Will Venzell Boulware start at right guard for Miami Hurricanes?
The Miami Hurricanes offensive line was dominated by their counterparts on defense throughout the spring. The arrival of graduate transfer Venzell Boulware from Tennessee this fall could add another new starter.
Boulware started four games in two seasons with the Volunteers. Three of those came in 2017. He will battle with Rising Redshirt Junior Hayden Mahoney to start at right guard. The entire right side of the Miami Hurricanes offensive line in 2017 switched positions.
Multiple players shuffled positions to try to stabilize the line and gain some continuity. Rising Senior Tyree St. Louis moved from right to left tackle. Navaughn Donaldson stayed on the right side but moved from guard to tackle.
Donaldson has to learn a new position a year after earning Freshman All-America at right guard. Tackle is what he played in high school.
The rest of the shuffling has Rising Senior Jahair Jones likely to become a first-year starter at left guard in 2017. Rising Senior Center Tyler Gauthier is the only returning starter in the same position as last season on the offensive line.
Boulware was rated three-stars when he signed with Tennessee out of high school. He chose the Hurricanes over Ohio State. He will have two years of eligibility remaining after graduating from Tennessee. Boulware left Tennessee five games into the 2017 season, during the Vols bye week.
Mahoney redshirted as a Freshman in 2015 and was only on the practice squad in 2016. He started twice last season and played in 12 of the 13 games.
Richt and offensive line coach Stacy Searles have done a good job adding depth through Richt’s first three recruiting classes at Miami. The Hurricanes have a few other potential players they could try at guard.
Sophomore Corey Gaynor started at right guard last season when Donaldson missed the game against Georgia Tech. He is slated to back up Gauthier at center in 2018 and likely succeed him there in 2019. Redshirt Freshman Zack Dykstra and Freshmen Delone Scaife and Cleveland Reed are other possibilities at right guard.
Richt has repeatedly stressed the importance of experience and continuity on the offensive line. The Freshmen seem like a long shot to start. Donaldson was an exception last season. Richt discussed the importance of the players getting experience together during spring practice.
"“I do think we’ve got the right ingredients,…We’ve got to just get those guys repping a lot together. …"
Boulware comes to Miami as the fourth highest rated graduate transfer by Rivals.Com. Rivals’ Mike Ferrell analyzed Boulware strengths and weaknesses.
"“Boulware was clearly an interior lineman with good feet that just needed to add some size and toughness out of high school. We liked his ability to pass block and he was a solid run-blocker, so he should help Miami early on the inside, especially improving the work against the pass rush. I like this pickup a lot for Miami."
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Searles was not shy during spring practice when talking about the need for his young offensive lineman to learn how to play in the ACC quickly.
"“We have some young guys who are going to be really good. Some of them should be getting ready for the prom, but they are here. Some of them are young and have to grow up quickly. That’s still a work in progress”"
It’s no secret that one of Richt’s biggest tasks when he took over as the Miami Hurricanes Head Coach, was an extreme upgrade in talent that was needed.
The most glaring position group that needed that infusion was the offensive line. Richt talked about that this spring.
"“When we got here, I thought of all of the position groups on the field, that was the one that had the least amount of guys that were ready to be ACC champion-caliber guys, and we’re still kind of fighting that battle.”"
Next: Where does the Miami Hurricanes non-conference schedule rank in ACC?
Miami 2017 Class on the offensive line is very good. They also bring in a few players in the Class of 2018 as well. Three Miami commits in the Storm ’19 class are offensive linemen. That includes four-star tackle Michael Tarquin. The upgrade in talent is coming.