Miami LB Corey Flagg’s weight loss is a gain for the Hurricanes. He reviews the new room

A slimmed down version of Hurricanes middle linebacker Corey Flagg Jr. said he has lost about 10 pounds since last year and 15 pounds since arriving at the University of Miami in 2020 weighing 240.

The loss in flab has been a gain for the linebacker corps, translating to a speedier, more agile Flagg at a position group already deeper and more talented than last year, when UM ranked 54th nationally of 131 FBS teams in rushing defense (142.9 yards allowed per game).

“This morning I weighed in at 225, 224,’’ Flagg, listed at 5-11, told reporters Tuesday. “I was big. I was eating my mama’s food in Houston, Texas — [and] my pop’s barbecue. I was stuffing... every day.’’

Flagg said he played at about 235 last season, when he was third on the team with 56 tackles and tied with defensive linemen Akheem Mesidor and Leonard Taylor with 10 1/2 tackles for loss. He also had 2 1/2 sacks, a pass breakup and quarterback hurry.

Flagg mostly plays in the middle but has played at weak-side linebacker as well. He said new linebackers coach Derek Nicholson “moves us all around.’’

Versatility pays

“I know you guys were familiar with last year and how Steed went down and I had to move to Will,’’ Flagg said of graduated linebacker Waynmon Steed. “You just never know. So, playing inside backer, you gotta be able to play both. That’s what we’ve kind of been doing. It’s been exciting.’’

Another reason might be that third-year junior Washington State transfer Francisco Mauigoa, known as Kiko, has been playing at a very high level this spring, and might move into the starting inside role.

“Very smart guy, very humble guy, very good guy,’’ Flagg said. “We go to bible study on Wednesdays together. Can’t wait to play with him.’’

Fifth-year senior Keontra Smith has been playing well on the weak side. And sophomore Wesley Bissainthe, who said earlier this spring he works at both weak side and strong side, is also expected to get plenty of playing time. Long and speedy backer Bobby Washington is a freshman early enrollee who is progressing well, Flagg said.

“He listens, he follows instructions, he does everything off the field right. He’s 6-2, 6-3 and he’s fast... Bobby is supposed to be in high school right now. He’s very mature.”

Early enrollee freshman Malik Bryant, a 6-2, 235-pound consensus four-star recruit out of Orlando Jones, “hasn’t really been competing now because of an injury, but he’s doing really good in the film room,’’ Flagg said. “His work ethic is phenomenal. I’m excited to see what he does.

The depth, Flagg said, “has been a really good thing in our room.’’

Last season, Flagg started nine of the 11 games he played, but sustained a lower-body injury November 19 at Clemson before sitting out the Pittsburgh finale. He has been limited this spring while recuperating from a foot injury.

Coaching carousel

Flagg has played under four defensive coordinators: Blake Baker, Manny Diaz, Kevin Steele and now Lance Guidry. His linebacker coaches have been Diaz, Charlie Strong and Nicholson.

“Honestly, I look at it as a blessing,’’ Flagg said of all the changes. “For me, I want to go to the next level, I want to go to the League. At that level, things change all the time. I just have to be able to adjust on the fly. So, once I do get to the next level, I can be able to do the same thing quickly. It hasn’t been hard at all with the guys Coach Cristobal has brought in. It has been really smooth.”

As for what area he especially wants to improve, Flagg mentioned his vision.

“Just my eyes dictating,’’ he said, “making the quarterback do what I want him to do. Because I know the plays, I know what they’re doing. I just have to trust myself, trust my instincts, trust my eyes and what I see.

“I’m a film junkie. I like watching film. So, once I know what to do defensively, what the defensive scheme of Coach Guidry wants to do, once I really get that down pat and really get comfortable with Coach D-Nich coaching me, I think I really can do good this year. I’m excited.”