![\"Miami](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MIA_2025-12-18AD0622UMvsTEXASAMcopy.JPG\" "\\"Miami")
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Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Armondo Blount (18) reacts after recovering a fumble by Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) in the first half of the first round of the 2025 College Football Playoff at Kyle Field at College Station, Texas, on Saturday, December 20, 2025.<\/p>\n
PHOTO BY AL DIAZ<\/p>\n
adiaz@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n
For two years, they played behind a pair of future first-round picks. They watched and learned from the stars at their position, the duo that set the standard and that they would eventually have the tall task of replacing<\/a>.<\/p>\n That time has now come for the Miami Hurricanes\u2019 Armondo Blount and Marquise Lightfoot.<\/p>\n The juniors will be heavily involved in leading the charge on the outside of the Hurricanes\u2019 defensive line as Miami replaces the one-two edge rushing punch of Rueben Bain Jr.<\/a> and Akheem Mesidor<\/a>, who were respectively selected No. 15 and No. 22 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n And while they do that, they will be channeling everything they picked up from practicing with and playing behind Bain and Mesidor for the past two seasons.<\/p>\n Their biggest takeaway: Success on game day starts well before the game actually starts.<\/p>\n \u201cThey showed me that if you put enough work in, anything is possible,\u201d Blount said. \u201cJust with the weight room, football, technique walk-throughs, those guys did everything 100%. They didn\u2019t just go hard on the field. They went hard in meeting rooms, in the film room. It showed me a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Added Lightfoot: \u201cThe biggest thing I learned from both of them is their attention to detail. They let me know that you have to act like a pro now. There\u2019s no time to be waiting. Don\u2019t wait until tomorrow. Start now.\u201d<\/p>\n Things in essence really do start now for Blount and Lightfoot, both of whom were five-star recruits in the Class of 2024 according to the 247Sports composite ranking.<\/p>\n And those who they are replacing have full confidence they will be able to take their game to the next level.<\/p>\n \u201cThe whole D-line is in great hands,\u201d Mesidor said at Miami\u2019s Pro Day in late March before the NFL Draft. \u201cThey\u2019re gonna continue to uphold the standard that me and Rueben had in the room.\u201d<\/p>\n After playing sparingly as freshmen, both saw their roles increase substantially as sophomores last season. Together, Blount and Lightfoot combined for 42 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks and two pass breakups and 60 quarterback pressures.<\/p>\n Blount was on the field for 401 defensive snaps, getting time on the edge and at defensive tackle. Lightfoot played 292 snaps almost exclusively on the edge. Both were primarily on the field in pass-rushing situations. This year, the two of them along with Missouri transfer Damon Wilson II will be relied upon to handle the majority of Miami\u2019s edge rushing duties against both the pass and run.<\/p>\n Wilson, who was second-team All-Southeastern Conference at Missouri last year, sees the room for growth in both of his teammates.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can become whatever they want to become,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cThey\u2019re elite players right now. They can obviously keep getting better. Armondo Blunt is a big man who\u2019s violent and physical. Marquise is fast, electric, but he\u2019s violent as well. Just being able to play with those guys just raises my competition up and make me get better every day.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s the goal, Lightfoot said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just tying to keep the same standard,\u201d Lightfoot said. \u201cKeep the same mentality.\u201d<\/p>\n That standard starts with Blount and Lightfoot pushing each other daily at practice, just like Bain and Mesidor did.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wants to see me be great, and I want to see him be great,\u201d Lightfoot said. \u201cWe did come in at the same time. He\u2019s my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Added Blount: \u201cWe push each other every day. You can\u2019t have any off days with this d-line. We just go relentless every day.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s the mentality they were taught for two years, and it\u2019s one they will make sure doesn\u2019t waver now that they\u2019re part of the group enforcing it.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re carrying the torch,\u201d said junior defensive tackle Justin Scott, who was part of Miami\u2019s 2024 recruiting class with Blount and Lightfoot and is projected to start on the interior of the defensive line with Ahmad Moten Sr. \u201cThey picked it up from Bain and Mez. They were with them for about two years. They kind of learned the standard, learned how to practice, what to do, how to take care of your body and kind of just kept it and implemented it to their own routines. I\u2019m really proud of those guys, just seeing them grow into leader roles.\u201d<\/p>\n Southern Methodist University Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) is sacked by Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Armondo Blount (18) and defensive lineman Marquise Lightfoot (12) during the first half of an NCAA football game at Gerald Ford Stadium on Saturday, November 1, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n