A look at what it will take for Miami to have the best defensive line class (on paper) during the 2024 cycle

The Miami Hurricanes football program is all in with recruiting elite defensive linemen during the 2024 cycle.

After signing one of the best offensive line classes in the country during the 2023 cycle, featuring five-star prospects Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola, Miami's staff is making the defensive line a significant priority in 2024.

During the month of June, Miami is expected to host seven elite level (Top 100 prospects according to the 247Sports Composite) defensive line recruits in an effort to level up the talent there in the future.

This past weekend UM played host to defensive lineman Kamarion Franklin, who ranks as the No. 39 overall prospect in the country.

Here is a look at the other elite prospects UM will be hosting this month as well:

- 5-star DE Colin Simmons (No. 4 overall)

- 5-star DT David Stone (No. 6 overall)

- 5-star DE Dylan Stewart (No. 10 overall)

- 4-star DT Aydin Breland (No. 33 overall)

- 5-star DT Justin Scott (No. 12 overall)

- 4-star DE Marquise Lightfoot (No. 67 overall)

LINK: Check out the official visit list here.

Miami expects to land the best defensive line class in the country during the 2024 cycle.

What would the best recruiting class (on paper) in the country need to look like? What programs do the best job of recruiting defensive linemen in the recent cycles? How has UM recruited elite level defensive linemen in recent cycles?

Read on for an interesting look.

Which recruiting classes have been the most impressive with recruiting on the defensive line over the past five cycles?

There are plenty of strong classes, but on paper these three classes are standing out above the rest…

2022 TEXAS A&M

- Composite Top 100 Defensive Linemen: Seven

- Composite Five-Star Defensive Linemen: Four

- Top Signee: DT Walter Nolen, No. 2 overall player in the country.

- Most Impactful Top 100 Defensive Lineman: Defensive end Shemar Stewart, a five-star recruit, played 416 defensive snaps and totaled 23 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and 14 quarterback pressures.

- Overview: In terms of what elite defensive line recruiting (on paper) looks like, this Texas A&M class is the standard of the modern era. The Aggies signed seven players that ranked inside the Top 100 of the industry generated composite with six of those signees ranking inside the top 60.

This defensive line class features 5-star DT Walter Nolen (No. 2 overall), 5-star DE Shemar Stewart (No. 9 overall), 5-star DE LT Overton (No. 14 overall), 5-star DT Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (No. 17), 4-star DE Enai White (No. 47 overall), DT Anthony Lucas (No. 59 overall), and 4-star DE Malick Sylla (No. 94 overall).

This 2023 season will be a time for this talented defensive line group to step up and take on major roles. They figure to be a big strength for the Aggies this year as TAMU looks to put a 5-7 showing in 2022 behind them.

It is worth noting that one of the signees from this recruiting class, Anthony Lucas, has already transferred out of the program.

2023 ALABAMA

- Composite Top 100 Defensive Linemen: Five

- Composite Five-Star Defensive Linemen: Four

- Top Signee: DE Keon Keeley, No. 2 overall player in the country

- Most Impactful Top 100 Defensive Lineman: To be determined. These signees will play their first season in 2023.

- Overview: The Crimson Tide are the most consistent program in the country when it comes to landing Top 100 defensive line talent and the 2023 class was one of their better hauls on paper.

Keon Keeley will be expected to earn a role immediately as a true freshman. At 6-feet-5 and 245 pounds, Keeley combines a special blend of speed and power.

Five-star DT James Smith, five-star DE Yhonzae Pierre, 5-star DE Qua Russaw, and 4-star Jordan Renaud gives the Crimson Tide five signees that rank inside the top 60.

Alabama plays the numbers game of recruiting at a high level. They tip the probability of hitting on big time recruits in their favor by constantly landing elite prospects. This group is expected to be the backbone of future Alabama teams.

