The lack of development on the offensive line from the signees in 2017 with the Miami football program from what was supposed to be a deep position group has hindered the Hurricanes.
The Miami football program signed five offensive linemen in the first full recruiting class for former head coach Mark Richt in 2017. Only two of those signees have made an impact for the Hurricanes. Center Corey Gaynor and guard Navaughn Donaldson have become key contributors for the Hurricanes upfront.
Kai-Leon Herbert who with Donaldson were the two four-star OL in that class, Zalon’tae Hillery and Zack Dykstra have yet to make an impact on the Miami offensive line during their three seasons in Coral Gables. Donaldson has started 34 of the 37 games he has played in during his career. He has been moved around.
Donaldson began his career at right guard with 10 starts as a true freshman during the Hurricanes 10-3 ACC Coastal Division title season and culminated with a trip to the Orange Bowl. Donaldson started six games at right tackle and six at right guard in 2018. The junior started all 11 games at left guard this season.
Herbert, Dykstra and Hillery all entered the Miami football program with high praise and expectations. As a four-star signee like Donaldson, Herbert should have been able to contribute as a true freshman in 2017. At the worst, Herbert should be a starter as a redshirt sophomore this season.
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In three seasons in Coral Gables, Herbert has not shown much improvement. Herbert played one game each in 2017 and ’18. Herbert took a medical redshirt in 2018. With Donaldson and redshirt freshman John Campbell out injured in the season finale at Duke, Herbert had the most extensive playing time of his career against Duke.
In 26 snaps against Duke at right tackle, Herbert allowed seven quarterback pressures and one sack. This will be an enormous offseason for Herbert. If Herbert doesn’t improve and push for playing time next fall he will a bust. The same goes for Hillery and Dykstra. Hillery played 11 snaps versus Duke in the fourth quarter.
Hillery replaced an ineffective Herbert in the fourth quarter. In just the 11 snaps Hillery allowed two QB pressures and one sack. We now know why redshirt sophomores Hillery and Herbert were beaten out for spots on the first-team offensive line by true freshmen Zion Nelson and Jakai Clark.
Dykstra signed with Miami out of Spirit Lake, Iowa with a reputation for having a nasty streak on the field. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2017 before making his collegiate debut against Savannah State in 2018. Four Miami OL received playing time at RG against Duke. Dykstra was not one of them.
Miami head coach Manny Diaz has routinely preached this season the old adage from former Marquette basketball coach Al McGuire said that the best thing about freshman is they become sophomores. With two true freshmen and one redshirt freshman in the top six on the MIami OL Diaz needs to have that become true.