fit in the ACC pecking order, even as the broader picture around them keeps shifting week to week. [Read more 🡒]
JJ Dunnigan Just Forced A Bigger Miami Secondary Decision
JJ Dunnigans night at Clemson offered Miami a reminder that roster decisions in the secondary are never as simple as finding the next healthy body. Even with questions hanging over his health, Dunnigan flashed the kind of range and ball skills that can change how a defense looks on the back end, and the interception he came up with only sharpened the conversation around where he fits best.
David Lake and DMoney both pointed to nickelback as the spot where Dunnigans athleticism could matter most, especially if Miami wants to keep him on the field in meaningful snaps. His showing also folds into a wider competition with players like Omar Thornton, Zechariah Poyser and Bryce Fitzgerald, a group that gives the Hurricanes options but also forces some tough choices about roles, fit and how much the staff wants to lean into each players strengths. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Is Already In The Mix For A Manning Quarterback
Marshall Manning is only at the start of his high school career, but the freshman quarterback at Baylor School in Chattanooga is already drawing a familiar kind of attention. The son of Peyton Manning has stepped onto varsity as a backup to senior Keegan Croucher, made his debut at that level, and begun collecting scholarship offers from programs with real national pull, including Miami, Ohio State, Purdue and Missouri State.
For Miami, the early interest fits the usual reality of recruiting a Manning, where every snap tends to come with extra scrutiny and every update gets noticed beyond the high school level. Marshall has not committed anywhere yet, and even within his own family the buzz has been impossible to ignore, with relatives like Arch Manning weighing in on his progress as the offer list continues to grow. [Read more 🡒]