ESPN has put Miami defensive back JJ Dunnigan on a national freshman list, slotting him at No. 13 in analyst Billy Tucker’s ranking of the top 25 freshmen of the season so far.
Dunnigan landed behind USC wide receiver Trent Mosley and Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis. Oregon State wide receiver Jesse Legree topped the list, with LSU defensive tackle Deuce Geralds coming in at No. 2.
The recognition comes after Dunnigan has become a real factor for Miami’s defense, especially with injuries thinning out the secondary. He has piled up 17 tackles and delivered a fourth-quarter pick-six against Clemson, helping give the Hurricanes a major defensive lift.
Pro Football Focus also gave Dunnigan a strong recent mark, listing him as the highest-graded true freshman from last week with an 84.1 grade.
That kind of praise has been building for a while. Coaches and teammates, including defensive backs Zechariah Poyser and Bryce Fitzgerald, were high on Dunnigan during spring and fall work, saying he was going to shake stuff up this season.
ESPN described his early impact this way: "Dunnigan is tied for fourth among Miami defenders with 17 tackles through Week 5 and hasn't been shy about playing downhill from the secondary. He gets to the alley and closes quickly against the run, and has also flashed as a blitzer, recording three quarterback hurries through four games. His pick-six put the exclamation point on a win over Clemson, and Dunnigan looks mature beyond his years thanks to his physicality and instincts."
In Other News...
Miami Fans Have Several Bye Week Games That Suddenly Matter
Miamis Week 6 off date gives the Hurricanes a little breathing room, but it also turns the schedule into a scoreboard-watching exercise. With the ACC still sorting itself out and the national picture taking shape, a handful of games suddenly carry more weight for Miami fans than they might have a month ago, especially when they involve familiar league rivals and teams with playoff ambitions.
Florida State at Louisville and North Carolina at Pittsburgh are among the ACC matchups worth tracking, while Stanfords trip to Notre Dame adds another layer to the conference race and the broader postseason conversation. Beyond that, games like Indiana at Nebraska, UCLA at Oregon and Georgia at Alabama could matter indirectly for Miamis standing and for how the College Football Playoff debate unfolds, which is part of the fun of an open week when a teams path can shift as much on the field as it does from afar. [Read more 🡒]
JJ Dunnigan Just Forced A Bigger Miami Secondary Decision
JJ Dunnigans showing at Clemson gave Miami another reminder that its secondary picture is still very much in motion. Even with questions about his health hanging over him, he came away with a notable interception and flashed the kind of speed that makes coaches look for ways to get him on the field. On the latest discussion from David Lake and DMoney, Dunnigans athleticism kept coming up as the sort of trait that can change a defensive back rotation in a hurry.
The bigger question now is how Miami sorts out the rest of that group, especially with Omar Thornton, Zechariah Poyser and Bryce Fitzgerald all part of the conversation about fit and role. Dunnigans case for nickelback has only grown stronger because of the way he showed up in a high-profile road game, and the staff will have to weigh his impact against everyone else in a secondary that still seems to be taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Freshman May Have Changed A Key Offensive Line Battle
The left guard spot had been one of the quieter but more important questions for Miami heading into the Clemson game, and freshman Ben Congdon may have helped answer it. Congdon got the start and stayed on the field for 61 of 66 snaps, giving the Hurricanes a steady presence on the interior while the offense leaned on the ground game and found success running the ball.
Pro Football Focus gave Congdon a 54.7 pass-blocking grade and a 71.3 run-blocking grade, a decent snapshot of a young lineman who looked ready for a bigger role. Mario Cristobal praised both Congdons performance and his attitude after the game, which only adds to the sense that Miami may have found a real contender in a battle that was very much still open. [Read more 🡒]