Miami football could add transfer offensive linemen
The Miami football program might not be finished adding players through the transfer portal in 2019. Head coach Manny Diaz said that the Hurricanes could add an offensive lineman to their roster “if it’s the right guy.”
The Miami football team has had inconsistent play on the offensive line over the last few years. The hope is that new offensive line coach Butch Barry who used to work with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can improve the play of the big uglies. Lack of development and poor talent evaluation have hurt the Hurricanes up front.
The poor offensive line play has hindered the play of the Miami quarterbacks. The Hurricanes passing offense was one of the worst in FBS last season. The Miami football team was slightly above average last season protecting the QB. The Hurricanes allowed 27 sacks, that was 59th in FBS.
Miami added former Butler offensive tackle Tommy Kennedy as a graduate transfer in December. Kennedy has not performed up to expectations through the first two weeks of spring practice. Kennedy was the presumptive starter at left tackle heading into the 2019 season. Delone Scaife was moved from right to left tackle this week.
The lack of experience on the Miami offensive line prompted Diaz to get asked if the Hurricanes could potentially add a transfer on the offensive line for this fall. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald quoted the Hurricanes head coach.
"“Only if it’s the right guy. It has to be a guy that can improve our team and is better than what we have. We felt like there would be another little bump of transfer activity after spring practice. There will be some more guys that will be available.Sometimes, it’s a best available. Sometimes it a special skill set you don’t have or our depth dictates you have to bring guys in. Right now, it would too early to say for sure we have to bring in a guy at this particular position.”"
Miami has rising senior George Brown who transferred to Miami from LSU in 2016 sitting out that season per transfer rules. He sat out last season with an injury. Brown was a three-star player coming out of high school in Cincinnati.
He was expected to be the starting right tackle in 2018. Brown was repeatedly burned by the Miami defensive line last spring. Navuaghn Donaldson was moved from right guard to right tackle. When that didn’t workout Donaldson moved back to right guard and Scaife started the final seven games at right tackle.
Kai-Leon Herbert and Zalon’tae Hillery were four-star players coming out of high school in 2017. Herbert and Hillery have not performed up to expectations in their college careers. They have been passed on the depth chart by John Campbell who will be a redshirt Freshman in 2019.
Hillery played limited snaps in seven games in 2018 after redshirting during his true freshman season in 2017. Herbert only played in Miami’s last regular season game against Pittsburgh last season. Miami needs better development and talent evaluation on the offensive line.
The 2019 season opener against Florida doesn’t allow a lot of time for development. Florida was 19th in FBS with 37 sacks during the 2018 season.
Next. Miami has major reshuffling on offensive line. dark
Diaz has been pleased with the play of freshman Zion Nelson this spring. If Herbert and Hillery don’t have sharp improvement this spring, the plan of signing a transfer on the offensive line might be the reality.