Miami football injuries on offensive line impacting position modifications

The offensive line on the Miami football team has continued to see modifications with the positions players are in this spring because of injuries. Numerous Miami offensive linemen have lined up in different positions this spring.

The latest injury on the Miami football team’s offensive line to center Corey Gaynor impacted Tuesday’s practice. Navaughn Donaldson who played right guard for most of the last two seasons was shifted to center in Gaynor’s absence. The injuries have hindered the Hurricanes ability to gain continuity on the offensive line.

Delone Scaife who had been shifted to left tackle after starting at right tackle for the second half of 2018, played right guard on Tuesday with rising redshirt sophomores Kai-Leon Herbert at right tackle and Zalon’tae Hillery at right guard. Miami also had to play freshman Zion Nelson at left tackle in Saturday’s scrimmage.

Miami needs production from the offensive line in 2019. Herbert and Hillery have not lived up to their four-star status when they signed in 2017. The lack of protection up front has hurt the Hurricanes passing game. The Hurricanes have been better in run blocking.

New Miami offensive coordinator Dan Enos spoke to reporters after Tuesday’s practice about the constant modifications on the offensive line this spring.

"“We’ve been very inconsistent [on] the offensive line. We’ve been shuffling guys in and out of there. We’ve had some injuries. We had to move guard Donaldson to center on Saturday. He hasn’t played center all spring, but he did a tremendous job moving to center for us to allow us to scrimmage.“But really there’s been no continuity, because we’ve just been trying to figure out who’s who. Who’s the guard, who’s the tackle, who’s the starter, who’s the 2? You with me?It’s been hard that way, especially with the defense doing as much as they’re doing. It’s been very difficult to get continuity. But we’ll benefit from all these things as we move forward.“We had a true freshman [Zion Nelson] playing left tackle in the scrimmage Saturday, and he’s battling and doing things in there. But as I told him, he should be getting ready for the senior prom right now and we got him out here blocking one of the best defenses in the country.”“(Offensive line) Coach (Butch) Barry is doing a tremendous job with these guys…He is a technician. He is a fundamental, detailed football coach. He’s very disciplined. He’s a great teacher and he’s very demanding.And these guys will all benefit from his tutelage. I think at the end of the day we’re going to have an offensive line that we’re going to be very excited about.’’"

Several other offensive linemen will figure into the mix this season. The Miami football staff is high on redshirt freshman John Campbell. Campbell has been projected in the mix to start at right tackle.

Redshirt freshman Cleveland Reed, redshirt sophomore Zach Dykstra and graduate transfer Tommy Kennedy should be a part of the Hurricanes rotation on the offensive line. Kennedy was being plugged into left tackle after transferring from Butler. He is more suited to play guard.

The offensive line needs to be the biggest area of emphasis on recruiting for 2020, ’21 and beyond. Miami only signed three-star offensive linemen Nelson, Adam El-Gammal and Jakai Clark for 2019. Miami’s 2020 recruiting class is ranked fourth nationally but has only one offensive lineman with a verbal commitment.

Antonio Smith is a three-star offensive lineman from Ocala Vanguard which is the same high school that produced Miami quarterback N’Kosi Perry. The Hurricanes need to recruit and develop better talent on the offensive line or all the talented skill position players will be meaningless.