52 days to Miami football: Cleveland Reed 2018 Preview
Cleveland Reed is one of three offensive linemen joining the Miami football program for the 2018 season. He is one of two four-star linemen in the Hurricanes Storm ’18 recruiting class. If he doesn’t redshirt this season, Reed provides depth on the offensive line.
Reed is 6’3 327 pounds and projected to be a guard. With both starting guards spots facing some uncertainty, Reed could get a chance to challenge for a starting job on the Miami football team this fall. Reed is the 259th best player in the country in the Class of 2018, the 12th best guard and 48th best player in Florida.
The Hurricanes are limited in experience at guard. Sophomore Corey Gaynor started one game at guard last season. Junior Hayden Mahoney started two and is currently first on the depth chart at right guard. Miami also welcomed Venzell Boulware officially into school yesterday. He started three games at Tennessee in 2016.
Reed will have to battle with Gaynor, Mahoney, Boulware, Jahair Jones who is first on the depth chart at left guard and fellow Freshman Delone Scaife to earn playing time at guard. Sophomore backup tackles Kai-Leon Herbert or Zalon’tae Hillery could also be possibilities at guard if the Miami staff isn’t happy with how the line plays in camp.
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Reed was not one of the early enrollees in the Storm ’18 Class. He missed a chance to compete on the offensive line this spring. Scaife and the Hurricanes other Freshman offensive lineman John Campbell were early enrollees and participated in Spring football. Campbell is listed as a tackle and seemingly will redshirt in 2018.
Miami also has Junior George Brown up front. Brown was given the chance to become the starting right tackle during spring football. He was repeatedly beaten by the Miami defensive line and demoted to second string. Brown’s demotion caused some major reshuffling on the offensive line.
Mahoney took over at right guard. Navuaghn Donaldson who had been a True Freshmen All-American at right guard in 2017 was moved to right tackle. Donaldson is likely there for the remainder of the season. He is arguably Miami’s best offensive lineman.
Tyree St. Louis who was last year’s right tackle is now playing left tackle. St. Louis is Miami’s third left tackle in as many seasons. With this being his Senior year, next year’s left tackle will make it four for four. That will likely be Donaldson.
Jones and Center Tyler Gauthier are also Seniors. Gauthier is the only returning starter on Miami’s offensive line back in the same position he was a starter in last season. If Donaldson is indeed moved to left tackle in 2019, that will be the same issue next season.
Next: 53 days until Miami football: Zach McCloud 2018 Preview
Whether or not Reed redshirts in 2018, he should still have a bright future playing for the Miami football team. Richt and offensive line coach Stacy Searles have done an exceptional job recruiting linemen in the last two recruiting classes. Reed, Scaife, Donaldson and Herbert were all four-star recruits.