Boston College at Miami: 5 Big Questions with Canes Warning

4.) Miami is 18th in the nation in scoring defense; which players have come up the biggest, and who will pose the biggest problems for the Eagles’ moribund offense on Friday?

CW: It’s funny to see that the defense is ranked so highly in scoring defense when some teams have been able to move the ball on the Hurricanes. I even spent much of the first part of the season chronicling the historically poor rushing defense (statistically, at least). But the Canes defense shut down Georgia Tech, and hasn’t allowed a touchdown in six quarters.

They’ve been bend-but-don’t-break at times this year, and are led by a potential All-American in linebacker Sean Spence. Like fellow Butkus semi-finalist Luke Kuechly for BC, Spence is the ever-present force of the Miami defense. He’s moved to middle linebacker the last few games, where he’s been very effective. Safety/cornerback JoJo Nicholas is having a good year, and freshman DE Anthony Chickillo and freshman LB Denzyl Perryman look like they’re going to be a big part of UM’s future.