University of Miami Athletics
1

Nesta Jade Silvera

position

Defensive Line

Height

6-2

Weight

305 lbs.

Class

Junior

Hometown

Pembroke Pines, Fla.

High School

Plantation American Heritage

Nesta Jade Silvera - Football - University of Miami Athletics

2020 All-ACC, Honorable Mention

2021 (Junior*): Saw action in 11 games and made eight starts…Totaled 38 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss…Had one fumble recovery…Had four total tackles in season opener against Alabama (Sept. 4)…Made first start of season against Appalachian State (Sept. 11) and had four total tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss…Finished with three tackles in start against Michigan State (Sept. 18)…Posted two tackles against Central Connecticut State (Sept. 25)…Had two tackles in start against Virginia (Sept. 30)…Recorded three tackles against North Carolina (Oct. 16)…Started and had two solo tackles against NC State (Oct. 23)…Missed game against Pittsburgh (Oct. 30)…Had three tackles in start against Georgia Tech (Nov. 6)…Had season-high six tackles against Florida State (Nov. 13)…Matched season high with six tackles (three solo) in start against Virginia Tech (Nov. 20)…Totaled three tackles in regular season finale at Duke (Nov. 27).

2020 (Junior): Started 10 games and saw action in all 11 games at defensive tackle in first year as starter…Earned All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition…Led all interior defensive linemen in total tackles (35) and tackles for loss (8.0)…Added one sack, one forced fumble and one PBU…Tied for team lead with five quarterback hurries…Made first start of career in season opener against UAB (Sept. 10) and finished with five total tackles (one solo)…Had one tackle for loss (two yards) and one quarterback hurry in victory over Blazers…Started on defensive line in road win over top-20 Louisville (Sept. 19) and finished with four tackles (two solo)…Delivered impressive start in win over rival Florida State (Sept. 26), finishing with three tackles (two solo) and one 14-yard sack…Finished with four tackles, including one tackle for loss, in start at Clemson (Oct. 10)…Credited with two quarterback hurries, one PBU and one tackle in start versus Pittsburgh (Oct. 17)…Finished with two tackles in win over Virginia (Oct. 24)…Started in come-from-behind win at NC State (Nov. 6), finishing with five tackles (two solo) and one tackle for loss (five yards)…Also credited with one quarterback hurry against Wolfpack…Helped lead Miami to another road win in start at Virginia Tech (Nov. 14), finishing with four total tackles (one solo) including one tackle for loss…Delivered strong outing in start at Duke (Dec. 5), finishing with two solo tackles, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble…Started regular season finale against North Carolina (Dec. 12) and had one tackle for loss…Started 2020 Cheez-It Bowl against Oklahoma State (Dec. 29) and finished with four tackles, including one tackle for loss.

2019 (Sophomore): Missed first four games of season after undergoing foot surgery during preseason camp but played in final nine games…Totaled 19 tackles and one sack…Made season debut against Virginia Tech (Oct. 5) and had one tackle…Had one tackle in win over Virginia (Oct. 11)…Finished with one solo tackle against Georgia Tech (Oct. 19)…Saw action in win at Pittsburgh (Oct. 26)…Had best outing of career in win at Florida State (Nov. 2), finishing with career-high six tackles (four solo) and one 8-yard sack…Finished with three tackles in win over Louisville (Nov. 9)…Had one tackle against FIU (Nov. 23)…Posted three tackles and first fumble recovery of career at Duke (Nov. 30)…Had three tackles in Walk-On’s Independence Bowl vs. Louisiana Tech (Dec. 26).

2018 (True Freshman): Saw action in 10 games in first season and totaled 13 tackles…Added 1.5 tackles for loss and credited with one blocked punt…Saw first action of career and had career-high five tackles in win over Savannah State (Sept. 8)…Added one blocked punt vs. Tigers that was recovered for touchdown…Had one tackle in win at Toledo (Sept. 15)…Posted one tackle in win over FIU (Sept. 22)…Recorded one tackle in win over North Carolina (Sept. 27)…Saw action in games against Florida State (Oct. 6) and at Virginia (Oct. 13)…Played in wins over Virginia Tech (Nov. 17) and Pittsburgh (Nov. 24)…Had three tackles (two solo) in New Era Pinstripe Bowl vs. Wisconsin (Dec. 27).

High School: Widely regarded as one of nation’s best defensive lineman…Rated as consensus four-star prospect by ESPN.com, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com…Listed as third-best defensive tackle, 14th-best prospect in Florida and No. 50 overall prospect in country by ESPN.com…Ranked No. 2 at position, No. 11 in Florida and No. 54 nationally by 247Sports.com…Rated ninth-best defensive tackle and 26th-best player in Florida by Rivals.com…Helped guide Plantation American Heritage to back-to-back Class 5A state championships and 27 straight wins…Had dominant performance in state final, recovering fumble, scoring touchdown, registering one tackle and one sack…Selected to 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio…Named to 2017 Sun Sentinel All-Broward First Team…Anchored defensive line with team-best 79 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in 2017…Participated in The Opening in summer of 2017…Chose Miami over offers from Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio State, Penn State and TCU, among others.

* indicates student-athlete received extra year of eligibility in 2021 due to 2020 season affected by COVID-19 pandemic