Five Miami football players that should challenge for first team this spring

Jalen Rivers Freshman Offensive Lineman

The Miami offensive line was one of the worst in the country in 2019. Everyone returns for the 2020 season. Three-year starter Navaughn Donaldson is out for the spring after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the final regular-season game against Duke. That provides a chance for someone to step-up.

Jalen Rivers signed with Miami in the Category ’20 Class as the highest-ranked offensive lineman to join the Hurricanes since Donaldson signed in 2017. There has been some shuffling during the first week of spring practice. The first, second and third-team offensive lines had different looks during the four days of practice.

Lashlee and offensive line coach Garin Justice stated at the beginning of the week they would like to have the players’ positions stabilized by the final practice on Friday. According to Lake, Rivers was the second-team left guard during the final practice on Friday before spring break. We will see if that holds in 10 days.

Projecting what the starting offensive line will be in November is pure conjecture at this point. With everyone healthy the first-team offensive line last season from left to right tackle was Zion Nelson, Donaldson, Corey Gaynor, Jakai Clark and Delone Scaife with John Campbell as the swing lineman.

The prototype is that Scaife would ideally move inside. That could potentially move Campbell o tackle or Rivers could play right tackle or guard to begin as a freshman. Other options include redshirt juniors, Kai-Leon Herbert and Zalon’tae Hillery. Anything is possible with the Miami offensive line in 2020.