Zion Nelson has been one of the biggest surprises for the Miami football program in 2019. An early enrollee as a true freshman in January, Nelson has added nearly 40 pounds of muscle. Nelson passed all of the upperclassmen to likely earn the starting left tackle spot for Miami. Protecting Williams from each edge are two freshmen.
Redshirt freshman John Campbell is projected to be the starting right tackle. Nelson was a three-star tackle coming out of high school. He was committed to Appalachian State before Miami flipped him. Nelson is the prototype offensive tackle that new Miami offensive line coach Butch Barry wants.
Instead of taking huge offensive linemen and trimming the fat, Miami will take leaner offensive linemen and build muscle. Nelson has played well in camp and proven athletic. The South Carolina native has been the first-team left tackle since the spring. No official depth chart has been released by the Miami football program yet. Expect Nelson to start at left tackle.
Nelson should be a cornerstone of the Miami offensive line for the next three to four years. The Hurricanes are extremely young up front on offense. Navaughn Donaldson who likely to be the starting left guard is the only Miami offensive linemen likely to even consider the NFL after the 2019 season.