78 Days until Miami Football: 2018 Tyree St. Louis Preview
Tyree St. Louis has started the last 21 games for the Miami football team. After making all of those starts at right tackle he is moving to left tackle this season.
St. Louis makes the move after last season’s left tackle on the Miami football team, K.C. McDermott graduated. McDermott also made a position switch last season. He moved from left guard to left tackle for the 2017 season.
St. Louis’s move is part of a Miami offensive line in transition. Navaughn Donaldson is replacing St. Louis at right tackle after moving from right guard. Donaldson was a True Freshmen All-American at right guard in 2017.
Center Tyler Gauthier is Miami’s only returning starter on the offensive line that played the same position last season. Senior Jahair Jones is expected to start at left guard. Right guard will likely be the most contested position on the offensive line in 2018. Juniors Hayden Mahoney and Venzell Boulware will battle for the starting spot.
Darling was a four-star recruit from IMG Academy coming out of high school. He was the 283rd ranked player in the Class of 2015, the 28th best offensive tackle and the 37th best player in the state of Florida.
St. Louis was the fourth-ranked player and second highest rated offensive linemen for Miami in the class of 2015. Bar Milo who Canes Warning profiled yesterday was ranked ahead of him. Mark Walton and Jaquan Johnson who would become superstars with the Hurricanes were the other two players ranked ahead of St. Louis.
St. Louis, Gauthier and Jones are all entering their Senior years. In an article posted to CanesInsight, St. Louis discussed the upcoming season. He words speak loudly about what he expects this year. He seems to be taking his Senior season seriously and ready to take on a leadership role, especially on the offensive line.
"“My goals?… It’s our offensive line goals. To be the biggest and fastest and best unit we can be, try to get everything down technically and get all the young guys going along with us. The standard’s been set from the past offensive line groups that have been here.We all know the goal, know what we need to do. Now it’s (time to) take it more seriously, take it one step (further). Each year we’ve gotten better, but this is my Senior year and other Seniors and we have young guys eager to learn – this is the biggest year for us, time to take that next step.”"
Miami Head Coach Mark Richt spoke about the lack of depth on the offensive line in previous seasons and the need to upgrade the talent there. St. Louis discussed what happened last during last season’s three losses to end 2017. He also spoke about what the team can avoid doing to have the same thing happen at the end of the 2018 season.
"“We ran out of gas. Between injuries, lack of focus … we lost a big game, a big shocker to us (at Pitt). Tried to bounce back, didn’t have a good showing. Just taking better care of our bodies, better toughness for some of us.”"
With three Seniors likely to start on the offensive line, the Hurricanes will hopefully be more prepared this season. The O-line struggled often during the spring. Gauthier at one point moved to left tackle.
Next: 79 days to Miami football: Offensive lineman Bar Milo preview
The left side of the line plus right tackle should be ok. Gauthier and St. Louis will set the standard that was talked about. After the end of last season, the Canes and specifically the offensive line should be motivated to reach the next level.