Miami Hurricanes CB D.J. Ivey departing message: ”If you don’t want to work, don’t come here“

Miami Hurricanes cornerback DJ Ivey has been through three coaching staffs and a whole lot more in his time at Miami. He has seen it all.

And as Ivey prepares to depart with Senior Day against Pittsburgh Saturday possibly being his last game, Ivey has a message for those who aspire to replace him as a Hurricane.

“If you don’t want to work, I don’t think you need to come here,” Ivey said. “They’re going to make sure you work and put you through it, it’s all on you. If you don’t want to work, this is not the place for you.” 

Ivey may have a love-hate relationship with fans who criticize him at times for some busts here and there. But nobody could argue that Ivey’s given it his all over five years as a Hurricane and has started games in each of the last four seasons. 

With his final game at Hard Rock Stadium against Pittsburgh set for Saturday, the senior reflected on his time as a Hurricane.

“I don’t think it really hit me yet that I will be taking the field at Hard Rock for the last time Saturday,” Ivey said. “I think it’ll probably hit me once the game is finished and it’s real. I’m just taking it day by day and soaking everything in. Just trying to go 1-0 Saturday, that’s my biggest mindset.”

“If you don’t want to work, I don’t think you need to come here. They’re going to make sure you work and put you through it, it’s all on you. If you don’t want to work, this is not the place for you.” 

DJ Ivey

“I’m very excited for the future of this defense,” he said. “A couple of freshmen have come along and played big roles and numerous snaps this year, so I’m excited to see what they can do. In the near future, this defense is going to be great. You may even see things happen next year or in the spring coming up.” 

Ivey made six starts in 2019 and led the team with three interceptions. In 2020, he started 11 games and finished with 36 tackles and an INT and last year, he made four starts and finished with 25 tackles, two for a loss, and a sack. This season, he has 37 tackles, two interceptions (one of which was a highlight diving INT against Clemson last weekend), five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles.

“I would say mindset and communication skills,” Ivey said when asked where he has seen the most growth. “On the backend, there’s a lot of moving parts happening in front of you. You just got to communicate with your safeties at a fast pace and stuff like that. As far as mindset, just play the next play.”

As far as the Panthers on Saturday, the task at hand will be stopping running back Israel Abanikanda, who has rushed for 1,320 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, including a 320-yard and six-touchdown performance against Virginia Tech.

“A lot of run game and heavy personnel,” Ivey said. “They also take shots out of those sets as well. I still have to break down more film, but that’s what I’m primarily seeing right now.”