Corey Gaynor was one of the most versatile players in the Miami football program in 2017. He played center, guard and even saw snaps at fullback. Gaynor is the heir apparent to second-year starting center Tyler Gauthier.
Gaynor will be in the rotation on the Miami football team’s offensive line in 2018. He is currently listed as Gauthier’s backup on the Miami depth chart. He could also backup up at guard. With right guard unsettled, Gaynor to compete for a starting spot there.
Gaynor became Gauthier’s primary backup when former Miami center Nick Linder moved on to Indiana as a graduate transfer before the 2016 season. Linder started 26 games with the Miami football team. He was the Hurricanes starting center in 2015 and ’16. Linder started four games at left guard as a Freshman in 2014.
He is the brother of former Hurricane and current Jacksonville Jaguar center Brandon Linder. Gauthier moved to center after former Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Alex Gaul replaced Linder when he missed the final four games of 2016 with an injury.
Hayden Mahoney is currently listed as the starter at right guard. Graduate Transfer Venzell Boulware from Tennessee is also likely to figure in the competition at right guard. Senior Jahair Jones is projected as the starter at left guard. This is going to be Jones’ first season as a starter.
If any of the aforementioned players struggle at guard Gaynor will see a significant increase in his snaps there. If that occurs, Gaynor would still likely return to center for the 2019 Miami football season.
Gaynor started the game against Georgia Tech at right guard last season. He replaced Navaugn Donaldson who was out with an injury. Miami got a key comeback victory over the Yellow Jackets.
Gaynor was a consensus three-star player coming out of high school. The true testament to his versatility on the offensive line is that he was listed at center and guard coming out of high school. Gaynor was listed at both positions by 247Sports. ESPN projected Gaynor at guard entering Miami.
Gaynor was ranked the 17th best center in the nation and 176th best player overall in Florida in the Class of 2017. ESPN ranked Gaynor as the 85th best guard nationally and the 198th ranked player in Florida in 2017.
Miami Offensive Line Coach Stacy Searles was high on Gaynor’s future when talking with the Sun Sentinel before the 2017 season.
"“He’s mean as a snake. I love the kid,…He’s a competitor. He plays the game the way offensive linemen should play the game. He’s a very physical player, but he’s a very smart kid. He’s studying and he’s learning.”"
Gaynor is more of a proven commodity at the collegiate level than the majority of the Miami offensive line.
Head Coach Mark Richt said a few times this Spring that the Hurricanes offensive line is the position unit that needs the biggest upgrade in talent.
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Richt has brought in a lot of quality players on the offensive line in the last two recruiting classes. Miami needs them to start producing. Gaynor has shown he is capable when called on.