Four-star Miami Hurricanes OT signee endorses OL coach Butch Barry

Four-star Miami Hurricanes offensive tackle signee Jalen Rivers told Inside the U that offensive line coach Butch Barry was a big part of his recruitment and is concerned about the possibility of him losing his job after offensive coordinator Dan Enos was fired.

Four-star Miami Hurricanes offensive tackle signee Jalen Rivers spoke with Andrew Ivins of Inside the U on Monday about his future with the Miami Hurricanes and how the recent firing of Dan Enos and potential of offensive line coach Butch Barry being replaced will impact him. Rivers should challenge to start at right tackle.

The Miami Hurricanes offensive line was one of the worst in the country in 2019 by nearly every measure. The biggest weakness for the Hurricanes up front was at tackle. Zion Nelson who was barely a three-star signee in 2019 was the primary left tackle for Miami and gave up 12 sacks which were the most nationally.

At 6’6 331 pounds Rivers could be the left tackle of the future for the Hurricanes. Rivers is expected to challenge to start at right tackle in 2020. The Hurricanes are also likely to inspect the transfer portal closely to add help on the offensive line. Miami added former Butler offensive tackle Tommy Kennedy for 2019.

Once thought to be the starting left tackle, Kennedy barely played if all this season. Getting the offensive line stabilized for Miami will be the number one priority for Manny Diaz after hiring an offensive coordinator in the next few weeks. Rivers is literally and figuratively a big addition for the Hurricanes.

"“Coach Enos, I don’t really know how to say this, but he really wasn’t involved in my recruitment, so I didn’t know him personally,” Rivers explained. “So I’m not going to take it like that, but my biggest concern is like losing other coaches that have been a part of my recruiting process.Really just [offensive line coach Butch Barry]. So if they do decide to bring in other people hopefully they are a great asset to the team and they will make us better. We will see how things go. I’m trying to come in and compete. If playing time does show up, then I will be ready to showcase my talents and just perform well.That’s what I think I am (a left tackle). We will see if things change though. I’m more than welcome to being something else if it helps the team. It has been challenging (the strength and conditioning program). When I first saw it I was kind of taken back, but it’s not bad. “The gassers . It’s like 14 or 15 of them.I’m not used to all that. I used to do maybe a good eight after practic. I’m not also used to snatching and all that. So that’s new to me. That’s really what’s challenging to me.”"

Diaz has lauded Miami strength and conditioning coach David Cooney for the difference he has made throughout the Hurricanes football roster. Diaz stated that more people were in the weight room in January just a couple of weeks after the season ended than in his three previous seasons in Coral Gables.

As Diaz gets more of his players on the roster Cooney can have an impact on future Hurricanes like Rivers. Getting Rivers in condition to play next season and ready could be critical to the Hurricanes’ success. Miami cannot afford another miss in recruiting on the offensive line.