Miami Hurricanes could have surprising change on offensive line
The Miami Hurricanes offensive line that was abysmal in allowing 10 sacks in the season-opening loss to Florida could have an imminent change in this week’s game at North Carolina.
On the Inside the U podcast Through the Smoke hosts Andrew Ivins and David Lake reported a surprising change on the first-team Miami Hurricanes offensive line could be coming. Delone Scaife who started and played well at right guard against Florida could be moving back to right tackle where he started in 2019.
Scaife started the final seven games of the 2018 season at right tackle. His move into the starting lineup shifted Navaughn Donaldson back to right guard where he started 10 games as a true freshman in 2017. The Hurricanes could be ready to promote a true freshman to first-team on the offensive line for the third year in a row.
Freshman Jakai Clark will reportedly be promoted to the first-team offensive line at right guard with Scaife moving to right tackle. Clark was recruited as a center and thought to be the successor to sophomore redshirt Corey Gaynor at the position. Clark is listed as the backup center to Gaynor Saturday against North Carolina.
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Donaldson played center for about half of spring football due to injuries including to Gaynor. Clark could become the latest incidence on the Miami offensive line of a freshman passing more experienced players to be named first-team. Campbell, Scaife and freshmen tackles Zion Nelson and John Campbell have all become young starters.
If Clark gets promoted he would be bypassing redshirt sophomore Zalon’tate Hillery and sophomore junior college transfer Ousman Traore to become a starter. Hillery is currently listed as Campbell’s backup at right tackle. Traore is Scaife’s backup at right guard. The veterans on the Miami Hurricanes offensive line have not developed.
Hillery, redshirt sophomore Kai-Leon Herbert and redshirt freshman Cleveland Reed have not lived up to their four-star status when they signed with Miami. Ivins and Lake speculated that Clark’s potential move could be situational or because of injuries.
"“I have heard that they have been working [Delone Scaife] at right tackle and I have heard that the name to potentially watch at right guard is Jakai Clark, the true freshman. Now again, I don’t know if this has been situational stuff, I just know that Jakai Clark has been inserted into that first-team unit at certain times.I mean this could be an injury protocol type thing, but I know he’s a guy that really impressed early in that preseason camp. He wasn’t an early enrollee, I think he came in that Summer B semester, but right away he was working right away as the second-team center.I can’t recall if Butch Barry really ever hyped him up, but for what it’s worth I have heard that’s something to monitor on Saturday night.”"
The report on Through the Smoke runs contrary to Miami head coach Manny stating about Campbell and Nelson “Those are our guys.” The Miami offensive line will likely evolve. It’s tough to read what Diaz, offensive coordinator Dan Enos and offensive line coach Butch Barry will do with the offensive line against North Carolina.
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The Hurricanes brass could decide to make a change this weekend. They could also decide to see how the protection is against North Carolina and experiment in upcoming games against Bethune-Cookman and Central Michigan at home. It’s going to be a season-long process with the offensive line evolving and developing.