Miami Hurricanes OL Zach Dykstra leaves team part of 2017 underachieving class

Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Zach Dykstra has left the football team. Dykstra was part of a 2017 recruiting class that has greatly underachieved.

Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Zach Dykstra is no longer listed as part of the football roster. Dykstra originally signed with the Hurricanes as part of the 12th ranked class in the country in 2017. The lack of development from that class and particularly on the offensive line has hindered Miami the past two seasons.

The news about Dykstra leaving with the Miami football team was initially reported by Andrew Ivins of Inside the U. Dykstra is no longer listed on the official Miami Hurricanes football roster for 2020. No announcement has been made by Miami football program or Dysktra regarding his departure from the Hurricanes.

Dykstra was a three-star tackle when he signed with Miami in 2017. The Spirit Lake, Iowa resident was the 728th ranked player, the 69th ranked tackle and the sixth ranked player in Iowa in 2017. According to his official Hurricanes Sports bio, the only playing time Dykstra had was against Savannah State in 2018.

Highly touted tackles Kai-Leon Herbert and Zalon’tae Hillery who were a part of the 2017 signing class have also failed to develop for Miami. Their classmates. Navaughn Donaldson and Corey Gaynor are the only offensive lineman from the 2017 class that have developed. Gaynor was the lowest ranked OL in Miami’s 2017 signing class.

Gaynor started the entire 2019 season at center for Miami. The rising redshirt junior played in 10 games as a true freshman in 2017, primarily at guard, starting one. Gaynor did not have a national ranking coming out of high school. He was the 17th ranked center in the class of 2017 and the 176 ranked player in Florida.

Gaynor developed quickly and surpassed Dykstra, Leon-Herbert and Hillery as a true freshman. Losing Dykstra who has yet to enter the transfer portal according to Ivins will not hinder the Miami depth chart much. Miami returns their entire offensive line for the 2020 season. That includes Donaldson.

Donaldson is the star of the Miami class of 2017 on the offensive line. He is entering his fourth season as starter after being a true freshman All-American in 2017. Despite entering his fourth year in the Miami Hurricanes football program, Dykstra was not expected to be on the three-deep depth chart for Miami.

The starting tackles for Miami last season, Zion Nelson and Delone Scaife are currently projected to start on the left and right side respectively. Herbert and rising redshirt freshman Adam El-Gammal are expected to back up Nelson on the left side. Incoming freshman Jalen Rivers is expected to challenge at either tackle spot.

Dykstra could have potentially challenged to earn playing time with an exceptionally strong spring at guard. Donaldson and rising redshirt sophomore John Campbell are expected to contend to start at left guard with returning starter, rising sophmore Jakai Clark and Hillery battling to start at right guard.

Donaldson will not participate in spring practice after sustaining a knee injury that ended his 2019 season in the final regular season game against Duke. Donaldson’s injury and Dykstra departing the Miami football program will give another chance for the other players to develop. The younger offensive lineman are the ones to watch.