Simeon Barrow, C.J. Clark and Marley Cook had various rankings when they signed as high school recruits years before transferring to the Miami football program for the 2024 season. Barrow and Cook improved their rankings from recruit to transfer over varying years.
Barrow signed with Michigan State in the 2020 Class, Clark with North Carolina State and Cook with Middle Tennessee State in the 2019 class. Barrow, Clark and Cook are likely the top three DTs in the 2024 Miami rotation. Clark and Cook participated in spring practice. Barrow transferred to Miami after participating in spring practice with Michigan State.
Barrow replaces Jared Harrison-Hunte who transferred from Miami to SMU after spring practice. Miami is versatile, but in experienced at DT behind Barrow, Clark and Cook. Edge rushers Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor can move inside on passing downs.
Clark played 42 games with 22 starts at defensive end and nose tackle in the 3-3-5 defense played by North Carolina State. Clark had 72 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks in parts of five seasons at North Carolina State. Clark and Cook project as the starting DTs for Miami.
C.J. Clark
Clark was the highest-ranked of the three Miami transfer DTs as a recruit. Clark was the 194th signee in the 2019 class, 16 DT and fourth player in North Carolina out of New London, North Stanly. As a transfer, Clark was ranked 349th overall and the 34th DL in the 247Sports transfer rankings.
Simeon Barrow
Barrow was the 780th prospect, 35th weakside defensive end and 76th recruit in Georgia out of Grovetown in the 2020 class. Barrow is the 689th-ranked transfer and 69th defensive lineman in the 2024 transfer class. At 6’3 and 296 pounds, Barrow projects as a key player for Miami after playing in 34 games with 30 starts in three seasons at Michigan State.
Marley Cook
Cook was the 2,152 prospect, 29th center and 62nd player in Mississippi in the 2019 class. Middle Tennessee State switched Cook to DT where he earned 2022 Honorable Mention All-Conference USA and First Team Pro Football Focus All-CUSA. Cook excels as an interior pass rusher.
Barrow, Clark and Cook are the foundation for a completely made-over Miami DT unit. The three newcomers will be backed up by Miami returnees Anthony Campbell, Ahmad Moten and Joshua Horton. Five-star freshman Justin Scott should push the returnees for snaps. Miami projects to have a solid 2024 DT rotation.