2020 CLEMSON

- Composite Top 100 Defensive Linemen: Four

- Composite Five-Star Defensive Linemen: Two

- Top Signee: DT Bryan Bresee, No. 1 overall

- Most Impactful Top 100 Defensive Lineman: DE Myles Murphy, No. 7 overall in the country. Murphy played over 1,500 defensive snaps in his Clemson career and finished with 116 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, and 18.5 sacks. He went on to be selected in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals.

- Overview: This class featured two contributors that were essentially three-year starters in defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and defensive end Myles Murphy, who were both top ten players in the country. Both went on to be first round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft as well.

Defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart ranked No. 34 overall in the country in the 2020 class. He has yet to earn a significant role at Clemson and is expected to be a contributor in 2023.

Defensive tackle Tre Williams ranked No. 94 overall in the country in the 2020 class. He has played 394 defensive snaps during his career.

This recruiting class led to two high impact defensive linemen that anchored the defense for three seasons.

Who are the five schools that have signed the most Top 100 defensive linemen over the past five cycles? Here is the list and the number of those linemen that have signed…

1. Alabama: 20

2. Texas A&M: 13

3. Georgia: 10

4. Clemson: 8

5. Ohio State: 7

It is fair to say Alabama, Texas A&M, and Georgia are doing an excellent job of hoarding the elite big body talent on the defensive side of the ball.

Of these schools, Alabama is the only program that signed multiple Top 100 defensive linemen in each of the past five recruiting cycles.

This group of schools has made nine college football playoff appearances over the past four playoffs. That means nine of the 16 teams that made the CFP over the past four years stack defensive line talent at an elite level.

The only champion over the past four seasons to not make this list is the 2019 LSU team, which would have ranked tied for sixth most Top 100 defensive linemen signed over the past five cycles with six.

How have these Top 100 defensive line signees translated into NFL Draft picks? Here is a rundown of each of the top five teams above:

- Alabama: DE Will Anderson, DL Byron Young, and DE Drew Sanders (transferred to Arkansas).

- Texas A&M: DT DeMarvin Leal

- Georgia: DE Nolan Smith, DE Travon Walker, and DT Jalen Carter.

- Clemson: DT Bryan Bresee and DE Myles Murphy

- Ohio State: DE Zach Harrison

That is ten players listed above that have been drafted with the classes of 2021-23 not yet draft eligible at this point.

Of the results listed above, Georgia has clearly done the best job of developing the elite defensive line talent, producing three first round picks. Clemson has developed two first round picks. Six of the ten players listed above went on to be first round picks.

How will the schools listed above produce NFL Draft picks in the future? Alabama and Texas A&M will be interesting to monitor in particular because they have a lot of numbers at the defensive line position.

How does the Miami Hurricanes football program compare with adding elite defensive line talent?

Here is a look at the last five cycles…

- 2019: None (Jahfari Harvey the highest ranked defensive lineman at No. 199 overall)

- 2020: DE Chantz Williams, No. 85 overall in the country

- 2021: DT Leonard Taylor, No. 11 overall in the country

- 2022: DE Cyrus Moss, No. 70 overall in the country, AND DE Nyjalik Kelly, No. 90 overall in the country

- 2023: DE Rueben Bain, No. 63 overall in the country, AND DE Jayden Wayne, No. 82 overall in the country.

Mario Cristobal has raised the level of defensive line recruiting from a numbers standpoint over the past two cycles. Cristobal's transition class in 2022 featured two Top 100 defensive ends and this most recent cycle also featured a pair of Top 100 defensive ends.

It is fair to expect Kelly and Bain to be significant contributors to UM's defensive line in 2023 (along with veterans like Leonard Taylor and Chantz Williams).

Miami needs to maintain the way it is stacking defensive end talent and start landing high level defensive tackles. The Hurricanes also need to level up the consistency in which they sign five-star prospects on the defensive line. Taylor is the only five-star defensive lineman UM has signed over the past five cycles and that number isn't good enough if the Hurricanes expect to compete at a high level. Programs like Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia, Clemson, and Ohio State essentially average at least one five-star defensive line signee per cycle.

What do you expect from Miami's defensive line recruiting in this 2024 cycle? Comment below.