Through the course of the 2025 season, the Miami Hurricanes have faced several mobile quarterbacks. These kinds of players had been a thorn in Miami’s side for many, many years. But, under new DC Corey Hetherman and a rebuilt Hurricanes defense, the Canes have been able to contain and defeat mobile quarterbacks all season long.
Starting in the opener against Notre Dame, Miami held C.J. Carr to 16 yards on 11 carries. He did have a touchdown on a short run, and created another on a scramble in the red
zone where he evaded a Miami defensive lineman, so it wasn’t a perfect effort from Miami by any means. Still, Carr’s impact with his legs was less than Notre Dame had planned for, and that was due to Miami’s performance on defense.
Against USF and noted mobile QB Byrum Brown, the 1,000 yard rusher had just 2 yards on 13 carries, was sacked twice, and the Bulls were held to season lows of 332 yards and 12 points. Everything USF has done on offense for years has been centered around Brown’s dual threat abilities, and Miami stopped them before they could positively manifest in the game.
Against Florida and former Gatorade HS Player of the Year DJ Lagway, Miami had yet-another strong showing. Lagway had -8 yards on 8 carries, and Florida was no match for Miami, falling to the Canes 26-7 for a second consecutive loss to the superior in-state team. Lagway made precious few plays with his legs in the run game or extending passing plays, and when he tried, Miami defenders were on him in an instant.
Against Florida State, QB Thomas Castellanos had 16 carries for 57 yards, far and away the best rushing day an opposing QB had against Miami this year. Miami sacked Castellanos twice in the win on the road.
Against SMU, QB Kevin Jennings had 8 carries for -8 yards with a touchdown. He made a couple of plays with his legs, but Miami’s errors (and some of the worst calls of the year against them) were more impactful to Miami losing that game than was Jennings’ running ability.
Against Virginia Tech, QB Kyren Drones had 14 carries for 31 yards in Miami’s worst run defense game of the year. The real impact was made by the RBs, but still, Drones had success running when called upon.
Against Pittsburgh, QB Mason Heintschel ran 7 times for -24 yards, including 4 sacks. His scrambling and play-extending abilities were completely neutralized by the Miami pass rush and front 7.
Against Texas A&M, QB Marcel Reed had 15 carries for 27 yards and was sacked 7 times. Miami stifled A&M’s offense in a defensive slugfest that saw the Aggies score their fewest amount of points in many years.
All told, mobile QBs have totaled 92 carries for 90 carries (0.98 yards per carry) and have been sacked 29 times. Sure, there have been a couple of plays made by a couple of players of this type this season, but for the most part, Miami has handled mobile QBs well, and that has been part of the foundation for the Canes’ success on the year.
Facing Ole Miss’s Trinidad Chambliss in the Fiesta Bowl CFP Semifinal, Miami will need to have this same kind of performance. Chambliss is a magician in the backfield, and he’s shown elite escapability and running prowess at Ferris State, where he won a Division 2 National Championship, and at Ole Miss, where he took over for former starter Austin Simmons, and has led an explosive Ole Miss offense with both his arm and his legs.
Chambliss took over as Ole Miss’s full-time starter in week 3, and that has unlocked the Rebels’ offense. They’re 2nd nationally with 496 yards per game, and 10th nationally at 37.6 points per game. They’re both efficient and explosive, but make no mistake about it: Chambliss and his multifaceted skillset are the foundation for making the machine work.
For Miami, DC Corey Hetherman’s success against mobile QBs extends back for a good while. He’s leaned on his experience and success at previous stops Minnesota, Rutgers, and James Madison, and the scheme he’s employed, coupled with the elite players at his disposal, has put Miami at a distinct advantage vs mobile QBs this season.
The connection between Miami’s elite and dominant pass rush and the back 7 of the defense, the linebackers who’ll spy Chambliss and the defensive backs who will cover the Rebels’ receivers will needed to be present again this week. Miami has really only struggled when back-end players have left their coverage assignments to come up against the QB run, leaving receivers open down the field. They’ll need to be dialed in and sticky in coverage against Ole Miss, and make plays when they’re called upon, in run support and in coverage.
Now, I know some of you are reading this and saying “but Cam, Chambliss’s best running ability is extending plays to make throws down the field.” And you’re right. But that’s been the case with others (Lagway, Heintschel, Reed) and Miami has risen to the occasion, and that’s the task ahead of them again when they face Chambliss and Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl.
For me, I’m looking for another strong performance, especially by Miami’s defensive line, which has taken their already-elite performance to another level in the last 6 games. But make no mistake about it, Chambliss and the Ole Miss offense are a formidable group, and Miami will need to continue their elite play to work their way to a victory in the Fiesta Bowl, and the National Championship Game berth that comes along with it.
