The Miami Hurricanes kick off the 2026 season on Sept. 4 on the road against the Stanford Cardinal (9 p.m., ESPN).
The Miami Herald is counting down 30 of the most important players on the Hurricanes’ roster, one per day leading up to the season opener, to provide a closer look at the team heading into coach Mario Cristobal’s fifth season.
Today: The No. 28 player on our list, Keona Davis.
What to know
Position: Defensive line
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Year: Junior
How he got to Miami: 2026 transfer from Nebraska
Key stats: 32 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks in 2025
In summary: Davis led all Nebraska defensive linemen in tackles last season and has 25 total games of experience. He has experience playing inside and on the edge, but Miami will most likely need him on the interior as part of its rotation with projected starters Ahmad Moten Sr. and Justin Scott along with fellow transfer Jarquez Carter. He did not have a missed tackle last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
What they’re saying
“I’m not set in just one box. I can use multiple tools as a tackle or as an edge. I feel like I’ll be very helpful.” – Davis on his versatility
“It’s an adjustment for guys like that. They came from a completely different system than what we played, so it’s learning how to play our style of football. They brought into that. Now it’s just got executing the details, and I think they’re doing a good job of locking.” – Defensive tackles coach Damione Lewis on the progress of Davis and Carter
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Miami Herald
Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.