<\/p>\n
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
The Miami Hurricanes kick off the 2026 season on Sept. 4 on the road against the Stanford Cardinal (9 p.m., ESPN).<\/p>\n
The Miami Herald is counting down 30 of the most important players on the Hurricanes\u2019 roster, one per day leading up to the season opener, to provide a closer look at the team heading into coach Mario Cristobal\u2019s fifth season.<\/p>\n
Today: The No. 19 player on our list, Armondo Blount.<\/p>\n
What to know<\/p>\n
Position: Defensive line<\/p>\n
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale<\/p>\n
Year: Junior<\/p>\n
How he got to Miami: 2024 recruiting class<\/p>\n
Key stats: 17 tackles, 2.5 sacks in 2025<\/p>\n
In summary: Blount took a major step forward as a sophomore and was a key part of the Hurricanes\u2019 defensive line rotation, playing both on the edge and the interior. This season, he is poised to be part of a three-man edge rushing rotation along with fellow junior Marquise Lightfoot and Missouri transfer Damon Wilson II that will be asked to replace production lost from the departure of first-round picks Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor.<\/p>\n
What they\u2019re saying<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say my IQ expanded with my game. I\u2019ve just been learning more, becoming a student of the game at Miami, going 1-0 every day in everything and just becoming better at everything; just advancing with my mindset \u2026 my physicality and everything.\u201d – Blount on where he has gained the most experience while at Miami<\/p>\n
\u201cWork ethic. They showed me that if you put enough work in, anything is possible. Just with the weight room, football, technique walk-throughs. Those guys did everything 100 percent. 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 – Blount on what he learned from Bain and Mesidor<\/p>\n