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Miami LB chooses to return for 2019 over NFL Draft, encourages teammates to do the same
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Florida’s 2019 Week 1 opponent received some big news Tuesday.
Miami LB Zach McCloud has opted to return for his senior season over entering the NFL Draft. McCloud found his niche for the highly rated Hurricanes defense at the striker position, a hybrid of linebacker and defensive back, where he recorded 38 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and a half sack.
While Manny Diaz left the UM staff to take the Temple job, it’s fair to expect the striker position to still be part of the defensive scheme when Florida and Miami meet in Orlando. McCloud’s position coach at outside linebacker, Jonathan Patke, has been promoter to co-defensive coordinator by Mark Richt.
“He is an angel,” Patke said of McCloud, per the Miami Herald. “An angel that hits really hard on defense.”
The Canes may not be out of the woods yet on defense. The Herald’s David Wilson notes that DL Joe Jackson, LB Shaquille Quarterman and LB Michael Pinckney are junior starters who could potentially be in the NFL come 2019.
McCloud joked that he would be very convincing with getting his teammates to return too:
He already knows he’s coming back, and he hopes he can convince Shaquille Quarterman and Michael Pinckney to stick around with him.
“I’m coming,” McCloud said at Greentree Practice Fields, “and if they don’t I’m going to choke them out.”
The Gators and Hurricanes will face off Aug. 31, 2019 in Orlando at Camping World Stadium.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.