Tidbits, personnel notes on Hurricanes defense. What to know about a unit that’s excelling

We wrote here this week about the Miami Hurricanes’ offensive superlatives.

But don’t give short shrift to the defense, which ranks in the top 12 nationally in eight key statistical measures. Through a quarter of the regular season, among 133 FBS teams, UM ranks:

▪ First in sacks with 16.

▪ Fifth in tackles for loss with 34.

▪ Sixth in rushing defense, allowing 64.8 yards on the ground per game.

▪ Eighth in third-down defense, allowing a 23.5 percent conversion rate (12 of 51).

▪ Ninth in yards permitted per rush, at 2.47.

▪ Tenth in total defense, relinquishing 232.8 yards per game.

▪ Eleventh in scoring defense, yielding 10.25 points per game.

▪ Twelfth in defensive pass efficiency.

THIS AND THAT

More defensive tidbits:

▪ The credit starts with the defensive line, which has been exceptional even with Rueben Bain Jr. missing the past three games with a soft issue injury.

Among 820 interior defenders nationally, Pro Football Focus ranks Akheem Mesidor 11th and Simeon Barrow 19th. UM is the only school with two players in the top 20.

“Mesidor is invaluable,” coach Mario Cristobal told Joe Zagacki and Don Bailey Jr. on his coach’s show this week. “He plays with a motor that’s unmatched. Can play the edge, can play the inside, can play above the center. Can do it all. Gives us a lot of versatility on defense.”

What’s more, Ahmad Moten is ranked 62nd of 820 interior defenders this season.

In specifically run defense, PFF ranks Mesidor 18th, Moten 23rd and Barrow 38th among 820 interior defenders.

“Simeon is an excellent player, relentless competitor, strong, powerful, starting to feel comfortable in the scheme,” Cristobal said of the Michigan State transfer.

▪ Among 758 edge players, PFF ranks Tyler Baron 51st and Elijah Alston 155th. Baron’s 4.5 sacks are tied for sixth in the nation.

▪ Among 727 linebackers, PFF ranks Wesley Bissainthe 60th and Francisco Mauioga 61st.

▪ UM’s cornerback depth is being tested with Damari Brown sidelined.

Freshman OJ Frederique allowed only 8 yards in receptions against USF, with one pass caught on two targets against him.

Dyoni Hill allowed just 32 yards on eight targets, with three completions. The Marshall transfer was slowed by a hamstring injury in August and “will continue to get better,” defensive coordinator Lance Guidry said.

Jadais Richard permitted just 11 yards on seven targets, with three completions.

Daryl Porter struggled badly against USF, permitting 8 of 10 passes in his coverage area to be caught for 124 yards, per PFF.

Cornerback remains UM’s biggest question mark. Frederique and Hill and Richard have eased that concern to an extent, but Porter -- who entered August camp widely considered the Canes’ No. 1 cornerback -- needs to play better.

▪ Safeties Mishael Powell and Jaden Harris have been very good.

USF completed two passes in two targets against Powell for 19 yards. Harris wasn’t targeted in the game.

Powell “is playing really well, graded out well each week,” Guidry said. “Tackles well, seems to always be in the right spot, seems to calm the storm. … Him and Harris are really playing well together.”

PFF rates Powell 25th and Harris 341st among 821 FBS safeties.

▪ PFF rated Mesidor, linebacker Raul Aguirre, Barrow, linebacker Chase Smith and defensive tackle CJ Clark as the Canes’ top defenders against USF.

▪ Among freshmen, Frederique played the most defensive snaps against USF (45). Defensive lineman Justin Scott played 17, and Armondo Blount, Cam Pruitt, Cole McConathy and Zaquan Patterson each played between two and six.