Miami Hurricanes offensive line biggest question mark for 2019 season

The biggest question mark for the Miami Hurricanes heading into the 2019 season is who will play where on the offensive line. Only rising junior center Corey Gaynor is locked into being a starter this fall.

Corey Gaynor projects as a near definite starter at center for the Miami Hurricanes this fall. Returning offensive line starters Delone Scaife and Navaughn Donaldson are likely to start but where? Scaife played in all 13 games as a freshman in 2018 and started seven. Most of those were at right tackle.

Donaldson split his time between right guard and right tackle. Miami needs better protection for the QBs upfront. The other two starters on the offensive line are not likely to be decided until late in training camp. The candidates are John Campbell, Kai-Leon Herbert, Zalon’tae Hillery, Cleveland Reed and freshman Zion Nelson.

Graduate transfer Tommy Kennedy also figures into the mix somewhere. When Kennedy initially signed with the Miami football program last December he was projected as the starting left tackle. Kennedy’s talent was overrated according to some scouts. Kennedy was primarily the second team center during spring practice.

The Miami coaching staff didn’t have enough confidence for Kennedy to play with the first-team offense at center when Gaynor was sidelined with an injury this spring. Donaldson was primarily the first team center with Gaynor out. That caused a lot of shifting on the rest of the offensive line. Injuries created versatility out of necessity.

Gaynor’s injury in addition to moving Donaldson from guard to center moved Scaife from tackle to guard. Donaldson and Scaife had been switched at the beginning of spring practice from the right side of the offensive line to the left. Evaluating where offensive linemen fit in with the Miami system in the future is critical.

Kennedy and Nelson are the perfect examples of the importance of talent evaluation. Kennedy signed as a graduate transfer from Butler nine days before former head coach Mark Richt resigned. Diaz seems more dedicated to getting players that fit the Hurricanes system.

The entire offensive coaching staff, the majority of the recruiting staff and several players with eligibility left are not part of the Miami Hurricanes going forward because Diaz didn’t like how they fit into his systems and the culture he wants to create in the future.

NFLPA President and former Miami offensive tackle Eric Winston discussed the Hurricanes offensive line with Bruce Feldman of The Athletic. Winston feels that the prior Miami coaching staffs were too reluctant to let go of players that clearly were not fitting in to the Hurricanes system.

"“I think this goes for every position, and this is why I think we fell off in Miami, coaches are always just looking for finished products.”"

Nelson is the antithesis to Kennedy. He arrived in Coral Gables in January 6’5, 240 pounds. Nelson has put on 30 pounds and his strong play this spring has him contending to be a starter on the offensive line with more experienced players. Nelson was a three-star prospect out of Sumter, South Carolina when he signed.

The 1,415 ranked player overall and 115th rated offensive tackle, Nelson has already exceeded his ranking. Miami needs more players to exceed their expectations on the offensive line this fall. Four-star rising redshirt sophomores Herbert and Hillery have yet to reach their ceiling. Miami needs a strong OL in 2019.