Miami Hurricanes OL coach Garin Justice confident Issiah Walker fits perfectly

The addition of four-star offensive tackle Issiah Walker became official on Wednesday. Offensive line coach Garin Justice discussed his newest signee and how he fits in perfectly on the Miami Hurricanes roster.

Adding four-star offensive tackle Issiah Walker as a transfer following one semester at Florida is a big addition to the talent on the Miami Hurricanes offensive line. Walker is likely to seek a waiver after choosing to return to South Florida because of undisclosed family issues. If granted the waiver Walker could start in 2020.

Justice told HurricaneSports.Com that Walker’s athleticism and conditioning are among the traits that fit what the Miami Hurricanes offense will try to do in the new up-tempo, spread offense of new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. Walker should eventually team with 2020 signee Jalen Rivers to give Miami bookend tackles.

With Lashlee and Justice new on the Hurricanes staff and an abysmal performance by the Miami offensive line in 2019, the majority of positions are open for 2020. Navaughn Donaldson is likely to maintain his spot at left guard and Corey Gaynor is secure at center. Delone Scaife will likely be a starter somewhere on the OL in 2020.

"“You look at it and you ask, ‘What are Issiah’s strengths?’ He’s fast. He’s athletic. He’s a guy that’s going to be able to have the conditioning and endurance to play throughout a full game the same way. Those are all the things you’re looking for in an up-tempo offense.You throw in the fact that he is powerful, he is a great kid, all those things – it’s icing on the cake. His skillset fits perfectly with what we want to do, and what we’re looking for in a tackle position is someone like Issiah.The traits that you’re looking for, as far as in linemen, are a lot of the traits that South Florida linemen have, traditionally – the fact that they’re really, really athletic guys, that’s important to us. We want guys who can run and move. From the aspect of guys in south Florida, most of them want to be in Miami.Usually the guys that tend to go elsewhere, they grew up a Canes fan.”"

Signing top offensive linemen from South Florida is critical for the success of the Miami football program. Although offensive linemen from Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties are often criticized, Justice believes the Hurricanes can be successful with the big men up front coming from South Florida.

Miami has a young offensive line that can grow together. Donaldson is the only senior offensive lineman Miami will have in 2020. That experience will be important when the Hurricanes open against Alabama in 2021. Justice has work to do with the young OL he has in 2020. Miami needs improvement for this season.