Miami Hurricanes CB DJ Ivey just focused on the work, not thinking about last year's issues

If you’re going down the list of players we ran in a recent story breaking down the older “now or never” guys, perhaps DJ Ivey is one of the more intriguing situations.

Ivey is a fifth-year senior, one of those guys you think can probably be relied on. At 6-1 and 195 pounds, he’s always been an outstanding practice player. His issue is a tendency to freelance and just lose guys at the wrong times in games.

But you can’t ignore that he’s got 21 starts under his belt in his career, including every game in 2020 and four this past season (he had 25 tackles, two for loss and a sack).

Coaches this fall have worked him in with the first team, and he’s looked good. He also was solid in the spring.

But his history has been solid practice player who has issues at times in games.

For Ivey’s part, he thinks the busts are a thing of the past. He’s just keeping his head down, working at his craft and listening to the new coaches.

“Just adjust to the circumstances and keep moving forward,” Ivey says of his mindset. “We all have to put in the work, nothing is given.”

Ivey has never really broken through even with his past starts. Consistency, at least based on past performance, is not his calling card.

His Pro Football Focus grades bear that out. He’s never finished with a grade better than 65.7, and that came his freshman year. Last season, in 450 reps, he had a 64.8 overall grade but was below 50 percent on run defense and tackling, which is something this new staff is emphasizing. His coverage grade was the best of his career, though, at 67.1.

“I’m not too worried about last year, we’re going to keep that in the past,” Ivey said. “Moving forward.”

Perhaps Miami coaches can sort of strike lightning in a bottle here and get that consistency going.

“I’d like to improve all around,” he says. “Get better all around.”

Ivey has plenty of competition for reps at corner, including returning starter Tyrique Stevenson and West Virginia transfer Daryl Porter Jr. That duo is expected to be the main two. Then there’s also Isaiah Dunson who is making big strides and others like Te’Cory Couch (along with Stevenson he cross trains at STAR) and others like Marcus Clarke and younger players.

Competition for reps in practices is ongoing and intense.

Ivey says technique and “the little things” are getting stressed by DB coach Jahmile Addae.

The bottom line as Ivey sees it with this Miami defense so far this fall? Well, he says the defensive line has a chance to be dominant and that the front 7 “are making it easier on the DBs.”

“We are looking pretty good,” Ivey said. “We are just out here working, trying to get better each and every day. Have to keep working.”

-Hurricanes legend Ed Reed was on hand at today’s practice.

“It’s always good to see a Hall of Famer come around, give you pointers on what you need to get better at, what you should do,” Ivey said.

-Of going against transfer WR Frank Ladson, Ivey said, “I can see him getting better, getting in and out of his breaks. I’ve been going against him since high school.”